VZCZCXRO0760
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0640 1200741
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300741Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0165
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1441
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1958
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 1215
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2074
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2080
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2102
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1832

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000640 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN:  POLITICAL PARTY NARROWLY ESCAPES CLOSURE 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Rahmatullo Zoyirov, Chairman of the Social Democratic 
Party of Tajikistan, breathed a sigh of relief when on April 24 
the Supreme Court acquitted him of charges of not properly 
reporting on his party's activities and providing the necessary 
documents to the Ministry of Justice. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  In January of 2007, the Ministry of Justice demanded 
the Social Democratic Party's documents from Zoyirov including 
financial records, tax documents, and an annual report of its 
activities.  Instead of directly submitting the documents to the 
Ministry of Justice, Zoyirov published the information in the 
national media.  On March 5 the Ministry of Justice sent a 
written letter to the Social Democratic Party's office warning 
the party that if it did not submit all documents within ten 
days the Ministry of Justice would suspend the party's 
operations. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Zoyirov contends that he never received the letter 
and therefore could not comply with the request.  Zoyirov said 
he visited the Ministry of Justice at least ten times between 
December 2006 and March 2007 and questioned why none of his 
interlocutors ever asked him for any documents during their 
meetings.  Prior to the court hearing, Zoyirov met with PolOff 
April 20 to discuss his party's latest problem, but expressed 
confidence that he would win the case.  On April 24, the Supreme 
Court found Zoyirov not guilty. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)   Why would the government go to the trouble of 
prosecuting Zoyirov only to find him not guilty?  Over the past 
several weeks, Zoyirov has publicly issued strong statements 
criticizing the government.  Zoyirov announced a new Alternative 
Development Strategy for Tajikistan which prioritizes 
legislative and political reform.  Newspapers published his 
comments criticizing the current National Development Strategy 
for not tackling corruption and organized crime and only 
focusing on economic development.  He is also assisting and 
advocating on behalf of Dushanbe residents who are in danger of 
being displaced from their homes under a city re-zoning plan. 
Irked by Zoyirov's meddling, Mayor Ubaidolloyev publicly said 
that Zoyirov should mind his own business and stick to politics 
rather than focus on economic developments.  According to 
Zoyirov, Ubaidolloyev stated in a public meeting, "I will show 
him." 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  COMMENT:  Zoyirov is the preeminent constitutional 
lawyer in Tajikistan and used to serve as President Rahmon's 
legal advisor on constitutional matters.  In fact, he helped 
write the constitution.  His knowledge of the law and good 
connections with the Supreme Court judges whom he considers to 
be colleagues, no doubt helped him fight against the 
government's desire to shut down the party.  The government 
likely intended the court case as a warning to Zoyirov that his 
outspoken criticism is not welcome, and that at any time, it can 
pull the plug on his party.  END COMMENT. 
 
JACOBSON