Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service says Tajik authorities reportedly failed to meet the autumn enlistment quota on December 1 and took extreme measures to fulfill the autumn conscription campaign target. 

Thus, the autumn conscription campaign that was to be competed on December 1 has reportedly been extended until mid-December, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service cited its sources as saying. 

An article entitled “Uncle Samad Wants You! Tajikistan Taking Extreme Measures To Get Recruits Amid Failed Army Draft” that was posted on RFE/RL’s website on December 15 says two separate sources involved in the enlistment process in Dushanbe and the southern Khatlon Province claimed that at least 15 towns and districts had failed to recruit the required number of conscripts, prompting authorities to prolong the call-up by two weeks, until December 15.  The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to media.

Many young men reportedly 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.

Potential recruits also fear being deployed to conflict zones.  Several soldiers were reported killed or wounded in recurring clashes along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border in recent years.

There are 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, according to RFE/RL’s Tajik Service. 

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 to secure an exemption on medical grounds.

Local authorities in some areas reportedly to resort to extreme measures to fill compulsory enlistment quotas.  RFE/RL’s Tajik Service says that several residents of the village of Dilbari in Khatlon Province claim that authorities cut off electricity and sealed two of the village’s three mosques in October as part of their pressure to get people to sign their sons up for the army.

Seizing young men on the streets has reportedly become a routine procedure during military draft season in Tajikistan. 

The autumn conscription campaign is carried out from October 1 through November, and 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 two-month-long effort seeking to enlist young men aged 18-27 for the one- or two-year compulsory military service takes place twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn.

According to the Ministry of Defense, 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.

Dodging military service is a criminal offense in Tajikistan, punishable by up to five years in prison.

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 last year 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.

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.