DUSHANBE, February 23, 2015, Asia-Plus – Tajikistan has marked the 22nd anniversary of formation of Tajikistan’s Armed Forces.
On this occasion, a ceremony of placing wreaths at the Military Glory Memorial on behalf of the President, who is also the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Tajikistan, took place in Dushanbe’s Victory Park today, Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD), told Asia-Plus in an interview.
According to him, wreaths were also placed at the Military Glory Memorial on behalf of the Ministry of Defense and veterans of war and labor.
Tajik National Army Day has been marked on February 23 since 1993.
Tajikistan”s National Army now consists of Air and Air Defense Forces, Land Forces and Mobile Forces. The Mobile Force of Tajik Army was founded in 2005 without increase in a total strength of the country’s armed forces. Air and Air-Defense Forces were also united in 2005. Tajikistan’s armed forces also include National Guard and Security Forces (internal and border troops).
Unlike the other former Soviet states of Central Asia, Tajikistan did not form armed forces based upon former Soviet units on its territory. Instead, the Russian Ministry of Defense took control of the Dushanbe-based 201st Motor Rifle Division; actually control simply shifted from the former district headquarters in Tashkent, which was in now-independent Uzbekistan, to Moscow.
