Lawmakers opposed raising fees for alternative service

On February 2, the Committee on Finance, Budget, Entrepreneurship, and Competition Development of the Jogorku Kenesh reviewed and approved in the first reading a bill amending a number of legislative acts regulating military and alternative service.

First Deputy Minister of Defense Talaybek Sharsheev said that the document was developed to establish the amounts of contributions for alternative service, mobilization reserve fees, and the training of reserve officers.

However, during the discussion, deputies said that it was unacceptable to increase payments, emphasizing the possible negative consequences for the population.

Kamila Talieva noted that when determining the amount of contributions, it is necessary to take into account the level of citizens' incomes, especially in the regions. Elvira Surabaldieva, in turn, drew attention to the facts of corruption in military commissariats and questioned the advisability of increasing contributions in the context of existing problems.

According to Ilimbek Kubanychbekov, the proposed regulations could lead to social inequality, as alternative service would become available mainly to citizens with sufficient financial resources, while the rest would be forced to undergo compulsory military service.