KULOB, October 2, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) has decided to nominate its candidate for by-election to the Kulob city legislature (Majlis) due on November 16, Mahmadsharif Nabiyev, head of the IRPT organization for Kulob, told Asia-Plus today.  

As it had been reported earlier, the by-elections will be held in three constituencies – 1st, 9th, and 40th.  The election of new members of the legislature will be held to fill vacancies following the resignation of three legislators.  Thus, Said Atoyev who represented constituency 1 in the legislature was appointed to head the Dushanbe electric systems; Safarali Rajabov who represented constituency 9 was appointed as chairman of the Khovaling district; and Hakim Karimov who represented constituency 40 in the legislature was appointed as chairman of the Nosir Khusrav district.    

The city electoral commission members include representatives of the People’s Democratic, Islamic Revivals and Economic Reforms parties.  The Kulob city legislature has 40 members.  

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Nabiyev said that they intend to nominate their candidate for by-election in constituency # 1.  “Our candidate is well known among local residents and enjoys well-deserved authority with them,” said Nabiyev.  “However, we doubt about transparency of the election campaign.  We know that elections were not been always fair as local authorities have had preconceived opinion of our party.”   “However, we hope our party will have its member in the Kulob legislature.”     

We will recall that the Democratic (Masoud Sobirov-run wing) and Communist parties have decided not to participate in by-elections to the Kulob city legislature.  Democrats say they do not believe that by-elections will be fair and transparent.