MP: Kazakhstan’s Army Not Ready to Switch to a Contractual Basis

Kazakh Majilis deputy Konstantin Avershin has explained why the authorities do not support the petition to abolish compulsory military service. Avershin opposed the idea, stating that compulsory service trains citizens to handle firearms and live in barracks conditions. According to him, in Soviet times, this was taught in schools through initial military training, but today, there is no such practice besides military service. Avershin stated that Kazakhstanis must be prepared to defend the country, given its vast territory and resources. He also emphasized that the country's population is small, about 20 million people, so it is crucial that as many citizens as possible have the skills to defend the nation. Avershin also criticized the idea of voluntary service on a contract basis, saying that Kazakhstan's budget would not be able to support an entirely professional army. He said the country focuses on social needs, transitioning to a professional army will take time, and that modernizing the military is one of the key tasks set by President Tokayev. “We are working closely with the Armed Forces," Avershin stated. "Every case of a serviceman's deaths is taken under control. I speak as a representative of the specialized committee.” As previously reported, activists in Kazakhstan have demanded that mandatory military service be ended, publishing a petition in support of this demand. One of the the reasons behind this was recent tragic cases among servicemen, which, according to the authors of the petition, revealed severe problems in the army. The petition emphasizes that the main issues are hazing and non-statutory relations, which exert intense pressure on conscripts, causing psychological trauma and even suicide. The authors also voiced concern about inadequate training, stating that modern challenges and technologies can only be effectively tackled by professional soldiers, not conscripts. In recent years, Kazakhstan has witnessed a disturbing trend in the army, with an increase in suicides among soldiers. In 2022, President Tokayev ordered an investigation to identify the causes of these incidents, as the problem of hazing and psychological pressure remains one of the key causes of tragic incidents in the military. Such incidents have not ceased despite the measures taken, causing increasing concern among both the public and the authorities.