Information about restoration on of military departments at Tajik higher educational institutions that has recently spread through social networks turned out to be unreliable.
It was also reported that students not studying at military departments will be called up for military service for six months.
The news became resonant and Asia-Plus has contacted the relevant ministries for comments. It turned out that information is unreliable.
An official source within the Ministry of Defense told Asia-Plus that “this issue had not been discussed by the government and no decision had been made on this matter; otherwise, the ministry would have been informed.”
Navrouz Mirzo, a spokesman for the Ministry of Education and Science, also told Asia-Plus that they are not aware of such a decision.
“If such a decision were made, we would get the relevant letter, but we have not received such a letter from the government” Mirzo said.
Factcheck.tj writes Factcheck.tj that this news is doubtful for several reasons:
- Frist of all, the name of the law has bene written wrong. In fact, it is called “The Law of the Republic of Tajikistan on Conscription and Military Service.” In the report, it is cited as "The Law on Military and Public Service”;
- Secondly, to amend this law not the government’s regulation but a separate law is passed by parliament;
- Thirdly, after the adoption of the law, it is published in a government-run newspaper and posted on the National Legislative Center’s official website. However, neither on the website nor in the newspaper such a report has been published.
It is to be noted that the number of students studying at universities in Tajikistan has significantly decreased over the past two years.
Officials claim that this is due to the fact that high school graduates are increasingly choosing foreign universities to study.
Meanwhile, experts consider that interest in higher education decreased in Tajikistan after the adoption of the military service law in new edition.
Under amendments that were made to the country’s law on military service in early 2021 and came into effect on February 4, 2021, university students and undergraduate also graduates of universities having military department are drafted into the army for one year.
The Government of Tajikistan in October last year instructed the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Education and Science to discuss and endorse the list of the state higher educational institutions having military departments (faculties).
The list of nine state higher educational institutions having military department (faculties) is posted on the Justice Ministry’s website for legal information:
- Tajik National University;
- Tajik Technical University named after Muhammad Osimi;
- Tajik Agricultural University named after Shirinsho Shotemur;
- Tajik State Medical University named after Abu Ali ibn Sino;
- Danghara-based Khatlon State Medical University;
- Danghara State University;
- Tajik Institute of Physical Training and Sports name after Saidmumin Rahimov. This institute has the basic military training faculty;
- The Institute of Energy of Tajikistan;
- The International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of Tajikistan.
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