Independence Day (Tajikistan)


Independence Day of Tajikistan is the main national holiday of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Background

In the late 1980s political processes began in the Soviet Union, which have been associated with the start of the democratization of the Soviet society. Facing a spillover of the unrests throughout Eastern Europe that began in Poland, the republics of the USSR under the influence of the national-democratic forces began the process of declaring "state sovereignty" in the national parliaments of the republics. And so, sovereignty was also announced in the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic.
On August 24, 1990, for the second session of the Supreme Soviet of the Tajik SSR adopted the Declaration "On the Sovereignty of the Tajik SSR." But this sovereignty was declared while the Soviet Union still existed. Despite this, the Declaration was the first document to on the path to the real independence of Tajikistan. It declared that "the Tajik SSR in the territory independently solve all political, economic, social and cultural issues, in addition to the issues that Tajikistan voluntarily transfers the competence of the USSR". According to the former Minister of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan H. Hamidov, "Declaration was the first document towards independence. For example, it is the fifth article that had given the Supreme Council of the Republic the authority to stop the action of the documents of the USSR, which contradicted the legal rights in Tajikistan."
After the failed coup organized by the State Committee on the State of Emergency, supporters of the conservative forces of the CPSU in Moscow, in the national republics began processes proclamation of national independence. This event led to the discontent of the national-democratic and Islamic forces in Tajikistan, who fought against the Communist Party of Tajikistan, which has been ruling the country. In Dushanbe, started the rally of supporters of opposition parties, where they are required to convene an extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Tajikistan, the declaration of independence and the resignation of management of the Tajik SSR, suspension Communist party activity. Extraordinary session of the Supreme Soviet of the Tajik SSR was convened. On September 9, 1991 at the session Shuro Oli a Resolution and Declaration "On State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan" was adopted.
Tajikistan gained independence formally on December 26, 1991 in connection with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Customs

According to the law "On the feast days", September 9 which is officially known as "Day of State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan" is the main official state holiday in the country and is celebrated every year. The traditional three-volley salute and fireworks annually take place in honor of the holiday, which is also a non-working day. Military parades of the Dushanbe Military Garrison on Dousti Square celebrating Independence Day have been held Quinquennially on September 9, with the 2016 parade being the biggest one as of yet. An annual mass games are also usually held in the central stadium of Dushanbe. Tajik families usually celebrate the holiday with small traditional feasts, as well as with the decoration of cars, buildings, and streets with Tajik flags. Television channels such as Televidenye Tajikistana, 1TV First Channel and TV Varzish stream all of the official events live during their programs. On Independence Day in 2019, President Rahmon opened the Second Unit of the Rogun Hydropower Plant.