The spring conscription campaign have begun in Tajikistan today.
The republican conscription commission is led by Deputy Prime Minister, Ms. Matloubakhon Sattoriyon, according to the Ministry of Defense (MoD).
The draft affects able-bodied male citizens in the age bracket of 18 years old to 27 years old, who are not members of the armed forces reserve.
The same decree provides for the retirement from active duty of soldiers and sergeants whose service under conscription is over.
According to a 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.
According to official data, some 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.
Young Tajiks can avoid or postpone military service if they are ill, studying at university, an only son, or if they have two children.
Meanwhile, amendments have been made to the country’s law on military service this year. The amendments came into effect on February 4 and young men in Tajikistan who wish to forgo the military service may now do so by paying a fee to the government.
Recall, while presenting parliament with the draft bill on the conscription opt-out fee, Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo noted on January 20 that only 10 percent of eligible young people are enlisted to do military service each year.
According to him, a one-month basic reserve service will be organized for those who did not perform conscript service for a fee. “At the end of basic reserve service they will receive military cards,” the defense minister said.
A representative at the Defense Ministry says the size of the fee is not yet known and will later be calculated by the government.
Besides, under the law on the universal military duty in new edition, graduates of universities having military department will also be drafted into the army for one year.
Only people who have done military service will be permitted to obtain employment with the government or join the army in a professional capacity.
Tajikistan’s armed forces consist of Ground Forces, Mobile Forces (paratroopers of the armed forces of Tajikistan), Air Force and Air Defense Force.
