DUSHANBE, March 30, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Tolibshoh Saidzoda, editor-in-chief of the Dushanbe independent weekly, Millat (Nation), who has nominated his candidacy for parliamentary by-election due on May 15, says he has collected 500 signatures of his supporters necessary for registration with the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER).

Yesterday, he applied to the CCER for officially registering him as candidate for the upcoming by-election.

“I decided to run in the by-election for a seat in the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) after Shermuhammad Shohiyon was appointed to head the CCER,” said Saidzoda. “He has promised to ensure holding of transparent and democratic elections in compliance with international standards.  I have believed in promises of this person, who is an experienced lawyer.  I would never run in the by-election under Mirzoali Boltuyev, because I have never trusted him (Shermuhammad Shohiyon replaced Mirzoali Boltuyev as the CCER head – Asia-Plus).”

Saidzoda noted that the May 15 by-election would be a kind of examination for Shohiyon.  “The by-election will show to what extent Mr. Shohiyon is able to deliver on his promises.  I, however, believe that the new leadership of the CCER will try to organize transparent elections,” he said.

The Millat editor notes that he has held many meetings with voters in recent days and felt that people want to see new faces in parliament and in the country’s political leadership as a whole.  “Therefore, I hope for support of voters and, first of all, our intelligentsia,” Saidzoda said.

According to him, leaderships of the Social-Democratic and Democratic parties have promised to support his candidacy.  “One other political party has also promised to support me in the upcoming by-election, but I still cannot name it,” Saidzoda added.

We will recall that the by-election will be called in Dushanbe’s constituency # 4 (Sino district) following appointment of Shermuhammad Shohiyon who formerly represented this constituency in the Majlisi Namoyandagon as the CCER chairman.