Tajikistan president's son to run for Dushanbe parliament.

DUSHANBE, February 11 (Itar-Tass) -- The People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan led invariably by the head of state included the president's son in the party's presidium late last year and nominated him the other day as candidate to the Dushanbe city parliament (majlis), the local media report.

Rustam Emomali (who took the first name of his father Emomali Rakhmon
as his surname) became known to the public just a year ago, when he was
elected deputy chairman of the republican Committee for Youth, to work on
a voluntary basis. He is a graduate of the Tajik National University in
the specialty of international economic relations and now holds a post in
the state committee for investment and state property. He plays football
on the local team.
Rustam Emomali is the second eldest child in President Rakhmon's large
family (seven daughters and two sons). He chose a political career
following his elder sister Ozoda Rakhmonova who was recently appointed to
the post of deputy foreign minister of the republic.
Independent observers think the incumbent president may be training
the successor. His third presidential term will come to an end in 2013,
but the amendments to the country's Constitution actually enable him to
remain in power till 2020.
-0-saf/ast