Firdavs Hayotzoda, the newly appointed Main Military Prosecutor of Tajikistan, has emphasized the need to prevent illegal methods of conscription.
Faridoun Mahmadalizoda, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, says Hayotzoda made this statement on March 3 during a meeting on preparations for the spring conscription.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Ms. Dilrabo Mansouri, who is Chairperson of the Republican Conscription Commission, and Minister of Defense, Emomali Sobirzoda.
The chief military prosecutor reportedly stressed the importance of thoroughly reviewing conscripts' personal data and ensuring that only healthy, strong, and highly qualified young men are selected and sent to serve in the Armed Forces.
“To achieve this, it is necessary to prevent illegal conscription practices, reduce crime levels in this process, and pay special attention to the quality of conscription,” he stated.
This year, President Emomali Rahmon signed a decree ordering the spring conscription of citizens into military service on February 19—almost a month earlier than usual. This has raised concerns among citizens, as in previous years, such decrees were issued in March, closer to the official start of the campaign on April 1.
The spring conscription campaign starts in Tajikistan on April 1and and continues until May 31, 2025. 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.
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.
Young Tajiks can avoid or postpone military service if they are ill, studying at university, an only son, or if they have two children.
Recall, amendments, which were made to the country’s law on military service in 2020, came into effect on February 4, 2021 and men aged between 18 and 27 and deemed healthy must now either accept a grim two- or one-year stint in the armed services or pay a hefty sum to take a month-long course in military preparedness instead.
To take the paid one-month basic reserve service, Tajik young men must pay an amount equivalent to 450 calculating indicators (estimate). This year, the calculating indicator has been set at 75.00 somonis.
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.
However, conscription in Tajikistan remains a sensitive issue. Poor conditions, mistreatment of soldiers, inadequate management, and incidents of fatalities in military units are frequently cited as reasons why many young men refuse to serve in the Tajik army.
Besides, during two months in spring (April-May) and two months in autumn (October-November), Tajik men of serving age have been routinely hauled off streets or taken from their homes and forced into cars by plainclothes law enforcement. Locally, this practice is known as ‘oblava’ (raid).
In recent years, new and controversial methods of enforcing conscription have been reported, including "holding parents hostage," cutting off electricity, and closing mosque doors for families whose sons refuse to serve.
Many young men in Tajikistan try to avoid conscription. One reason is that, as in many former Soviet countries, the Tajik Army is known for the brutal hazing of new recruits. There have been also overwhelming claims that the rich and powerful use their clout to get their sons out of military service — leading to beliefs that conscription is only for the poor. To avoid the army, many conscript-aged men move to Russia during the twice-a-year drafts in the spring and fall. Some bribe doctors and enlistment officials secure an exemption on medical grounds.
