We are the nationwide political party, says NSDP leader

DUSHANBE, December 5, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- By renaming the Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDP) the National Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (NSDSP) we want to stress that we are not any regional party but we are the nationwide political party, NSDSP leader Rahmatillo Zoirov announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on December 5.

“Our managing staff includes representatives from all regions of the country, irrespective of their ethnic origin and religious creed,” Zoirov said.

“By this, our party differs from other political parties functioning in the country,” said NSDSP chairman.  “For example, we do not see representatives of other ethnic groups in managing staffs of other political parties, while members of the managing staff of our party include along with ethnic Tajiks also ethnic Uzbeks, ethnic Russians and ethnic Ukrainians.”

According to him, the NSDSP now has 7,712 members, with 42 percent of them being women.

We will recall that the 12th congress of the Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan (SDPT) that took place in Dushanbe on December 4 reelected Rahmatillo Zoirov to the position of the SDPT chairman.

Besides, the congress made a decision to rename the Social-Democratic Party the National Social-Democratic Party (NSDP).

Mr. Amniyat Abdulnazarov, Ms. Dilshod Samadova and Mr. Shuhrat Qudratov were elected co-chairpersons of the party.

Founded in 2002, the Social-Democratic Party was registered on December 20, 2002.  It was originally registered as the Party of Justice and Development in 1999.  Tajikistan's Ministry of Justice requested the same year that the Supreme Court ban the party's activities and its registration was canceled.  The party re-emerged and was registered under the name of the Social-Democratic Party in late 2002.  The party was renamed the National Social-Democratic Party on December 4, 2011.  Chairman of the Nationals Social-Democratic Party is Rahmatillo Zoirov.