There will be no military parade this year on the occasion of the anniversary of Tajikistan’s national army.  This year, Tajikistan celebrates the 31st anniversary of the formation of its Armed Forces.

A solemn meeting and festive concert dedicated to the 31st anniversary of Tajikistan’s National Army are exected to take place at the Kokhi Vahdat State Complex in Dushanbe on February 23, a source within the Ministry of Defense (MoD) told Asia-Plus Wednesday afternoon.        

Besides, various contests, sports activities and meetings will be organized in MoD military units on the occasion of Tajik National Army Day, he added.

Meanwhile, a number of activities dedicated to the anniversary of the Tajik national army are already being carried out in Dushanbe.

Thus, by instruction of Dushanbe Mayor Rustam Emomali the fourth military festival, dubbed “I Will Faithfully Serve the Country and the People”, officially in military unit 3502 of the Interior Ministry of the Republic of Tajikistan today.   

This festival of friendship of officers, soldiers and young people of draft age, totaling more than 2000 people, will run in all military units based in Dushanbe through February 22.

Archive photo / Asia-Plus.

The military festival includes competitions between Dushanbe-based military units on mini football, Tajik national wrestling, volleyball, chess and athletics.  

 The final stage of the military festival -- awarding ceremony and closing ceremony – will take place at Kokhi Surush Business Center on February 23, starting time: 2:00 pm.    

The National Army Day has been marked in Tajikistan on February 23 since 1993.

Tajikistan’s National Army now consists of Air and Air Defense Forces, Land Forces and Mobile Forces.  The Mobile Force of Tajik Army was founded in 2005 without increase in a total strength of the country’s armed forces.  Air and Air-Defense Forces were also united in 2005.  Tajikistan’s armed forces also include National Guard and Security Forces (internal and border troops).

Unlike the other former Soviet republics of Central Asia, Tajikistan did not form armed forces based upon former Soviet units on its territory.  Instead, the Russian Ministry of Defense took control of the Dushanbe-based 201st Motor Rifle Division; actually control simply shifted from the former district headquarters in Tashkent, which was in now-independent Uzbekistan, to Moscow.