Turkmenistan plans to raise the age of military conscription from 27 to 30, Turkmen News reports. A decree has reportedly been prepared, but President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has yet to sign it.
Avoiding the draft in Turkmenistan is difficult. Men who study abroad must report to military office upon their return. Without a military ID, they face restrictions on employment, housing, and official registration.
Since late December 2024, reports have indicated that military offices have largely stopped issuing “white tickets” – documents that confirm an individual’s fitness for service without requiring enlistment. This policy shift leaves potential conscripts with fewer options: staying abroad leaves them in legal limbo while returning home runs the risk of immediate conscription.
The Turkmen army has long struggled with a shortage of soldiers. Changing conscription rules appears to be an attempt to bolster the ranks, but it may only deepen young men’s reluctance to serve.
Conscripts often endure poor living conditions, inadequate supplies, and mistreatment by senior soldiers. Corruption remains a significant issue, with funds allegedly being misappropriated and discipline deteriorating. Defense Minister Begench Gundogdyev has been criticized for failing to address these problems.
In other Central Asian countries, such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the conscription age remains at 27.
