DUSHANBE, February 24, Asia-Plus  -- By-elections to Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) of parliament are taking place on February 25.

The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) registered four candidates for by-elections to the Majlisi Milli in late January.

The Istaravshan mayor Ibrohim Abdulloyev as well as chairmen of the districts of Roudaki (Saymurod Taghoyev,) Rasht (Saidumron Abdurahmon) and Panj (Abdudjon Tavakkalov) were registered as candidates from the constituencies of Sughd, Khatlon and districts subordinate to the center.

The Istaravshan mayor is member of the Communist Part (CPT) and the district chairmen are members o the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDPT).

We will recall that the Majlisi Milli speaker on December 15, 2011 accepted resignation of three members of the Majlisi Milli – ex-mayor of the city of Istaravshan Munim Kholiqov, ex-chairman of the Roudaki district Mansour Qodirov, and ex-chairman of the Panj district Mirzodavlat Saburov.  Besides, chairman of the Tojikobod district, Maqsoum Fozilov, died last year.  Thus, there are four vacant seats in the upper house of the Parliament of Tajikistan.

The Majlisi Milli is the upper chamber with 33 members; 25 elected for a five year term by deputies of local councils of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region, regions and their towns and districts, Dushanbe city and its districts, towns and districts subordinate to the center and 8 members appointed by the president.

The Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region, regions, Dushanbe City, towns and districts subordinate to the centre have an equal number of representatives in the Majlisi Milli.

Each former President of the Republic of Tajikistan shall be the life member of the Majlisi Milli, if he doesn’t refuse to use this right.  Former Tajik President Qahhor Mahkamov is member of the Majlisi Milli.