DUSHANBE, December 27, Asia-Plus - According to a poll conducted by the Dushanbe weekly Nigoh (Sight) to determine the most popular persons of this year, Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, Dushanbe Mayor also Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament), has been named Politician of Year in 2007.

The weekly mentioned that proceeding from the fact that “a post of president is an elective office and propagation of his personally is widely presented in media,” they asked those surveyed to not name President Emomali Rahmon in the category “Politician of Year.” 

Known Tajik researcher, Professor Hojimuhammad Umarov has been named Economist of Year, Rahmatillo Zoirov has been named Lawyer of Year, and Sherali Kabirov, deputy director general of Tajikistan Aluminum Company (TALCO) has been named Manager of Year. 

The Babilon-T director general Behzod Fayzulloyev has been named Entrepreneur of Year.    

Among the popular persons of 2007 those surveyed have also named known Tajik poet Bozor Sobir, judo player Rasoul Boqiyev and variety singer Manizha Davlatova. 

Tojiddin Pirov, head of Tojiksodirotbonk (TSB), has been named Philanthropist of Year.  

The Nigoh editor Nourali Davlat has been named Journalist of Year.  

According to the weekly, the poll has been conducted among 35 persons, including 11 politicians, 11 local journalists, 11 known experts, one representative from the INDEM Republican Foundation (weekly’s founder) and one representative from the weekly’s staff.