DUSHANBE, July 6, 2013, Asia-Plus -- The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) has set the date for by-elections to Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) o parliament.  The By-election wil be held on September 14.

We will recall that three members of the Majlisi Milli resigned during the 14th session of the Majlisi Milli of the fourth convocation that took place in Dushanbe on July 4.

Gulkhoja Jangibekov, Sulton Valiyev and Bahriddin Solehov decided to resign ahead of time.

Mr. Gulkhoja Jangibekov was relieved of his post of Chancellor of Khorog State University on May 11, 2012 while Valiyev and Solehov were relieved of their posts of chairpersons of Vose and Hisor districts in February this year.

Three-fourths of the total number of members of the Majlisi Milli are elected at joint meetings of people’s deputies of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region and its towns and districts, regions and their towns and districts, Dushanbe city and its districts, towns and districts subordinate to the centre, on the basis of indirect elections by means of secret ballot.  The Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region, regions, Dushanbe City, towns and districts subordinate to the center have an equal number of representatives in the Majlisi Milli (five each).

One-fourths of the members of the Majlisi Milli are appointed by the President.  Besides, 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.