At the 16th Congress of the Union of Writers of Tajikistan (UWT), held in Dushanbe yesterday, delegates approved amendments to the organization’s charter, allowing incumbent chairman Nizom Qosim to run for a third consecutive term.
Previously, the charter limited the chairmanship to two terms. However, the updated version—currently unavailable to the public—removed this restriction. As the sole candidate, Nizom Qosim, who has led the UWT since 2015, was re-elected unopposed.
Qosim had announced the expected amendments on the eve of the congress in an interview with Asia-Plus, noting that the charter was also being revised to lift the age limit for membership. Previously, individuals over 55 were not eligible to join the Union.
Leadership reshuffle within the union
In addition to re-electing the chairman, the congress brought about several notable personnel changes:
- Tolib Luqmon, formerly editor-in-chief of the newspaper Adabiyot va San’at, was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the UWT, replacing Ato Mirkhoja, who now takes over as editor-in-chief of the literary journal Sadoi Sharq, previously led by Rustam Vahobzoda.
- Abdullo Rahnamo has been named the new editor-in-chief of Adabiyot va San’at.
- Sirojiddin Ikromi, who had previously headed the UWT’s prose department, was elected Deputy Chairman, replacing Ravshan Makhsumzoda, who now assumes the role of editor-in-chief of Pamir magazine.
The congress also included a presentation of Nizom Qosim’s five-year activity report as chairman, followed by a review from the Union’s Audit Commission for the same period.
A brief history of the Union of Writers of Tajikistan
The Union of Writers of Tajikistan was founded in 1934, and over the years, it has been led by prominent figures, including Abulqosim Lohouti, Said Nosirov, Nodir Shanbezoda, Sotim Ulughzoda, Mirzo Tursunzoda, Mumin Qanoat, Askar Hakim, Mehmon Bakhti, and Nizom Qosim.
During the Soviet era, the Union was one of the most influential public organizations in the country, and its president held significant status and influence. Under the leadership of renowned poets such as Mirzo Tursunzoda and Mumin Qanoat, the Union became a key ideological institution in Soviet Tajikistan.
In 1991, the election of the Union's president became one of the most highly discussed events. The leading candidates were Loiq Sherali and Askar Hakim, with Hakim ultimately emerging victorious.
The leadership structure of the Union consists of the president, two vice presidents, and a board, all of whom are elected at the congress. The Union’s board oversees several sections, including poetry, prose, drama, children’s literature, literary criticism, translation, and literary relations, as well as sections for Russian- and Uzbek-language literature.
The Union of Writers is funded by the state budget, and its special publications include the literary journal Sadoi Sharq ("Voice of the East"), the Russian-language journal Pamir, and the weekly newspaper Adabiyot va San’at ("Literature and Art").
