The draft plan has been fulfilled by 50%

The Deputy Minister of Defense stated that the conscription is proceeding as planned. A parliament member and the public are complaining about “raids”.

Photo: Internet

According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan, the conscription plan for the Armed Forces of Tajikistan has been fulfilled by 50%.

In the Sughd region, the spring conscription plan has been fulfilled by 40%.

In the Khatlon region, the plan has been fulfilled by 50%, and in the districts under republican jurisdiction – about 60%.

In Dushanbe, the spring conscription plan for the Armed Forces of Tajikistan has been fulfilled by more than 60% in the 20 days of the conscription campaign.

At the same time, almost every day, videos are posted on social media showing how the authorities conduct “raids” to detain young people on the streets of Tajikistan and forcibly send them to the army. However, the authorities claim that there is no “raid”.

There have even been cases of students being abducted directly from universities, as well as on the streets and markets in broad daylight. Meanwhile, the authorities emphasize that conscripts are mainly recruited into the army by sending summonses or they voluntarily report to military enlistment offices.

Residents of the country have even complained to parliament about the forced recruitment of students into the army.

On April 20, at a parliamentary meeting, the chairman of the Socialist Party of Tajikistan, parliament member Abduhalim Gafforzada, asked the first deputy minister of defense Emomali Sobirzoda: “How is the conscription plan going? Where were the funds of over 11 million somoni, received from the implementation of payment for exemption from military service, directed?”

However, this did not please the speaker of parliament Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda, and he interrupted the deputy. “I have repeatedly said not to ask off-topic questions, I repeat once again: do not stray from the agenda,” Zokirzoda demanded.

Photo: Internet

The first deputy minister of defense Emomali Sobirzoda responded: “The conscription is proceeding as planned, there are no problems.” He did not provide exact statistics on the implementation of the conscription plan and quickly moved on to the second part of the question. “These funds are spent on uniforms, food, arranging soldiers’ sleeping quarters, and constructing facilities,” the official replied.

A parliament member told the media that there are issues with the order of conscripting youth, and responsible individuals must take measures. He also confirmed that several students were taken into the army. “Sending students for compulsory military service is prohibited by law, but this is not being observed,” Gafforzada said.

The conscription of recruits into the armed forces in Tajikistan has been actively discussed for many years. Annually, during their service in the Armed Forces of Tajikistan, military personnel face abuse, and as a result, some die. There are even cases of individuals going missing. Most young people evade military service due to poor conditions. The authorities forcibly send youth of conscription age to the army through so-called “raids”. These methods always provoke public outrage, yet the situation remains unchanged.