THE HISTORICAL AND LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ADOPTION OF THE NATIONAL FLAG

Mahmudzoda Bobojon Nurali

Lecturer, Department of Criminal Law, Criminology and Psychology, Faculty No. 2, Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan

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THE HISTORICAL AND LEGAL SIGNIFICANCE

OF THE ADOPTION OF THE NATIONAL FLAG

The National Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan is a symbol of statehood, national unity of the Tajik people, and the embodiment of power, strength, patriotism, and national sanctities. It reflects the aspirations of the past and present, as well as the bright future of the noble and civilized Tajik nation.

The National Flag represents the honor, dignity, and national and state identity of the Tajiks, and the love and pride associated with it have taken root in the hearts and spirits of every patriot.

Today, archaeological research confirms that the Aryan peoples — Sogdians, Bactrians, Khwarazmians — and their cultural influence possessed their own state symbols and emblems. Historical artifacts, including Sogdian engravings, depict colored banners with images of the sun and stars, which symbolized state authority and protection. During the medieval period, particularly under the Samanid state, symbols and colored banners held important significance. It is said that white and golden-yellow colors were widely used, symbolizing purity and statehood.

It should be noted that the adoption of the National Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan has its own history. The new national flag of independent Tajikistan was approved at the 16th session of the Supreme Council on November 24, 1992.

Two years of creative and scholarly effort were dedicated to drafting, proposing, and adopting the new state symbols of independent Tajikistan. At the beginning of 1990, the Supreme Council of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic announced a competition for the design of new state symbols, in which approximately 250 participants took part.

A special commission was established to develop the new state symbols, headed by the then-President of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, academician Muhammad Osimi. Authors and creative groups from all regions of the republic submitted more than two hundred proposals for the design of the new state emblems.

In addition, the Institute of History, the Institute of Astrophysics, and the Republican Committee on Terminology submitted their own projects for the state symbols of Tajikistan. At the final stage of the competition, a working group consisting of prominent art scholars and painters was selected. The group included the People's Artist of Tajikistan Zuhur Habibulloev (team leader and designer), Larisa Dodkhudoeva (artist and art historian, Candidate of Art Studies), Anatoly Zanevsky (President of the Union of Designers of Tajikistan), and Irina Ignatushina (art historian and Honored Worker of Art of Tajikistan).

The authors proposed the National Flag as a rectangular cloth consisting of three horizontal stripes — red, white, and green. The width of the white stripe was designed to be one and a half times wider than the red and green stripes, while the width of the flag itself was one and a half times smaller than its length.

Initially, the authors included the image of a lion, crown, and stars as primary motifs of the flag. The lion, derived from ancient Persian–Tajik traditions, symbolized wisdom, courage, and justice.

Later, the working group replaced the lion motif with the crown and seven stars, which ultimately became part of the final design of the National Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan.

It must be noted that the image of the crown placed on the National Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan symbolizes the statehood of the crown-bearing Tajik people; that is, the crown represents the unifying essence of both the state and the nation. Alongside the crown, the flag features seven stars arranged in a semicircle above it, symbolizing the sacred number seven, traditionally associated with blessings and good fortune.

Initially, according to the authors of the National Flag, the seven stars were interpreted as representing seven prominent Persian–Tajik poets. Today, however, the seven stars symbolize the seven historical and cultural regions of our beloved country, Tajikistan: Sughd, Zarafshan, Hisor, Rasht, Vakhsh, Khatlon, and Badakhshan.

During the period when the commission was working on the proposed designs for the state symbols, the Republic of Tajikistan attained its independence on September 9, 1991. Taking into account the formation of a new Tajik state and the acquisition of independence, as well as the historical, cultural, and national values of our people, the authors interpreted the colors of the flag as follows:

– Red represents the struggle and sacrifices of the people in the path toward freedom and independence;

– White symbolizes purity of intention, bright fortune, and the good destiny of our nation;

– Green signifies diligence, labor, and the industriousness of the people, through which our country becomes fertile and flourishing.

On November 24, 1992, the working group responsible for developing the new state symbols of independent Tajikistan presented the draft of the National Flag for discussion to the deputies at the 16th session of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan, held in the city of Khujand.

The very design of the National Flag—embodying the history, culture, and national values of our people, and now officially adopted as the State Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan—was unanimously approved by the deputies during that same 16th session of the Supreme Council under the leadership of the newly elected Chairman, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon.

The following day, on November 25, 1992, the new state symbol of independent Tajikistan, the National Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan, was brought into the hall of the Supreme Council. For the first time, the newly elected Chairman of the Supreme Council, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, took the oath of allegiance before the National Flag.

It should be noted that after the adoption of the National Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan, it was raised above the building of the Arbob Palace in the city of Khujand, where the historic 16th session of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan had taken place.

Respect for national values — including the Constitution, the Emblem, the Flag, and the National Anthem — represents national pride, state stability, and the honoring of historical and cultural heritage.Our duty, as the current generation, is to educate our youth and adolescents in the spirit of reverence toward national values and to instill in them deep respect and commitment to these symbols.

It must be emphasized that the Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan is not merely a symbol of statehood, but also a reflection of history, culture, aspirations, and national self-awareness. It has been shaped on the foundation of the millennia-old Aryan tradition of statecraft and the cultural heritage of the Tajik people. Strengthening knowledge and understanding of national symbols—especially among young people—is essential for the stability of statehood and the progress of society.

The Founder of National Peace and Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, in order to honor and express loyalty to one of the main state symbols—the Flag of Tajikistan—issued a decree on November 20, 2009, proclaiming November 24 as the Day of the National Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan. Exercising his legislative initiative, he also submitted to the national parliament a draft law of the Republic of Tajikistan «On Amendments and Additions to the Law ‘On Public Holidays’».

It is gratifying that, following the adoption of this law, November 24 is celebrated annually with pride and dignity as the Day of the National Flag, honoring the statehood and civilization-building role of our nation. Indeed, the Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan is not only a symbol of governance but also an embodiment of the history, culture, aspirations, and national identity of the Tajik people. Formed through the thousand-year experience of Aryan statehood and the cultural legacy of the Tajiks, its recognition among the younger generation is of vital importance for strengthening statehood and advancing society.