DUSHANBE, June 4, Asia-Plus  -- The wing of the Democratic Party (DPT) run by jailed Mahmadruzi Iskandarov has set up its regional organization for Rasht Valley.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the party deputy head Rahmatullo Valiyev said that a regional conference of the party that was held in Gharm, administrative center of the Rasht district yesterday elected Ilyosiddin Saidjaffarov to head the party’s regional organization for Rasht Valley.  

According to the newly appointed head of the DPT regional organization for Rasht Valley, Ilyosiddin Saidjaffarov, district conferences to consider ways to intensify the party’s activity in the region have been held in all districts of the Rasht Valley over the past days.

“Fortunately, we do not have any serious problems in the region,” said Saidjaffarov.  “There are no any wings here and we recognize Mahmadruzi Iskandarov as leader of our party.”  

As it had been reported earlier, the Iskandarov-run wing on May 17 handed over the party’s seal and registration certificate to Masoud Sobirov, the leader of the wing, which was officially recognized by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as the official Democratic Party.  A court in Dushanbe’s Shohmansour district on May 14 ruled to give the Iskandarov-run wing one month to give its property to the party’s wing led by Masoud Sobirov.  

 The Democratic Party split after Sobirov formed a separate faction in April 2006, which the Ministry of Justice recognized as the official Democratic Party in October 2006.  

Besides, there are also supporters of Saidjaffar Ismonov.  The party congress, held by them on January 14, 2007, charged Masoud Sobirov with inaction and removed him.  They elected Ismonov as leader of the party.  But the Ministry of Justice noted that the January 14 congress was held in violation of the party''s charter and Tajik law and denied a request by Saidjaffar Ismonov to be recognized as the leader of the Democratic Party.