Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) of parliament has seconded amendments made to the country’s law on the status of servicemen.
The 13th session of the Majlisi Milli of the fifth convocation, presided over by its head, Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, took place in Dushanbe on December 21.
The session discussed some fifty issues, including laws on the status of the capital city, tobacco product regulations and the status of servicemen.
Under Tajikistan’s legislation, the Majlisi Milli considers and seconds laws adopted by the Majlisi Namoyandagon. The Majlisi Milli shall second the law by a majority of votes of the total number of its members. In the event the Majlisi Milli doesn’t second the law, it shall be considered at the Majlisi Namoyandagon repeatedly.
If the Majlisi Namoyandagon does not agree with decision of the Majlisi Milli, the law shall be considered to be adopted if Majlisi Namoyandagon by not less than two-thirds of the votes confirms the decision previously adopted by it.
Only the Majlisi Namoyandagon shall adopt the Law on the State budget. The Majlisi Namoyandagon shall control over execution of the budget.
Recall, the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) adopted the law on the amendments made to the country’s law on the status of servicemen on October 11.
The amendments were reportedly 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.
