First Reading: Majilis Approves Draft Law Territorial Defense Units

Kazakhstan's Majilis of the Parliament approved the draft law “On territorial defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan” and accompanying amendments in the first reading.

The bill introduces new concepts for the defense system: “self-defense formation” and “volunteer.”

Territorial defense detachments form local military command agencies during martial law and wartime.

These will include persons subject and not subject to mobilization, who have not been called up to the ranks of the Armed Forces at the time of the creation of the self-defense formation, the message says.

Volunteers will be involved in implementing tasks related to the protection and defense of populated areas, territorial defense facilities, the construction of defensive structures, the implementation of evacuation measures, and others. 

Individual self-defense units made up of volunteers may be included in the Armed Forces to carry out combat missions,
 the lower house's press service reported.

If volunteers perform combat missions, they will be provided by the Ministry of Defense.  Volunteers from auxiliary rear units will be entrusted to local executive agencies.

Regarding ​​territorial defense, the accompanying draft introduces amendments to the Entrepreneurial Code and five laws of state bodies: the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Security Committee, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and local executive agencies.

Original Author: Rimma Karatayeva