Asia-Plus: Саркашии 27 ҷавон аз хидмати ҳарбӣ ҳабс

Asia-Plus (Tajik edition), 19 February 2026. The article reports that during the past year (2025), courts in Tajikistan examined 120 criminal cases against 96 young men for evasion of military service, imprisoning 27 of them and fining 69 others. The article cites a representative of the Supreme Court (Додгоҳи олӣ) who on 18 February provided the figures to Asia-Plus, stating that cases were processed under Article 343 of the Criminal Code (evasion of military service). The article notes that the sentencing range under the relevant statute, as of 2025, is fines of 37,500 to 75,000 somoni or 2 to 5 years of imprisonment; specific fine amounts and terms were not disclosed. The article also cites the Ombudsman (Ваколатдор оид ба ҳуқуқи инсон) for 2024 data: 107 criminal cases were opened for evasion and 30 young men were sentenced. It further reports that in the same period, 25 soldiers were prosecuted under Article 376 (evasion of military duties by self-harm or other means), with 9 receiving prison sentences; ranges under that article are 2 to 12 years. A source also told the outlet that 16 other soldiers received suspended sentences (with probationary periods of 1 to 5 years under Article 71 of the Criminal Code) and continue serving in military units. The article references earlier reports, including a 2024 case against a 22-year-old resident of Zafarobod district in Sughd region (вилояти Суғд). The article notes that every year with the start of the conscription campaign, the topic of forced recruitment, service conditions and harsh treatment becomes prominent, and reports that inadequate conditions, mistreatment of soldiers, hazing (меҳтарсолорӣ) and deaths in military units are considered among the main reasons young men evade service in Tajikistan’s army. The article also references a separate Asia-Plus piece on paid military service.