DUSHANBE, November 14, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Leader of unregistered political party, Taraqqiyot (Progress), Sulton Quvvatov, died in Dushanbe today, aged 61, after a short illness.

Founded on May 26, 2001, Taraqqiyot was denied registration.  At its constituent congress in Dushanbe in March 2001, Taraqqiyot co-founder Azam Afzali said 60 representatives from all regions of country were participating.  Afzali told those gathered that the party was formed on the basis of the Tehran faction of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan and said Taraqqiyot had around 3,000 members. Sultan Quvvatov, a candidate for the presidency in 1999, was elected chairman. No one else vied for the position.  Afzali was named deputy chairman.

In 1974-1984, Sulton Quvvatov worked with the economic crime control department in Kulob.  From 1982 to 1992, he worked with the economic crime control directorate within the Ministry of Interior.  In 1992-1995, Sulton Quvvatov served as chief of the Interior Minister economic crime control directorate.  From May 1995 to August 1998, he headed the Tax Committee under the Government of Tajikistan.