Tajikistan has established a ‘democracy’ award whose recipients will receive cash and a medal emblazoned President Emomali Rahmon’s image, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports.

 According to a president’s decree signed on February 2, the "Emomali Rahmon - Leader of the Nation" prize will honor “special contributions to the development of democracy.”

Tajiks and foreigners are said to be eligible.

President’s decree says the medal and accompanying cash award of 125,000 somoni (currently about $14,000) will be delivered every three years, but it does not stipulate when the first winner will be announced.

The leader of the nation in Tajikistan is singing songs and composing poems. The Tajik playwright Abdugafor Abdujabbor wrote a play about Rahmon's election, reflecting in his composition the milestones of life and the activities of the president.

In November 2017, a video for the song dedicated to President Emomali Rahmon was presented in the republic. On the video, Rahmon is presented as an indefatigable toiler and caring ruler.

“The Qazaq Times”