On Friday August 28, President Emomali Rahmon awarded 70 people on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of Tajikistan Independence, according to the Tajik president’s official website.  Among them is ex-Speaker of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) and former Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev.

The head of state bestowed the Order “Star of the President of Tajikistan” 1st Class on Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev.  

The Order “Star of the President of Tajikistan is a high state decoration of the Republic of Tajikistan.  It is awarded to statesmen and politicians and other citizens of Tajikistan for particularly outstanding services to the people in strengthening peace and developing Tajik statehood, for especially important services in state and socio-political activities contributing to increasing the international prestige of Tajikistan, for outstanding achievements in the economy, social sphere, science and culture, in developing social progress, and for special merits and high patriotism in state and military service.

Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev (born February 1, 1952) is a Tajikistani politician who had been Mayor of Dushanbe, the national capital, since 1996 to 2017.  He had also served as Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (the upper chamber of the Tajik parliament) since 2000 until 2020.  On January 13, 2016, Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev was awarded the Order of Zarintoj 1st Class. 

Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev might not be a name well known outside Tajikistan, but he has most certainly been someone well known to Tajikistan's people throughout its 29-year history as an independent country.  With the exception of President Rahmon, Ubaidulloyev was the last person from the civil war era to hold a top post in government.