Opposition Candidate Barred From Elections

The only independent candidate linked to Uzbekistan’s small opposition was disqualified from running in next month’s parliamentary elections, his party said.

The opposition Birlik, or Unity, party denied authorities’ allegation that nearly 13,000 signatures were invalid on the registration of candidate Shavkat Tursunov.

This former Soviet republic’s five legal political parties all publicly support President Islam Karimov. The head in Uzbekistan of the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute expressed concern that independent candidates were being excluded.