Voter Unawareness in Tajik Southeast

In Badakhshan, a remote southeastern province of Tajikistan, few voters have even heard of the candidates standing in the November 6 presidential election. Except for the incumbent, Imomali Rahmon, of course. 

When the opposition’s joint candidate, Oinikhol Bobonazarova, failed to qualify to take part in the election, that left Rahmonov and five relatively minor figures, Abduhalim Ghafforov of the Socialist Party; Ismoil Talbakov, deputy head of the Communist Party; Olim Boboev, head of the Party of Economic Reforms; Ahmadbek Bukhoriev of the Agrarian Party, and Democratic Party leader Saidjafar Ismonov. The latter three are seen as Rahmonov supporters so it is not really clear why they are standing.

Rahmon is the only one voters in Badakhshan are familiar with from the media and from his presidential visits to the province.

Farzona Abdulqaisova is an IWPR contributor in Tajikistan.

This audio programme went out in Russian and Tajik on national radio stations in Tajikistan, as part of IWPR project work funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.