DUSHANBE, August 6, 2015, Asia-Plus --  Ex-leader of Sozandagoni Vatan (Homeland Builders), which is the youth wing of the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDP), Isfandiyor Abdurahmonov, who resigned in April this year, has joined the Russian ruling party United Russia.

Abdurahmonov says he had obtained Russian citizenship long ago and he does not want “to stand aside from political life of Russia.”

“United Russia is an efficient and constructive party,” Abdurahmonov told Asia-Plus in an interview.

At the same time, Abdurahmonov noted that he was and remains supporter of the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan.  “I got nothing against the PDP; on contrary, I respect its leader,” he said.

We will recall that Abdurahmonov noted on his Facebook page that he resigns “because regionalism and enmity prevail within Sozandagoni Vatan.”

Isfandiyor Abdurahmonov, who is the head of the Tajik Jewelers’ Association, was elected leader of Sozandagoni Vatan in early January this year, replacing Adham Mamurzoda, who now works with President’s Executive Office.

The PDP created the Sozandagoni Vatan organization in 2011 and its founding conference took place on July 27, 2011.  The organization was registered with the Ministry of Justice in November 2011.

To-date, some 30,000 young people have joined the organization.  Besides, some 52,000 young people who are members of the PDP have automatically become members of Sozandagoni Vatan.

The main objective of the organization is in fostering a spirit of patriotism, devotion to ideas of national self-consciousness and independence of the country in the young generation.

Founded in 1994, the People’s Democratic Party is the largest political party in Tajikistan, boasting some 250,000 registered members.  President Emomali Rahmon is chairman of the party.

At the legislative elections, February 27 and March 13, 2005, the party won 74% of the popular vote and 52 out of 63 seats.  This was an increase from the 2000 elections, in which they won 64.9% of the vote and 38 seats.  At the 2010 legislative elections, February 28, the party won 71.69% of the popular vote and 45 out of 63 seats.  At the last legislative election, March 1, 2015, the party won 74 percent of the vote and 51 out of 63 seats.