Oppositionen i Tadjikistan har svært ved at komme til orde op til valget i det centralasiatiske land i november. Menneskeretsvagthunden Human Right Watch påpeger, at oppositionspartier er udsat for vold, fængsling og generel forfølgelse, der gør det svært at deltage i valgkampen.
The Tajik government should end its harassment of the political opposition, and create conditions for free, competitive elections. Tajikistan will hold presidential elections on November 6, 2013, writes Human Rights Watch.
The government has taken steps to restrict competition and debate. The only genuine opposition candidate, Oinihol Bobonazarova, dropped out of the race on October 11, citing pressure by the authorities.
“Rather than ensuring that voters will be able to hear from all sides, the Tajik government is targeting opposition figures,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, adding:
“Prosecuting, beating, and holding opposition leaders incommunicado are an affront to the idea of fair elections. And for an election to be free and fair, voters need to have a genuine choice.”
As of October 21, six presidential candidates had officially registered, including President Emomali Rahmon, but all candidates support the Rahmon government. Rahmon, who has been in power since the country gained independence in 1991, is seeking a fourth term.
Over the last year, Tajik authorities have widened a crackdown on the political opposition and activists, imprisoning or intimidating several opposition party leaders and stepping up efforts to extradite political opponents from abroad. The government has also restricted media freedom, with state media relentlessly providing a positive view of Rahmon and virtually no coverage of opposition candidates or other critical views. There are no independent television stations in Tajikistan. The Tajik government’s actions undermine freedom of association and expression and call into question its commitment to ensure free and fair elections, Human Rights Watch said.
