DUSHANBE, February 13, 2014, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s Armed Forces are making preparations for celebration of their 21st anniversary. Tajik National Army Day is marked on February 23.
Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD), says wreaths will be placed at the Military Glory Memorial in Dushanbe’s Victory Park on behalf of President Emomali Rahmon and Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo in the morning of February 23.
“Besides, a ceremonial meeting dedicated to the Tajik National Army Day will take place at the Ministry of Defense on the same day,” Mahmadaliyev said, noting that no military parade will be held this year.
We will recall that 10,000 servicemen were on the military parade in Dushanbe last year and twenty combat aircraft and helicopters flew over the Dousti Square on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of formation of Tajikistan’s Armed Forces.
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.
