DUSHANBE, September 22, 2013, Asia-Plus – The Union of Youth of Tajikistan (UYT) has supported candidacy of the incumbent president.

The UYT congress that took place at the Kokhi Vahdat State Complex in Dushanbe on September 21 unanimously supported incumbent President Rahmon as presidential candidate.

Delegates from 72 cities and districts of the country reportedly participated in the UYT congress.

In 2006, the Union of Youth Tajikistan also supported incumbent President Emomali Rahmon as its candidate.

Candidates for president are required to be between 35 and 65 years old, to know the state language and to have lived in Tajikistan for the past ten years. The law does not specify measures for determining state language proficiency.

The law provides that presidential candidates can be nominated by registered political parties, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions, the Union of Youth of Tajikistan, as well as the council of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), the council of Dushanbe City, and councils of provinces, districts, and towns.  The law does not allow for self-nominated independent candidates.

Founded on October 12, 1991, the Union of Youth of Tajikistan is an independent social and political organization in Tajikistan.