DUSHANBE, March 6, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Tajik lawyer Shokirjon Hakimov, who is also the deputy head of the Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDP), says that the proposal of MP Suhrob Sharipov to change the administrative-territorial division system of Tajikistan is unacceptable.

“Geographical location as well as religious and some other specific features of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region, for example, stipulate the preservation of autonomous status of this region,” Shokirjon Hakimov told Asia-Plus in an interview, commenting on MP Suhrob Shairpov’s proposal to carry out a referendum on changing the administrative-territorial division system and abolishing provinces in the country.

Hakimov also considers that some groups in the country are trying to establish a legal basis for participation of the incumbent president in the next presidential election.

“Of course, the current Constitution of Tajikistan needs to be amended, but I fear that some groups, proceeding from their own interests, will establish a legal basis for participation of incumbent President Emomali Rahmon in the next presidential election,” Shokirjon Hakimov told Asia-Plus in an interview.  

He noted that it would be expedient to leave “any ideas” related to amending the constitution until later period.

“I hope that the next parliamentary and presidential elections will be held in compliance with Tajikistan’s international obligations and issues of the next referendum will be formulated with due regard to real political landscape in the country,” Hakimov added.

Meanwhile, deputy of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon), Suhrob Sharipov, proposes that only center and districts should be left in the country.  “Of course, the status of the center and districts must be raised.  The current [administrative-territorial division] system is a legacy of the Soviet Union and its objective is in separating the regions from each other.  In my opinion, we must carry out referendum and change the current system,” Sharipov told news agency Ozodagon in an interview on March 5.