QURGHON TEPPA, April 2, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Member of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) has been arrested in the Vakhsh district, Khatlon province.

Qalandar Sadruddinov, the head of the IRPT organization for Khatlon, told Asia-Plus that the IRPT member Mahmadruzi Burhonov, who was member of the commission for parliamentary elections at polling station # 22 in the Vakhsh district, was arrested by the Vakhsh prosecutor’s office on March 27.   

“Our candidate competed with Ms. Zarrina Gurezova, member of the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) for a seat in the Vakhsh district council and when it turned out that our candidate won Burhonov raised his hands with joy,” said Sadruddinov, “I do not know why but local law enforcement authorities assessed that as hindering the work of the election commission.”

According to him, the arrest of Mahmadruzi Burhonov is politically motivated.

In the meantime, the Vakhsh prosecutor Umed Karimov says criminal proceedings have been instituted against Mahmadruzi Burhonov under the provisions of Article 150 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – hindering the exercising of voting rights and the work of election commissions.  The Vakhsh prosecutor’s office has applied to annul the results of elections at that polling station.

We will recall that Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on March 3 that the IRPT member Qimmatullo Murodov, who won a seat in the Vakhsh district council on February 28, was told to renounce his victory or face polygamy charges.  Usmon Majidov, the head of the IRPT primary organization in the Vakhsh district, told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service that Murodov was summoned to the local prosecutor''s office on March 2.  Local prosecutors reportedly promised not to file polygamy charges against Murodov if he agrees to renounce his election to the council.

Varqa Zainiddinov, the regional prosecutor''s office spokesman, said that since polygamy is illegal anyone with more than one wife "should and would be brought to trial," RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported.