During the this year’s spring conscription campaign, the Defense Ministry of Tajikistan has earned nearly 43 million somonis from a paid one-month basic reserve service.
“1,500 young men took the paid one-month basic reserve service during this year’s spring conscription campaign and a total amount from the paid one-month basic reserve service was nearly 43 million somonis,” Colonel Faridoun Mahmadalizoda, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, told Asia-Plus in an interview, noting that each of those 1500 draftees paid 28,560 somonis (equivalent to 420 calculating indicators). Current calculating indicator, or estimate, is equal to 68.00 somonis.
According to Mahmadalizoda, the first part of them began the 30-day basic reserve service on June 12 and the second part will start the 30-day basic reserve service on July 12.
“They are taking the paid one-month basic reserve service at Lohour (Roudaki district) and Fakhrobod (Khatlon province) training grounds as well as at the Dushanbe-based Tajmahal training center and at training base of the Defense Ministry Military Institute’s branch in Sughd province,” Mahmadalizoda said.
He further added that the paid amounts were channeled to construction military units, improvement of material and technical base, payment of salaries to officers and teaching staff, payment of administrative expenses, ensuring social protection of other servicemen and so forth.
Recall, amendments were made to the country’s law on military service in 2021. The amendments came into effect on February 4, 2021 and young men in Tajikistan who wish to forgo the military service may now do so by paying a fee to the government. 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.
Recruitment of citizens for alternative military service is carried out within the established quota, but when more draftees apply for the one-month basic reserve service, they can be called to serve in the next conscription campaign.
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.
