A military parade dedicated to the 27th anniversary of the formation of Tajikistan’s Armed Forces will take place in Dushanbe on February 23, according to the Ministry of Defense (MoD).

An official source at a MoD says the parade will be held in the territory of the National Guard subunit in Dushanbe.

In all, more than 7,000 servicemen of Tajikistan’s power wielding structures will be on the military parade on February 23, the source added.

Besides, various sports and cultural activities will be organized in military subunits on the occasion  of the 2th anniversary of the formation of Tajik National Army.  

Tajik National Army Day has been marked 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 states 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.