Married fixed-period servicemen in Tajikistan now can take vacation once every six months. Members of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament have endorsed amendments proposed to the country’s law on the status of servicemen.
A regular sitting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, took place on October 11.
Presenting the bill to lawmakers, the First Deputy Minister of Defense, Emomali Sobirzoda, said the draft amendments had been worked out by order of the head of President’s Executive Office, Ozoda Rahmon.
The amendments, in particular, stipulate that married fixed-period private soldiers now can take a 20-day vacation every six months and married fixed-period sergeants now can take a 30-day vacation every six months.
Besides, married fixed-period servicemen should serve in military units located within the bound of not more than 100 kilometers from their houses.
Married soldier now will have two leaves (permission to be away from one's unit for a specific period) per month.
According to the Ministry of Defense (MoD), every year, some 15,000-16,000 young Tajik men are drafted into the country’s armed forces. The two-month-long effort seeking to enlist young men aged 18-27 for the two-year compulsory military service takes place twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn.
Some sources say more than 600,000 young men in Tajikistan are eligible for military service, but some 150,000 of them have received draft deferments or are exempted from the military service and some 100,000 other conscript-age young Tajiks are outside the country in search of a living.
Young Tajiks can avoid or postpone military service if they are ill, studying at university, an only son, or if they have two children.
Tajikistan’s armed forces consist of Ground Forces, Mobile Forces (paratroopers of the armed forces of Tajikistan), Air Force and Air Defense Force.
