A group of members of Russia’s upper chamber (Federation Council) of parliament are currently in Tajikistan on a working visit.
Yesterday, they met here with Shukurjon Zuhurov, Speaker of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).
The meeting was focused on issues related to status of the Russian language in Tajikistan, Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, Zuhurov noted at the meeting that the status of the Russian language in Tajikistan is determined by the country’s Constitution.
“Zuhurov noted that in accordance with Article 2 of the Constitution of Tajikistan, Russian is the language of inter-ethnic communication in Tajikistan,” said Sutlonov. “He further added that in accordance with the country’s law on appeals from citizens, the Tajik authorities should replay to them in Tajik or in Russian.”
Moreover, Tajik parliament prepares draft laws in two languages – Tajik and Russian, Tajik speaker said noting that the study of the Russian language in the Tajik-language schools begins since second grade.
Head of the Russian parliamentary delegation, Mikhail Kozlov, who is deputy head of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, for his part, noted that Russia will continue sending teachers to Tajikistan and constructing Russian-language schools in the country, Sultonov said.
The Federation Council is the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia (the parliament of the Russian Federation). Each of the 85 federal subjects of Russia – consisting of 22 republics, 46 oblasts, nine krais, three federal cities, four autonomous okrugs, and one autonomous oblast – sends two senators to the Council, for a total membership of 170 Councilors.
Sessions of the Federation Council are held in Moscow from January 25 to July 15, and from September 16 to December 31. Sessions are open to the public, although the location of sessions can be changed if the Federation Council so desires, and secure closed sessions may be convoked.
For purposes of succession, the chairman of the Federation Council is the third highest position, after the president and the prime minister. In the case of incapacity of the President and Prime Minister, the chairman of the Federation Council becomes Acting President of the Russian Federation.
