Friday, August 10, 2012 -
A regional office of Tajikistan’s sole opposition party was set ablaze on Friday, and officials suspect arson.
Unidentified individuals were reported as dousing the regional party headquarters of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) in Vahdat with gasoline and then setting the building alight, the party’s web site Nahvat.tj reported on August 10.
The fire, set early in the morning hours, destroyed windows but did not extend into the interior of the building, the party noted.
Vahdat is located just outside the capital city of Dushanbe.
An investigation has been launched by local authorities, the party said.
IRPT party buildings have been susceptible to attack in recent weeks, as government shelling of the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) has resulted in raids on the office there, the party said on the site.
Late last month, the party alleges that government forces entered IRPT’s regional office in Khorog, the provincial seat, and swore at party members and representatives.
IRPT raised alarms when it said its regional party head had been killed in the shelling against militants last month, but the regional leader later resurfaced.