instituting the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan appointed Mahkamov the first President of Tajikistan on 30 November 1990. Mahkamov's fall from power came in August 1991 when he supported the failed August Coup by hardliners in Moscow. Protestors took to the streets and demanded Mahkamov's ouster from power and on August 31, 1991 he resigned his positions as President and First Secretary. Mahkamov then retired from politics and sat on the sidelines during the ensuing political instability and Civil War in Tajikistan. In 2000 Mahkamov was appointed a member of the National Assembly of Tajikistan by the order of the President Emomali Rahmonov. He died on 8 June 2016 at the age of 84, after suffering a long illness. References Obituary 1931 births 2016 deaths 20th-century engineers Heads of government of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic Tenth convocation members of the Soviet of the Union Eleventh convocation members of the Soviet of the Union Heads of state of Tajikistan Members of the National Assembly of Tajikistan People from Khujand Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Presidents of Tajikistan Prime Ministers of Tajikistan Saint Petersburg Mining University alumni Soviet engineers Tajikistani engineers First Secretaries of the Communist Party of Tajikistan