DUSHANBE -- The united Tajik opposition is demanding that election authorities register its candidate for president, despite the fact she fell short of the necessary signatures required.
Oinihol Bobonazarova, backed by the United Reformist Forces, missed an October 11 deadline to collect the required 210,000 signatures of support from registered voters.
But the opposition argues that the 202,000 signatures that Bobonazarova did collect make her eligible, since the law requires the support of 5 percent of the country's estimated 4 million eligible voters.
The opposition also blames the authorities for weakening Bobonazarova's chances by preventing more than 1 million Tajik migrants -- a key opposition power base -- from taking part in the signature-gathering process.
Six candidates, including incumbent President Emomali Rahmon, have been registered to take part in the November 6 vote.
Oinihol Bobonazarova, backed by the United Reformist Forces, missed an October 11 deadline to collect the required 210,000 signatures of support from registered voters.
But the opposition argues that the 202,000 signatures that Bobonazarova did collect make her eligible, since the law requires the support of 5 percent of the country's estimated 4 million eligible voters.
The opposition also blames the authorities for weakening Bobonazarova's chances by preventing more than 1 million Tajik migrants -- a key opposition power base -- from taking part in the signature-gathering process.
Six candidates, including incumbent President Emomali Rahmon, have been registered to take part in the November 6 vote.
