DUSHANBE, January 28, 2014, Asia-Plus – Current leader of the Social-Democratic Party (SDP) Rahmatillo Zoirov says he intends to resign when his term expires in fall 2015.

In a statement released today, SDP leader says that any member of the SDP Political Council or any active member of the SDP may be elected to head the party.

According to him, the SDP will hold its pre-election congress in December this year and another person will lead the party list for the next parliamentary elections.

The meeting to hear reports and elect new leaders of the party that will be held in late November or early December next year will elect new party leader, Zoirov said.

“I can assure that there will be no split within the party and its policy will not change,” SDP leader noted.

Founded in 2002, the Social-Democratic Party was registered on December 20, 2002.  It was originally registered as the Party of Justice and Development in 1999.  Tajikistan''s Ministry of Justice requested the same year that the Supreme Court ban the party''s activities and its registration was canceled.  The party re-emerged and was registered under the name of the Social-Democratic Party in late 2002.

Current chairman of the Social-Democratic Party is Rahmatillo Zoirov and the party reportedly has 7,700 members.