Military parade to be held in Dushanbe on February 23

DUSHANBE, February 16, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- On occasion of the 19th anniversary of the formation of the Armed Forces of Tajikistan, a military parade will be held in Dushanbe’s Victory Park on February 23, according to the Ministry of Defense (MoD).

Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for a MoD, told Asia-Plus Thursday afternoon that some 3,000 officers and soldiers of the Dushanbe Garrison will march on February 23.  Veterans of war and parents of soldiers will also attend the parade.

According to him, various contests, sports activities and meetings will be organized in military units of the MoD on occasion of Tajik National Army Day, which is marked on February 23.

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.