DUSHANBE, October 11, Asia-Plus -- Tajik parliamentarians have endorsed a bill requiring an oath of loyalty to the president.  

A regular sitting of the third session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber parliament) of the third convocation, presided over by its chairman, Saydullo Khairulloyev, was held on October 11.   

Abdumannon Kholiqov, the head of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee on Public Order, Defense and Security, presenting the bill noted that this swear means an oath of loyalty to the president as the Supreme Commander of Tajikistan’s Armed Forces.  “There were not a few events in history, when army left the head of state undefended,” said MP, “And the events of the Nineties of last century in Tajikistan are evidence of this.” 

Speaking to journalists, Kholiqov noted that Russia and Kazakhstan also have a practice of taking oath of loyalty to the president.   He noted that an oath recruits take when joining the armed forces ranks is not abolished.  “The oath of loyalty to the president is taken during the election of a new president,” the parliamentarian noted.   

Sherkhon Salimov, the head of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Committee for the Constitution, Legislation and Human Rights, told journalists that under the oath of loyalty to the president servicemen swear loyalty to the president, people and motherland and vow observing the Constitution and laws of Tajikistan, carrying out orders of the president as the supreme commander.  

Lieutenant-General Ramil Nadirov, First deputy Defense Minister also head of the Chief Staff of the Armed Forces of Tajikistan, noted that oath taking is the most ceremonial moment in the military service.  Asked about compliance of this law requiring the oath of loyalty to the president with democratic values, Nadirov said, “If people elects president, who represents this people, these two notions [“people” and “president”] are inseparable.”