Residents of Tajikistan will be able to officially buy off military service. This was announced on Wednesday, January 20, by Radio Ozodi.
Parliament unanimously approved the draft law “On military service and military duties”, which was introduced by Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo.
Every year in Tajikistan, about 10 percent of men who have reached draft age are drafted into the army. According to the new amendments, it will be possible to get a military ID by completing a monthly paid course as a reserve. The amount and procedure for payment have not yet been determined.
The authors of the bill believe that such measures will increase the number of reservists in the country. Any citizen released from service for a fee will be included in the Armed Forces reserve.
The amendments also assume that graduates of universities with military departments will receive the rank of reserve officer after a year of military service. Previously, they received titles after 40 days of courses.
At the same time, only citizens who have completed military service will now be hired for work in the judicial system, prosecutor’s office, anti-corruption and enforcement bodies.
Human rights activist Dilrabo Samadova believes that the introduction of ransom payments will severely hit the country’s combat capability. Only draftees from the poor will serve, which will destroy any attempt to increase the prestige of the army. “If civil society and human rights defenders do not participate in the development of the law, then it is likely to be discriminatory and one of the ways to replenish the budget,” she warned.