DUSHANBE, August 1, 2011, Asia-Plus -- On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence, President Emomali Rahmon gave the military ranks of  Lieutenant-General and Major-General to a number of flag officers and bestowed high government decorations on them.

According to the presidential press service, by president’s decree the next military rank of Lieutenant-General was given Saymuddin Yatimov, Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), Rajabali Rahmonali, Commander of the National Guards, Sherali Mirzo, Commander of the Border Troops, Ramazon Rahimov, First Deputy Interior Minister, and Abdusattor Rajabov, Head of the department for Defense and Legal Education within President’s Executive Office.

Besides, a number of senior officers from power-wielding structures of the country were given the next military rank of Major-General.

Meanwhile, two persons were awarded the Order of Spitamen 1st Class, three persons were awarded the Order of Sharaf (Glory) 1st Class, and sixteen persons were awarded the Order of Sharaf 2nd Class.  100 people were awarded the Medal of Bravery, 33 – the Medal “For Worthy Service,” four – the “Shafqat” (Mercy) Medal, and eight border guards were awarded the “Brave Border Guard” Medal.

48 officials from the Supreme Court, Security Council, Council of Justice,, Higher Economic Court, Minister of Defense, Migration Service, Customs Service, National Human Rights Institution, Minister of Interior, Minister of Justice, Constitutional Court, Drug Control Agency and the Central Committee of the Voluntary Society of Assistance to the Army were awarded the jubilee medal “The 20th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan.”