DUSHANBE, December 1, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper house of parliament) Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev yesterday signed a decree on holding of the seventh session of the Majlisi Milli on December 15.

Shavkat Saidov, an aide to the Majlisi Milli speaker, says the session will consider a number of laws that have been adopted by the lower house (Majlisi Namoyandgon) of the parliament this year.

“The session is expected to consider a new law on the legal status of foreign citizens in Tajikistan as well as laws requiring amendments to a number of applicable laws, including the laws on the National Guards of Tajikistan, advertisement, corruption and some others,” Saidov said.

The Majlisi Milli, the upper chamber with 33 members, 25 elected for a five year term by deputies of local councils of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region, regions and their towns and districts, Dushanbe city and its districts, towns and districts subordinate to the center and 8 members appointed by the president.

The Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region, regions, Dushanbe City, towns and districts subordinate to the centre have an equal number of representatives in the Majlisi Milli.

The current Chairman of the Majlisi Milli is Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev from April 17, 2000.

The bicameral legislature was introduced in the September 1999 constitution.  Prior to that Tajikistan had a unicameral legislature.