Ministry of Defense Addresses Concerns Over Spring Draft

The spring draft in Kazakhstan has raised questions following reports of young men being taken from schools, workplaces, and public spaces to military enlistment offices. The Ministry of Defense maintains that these actions are legal and aimed at delivering summonses to those evading military service, Orda.kz reports.

Incidents have been reported in multiple regions, including Qostanay, Taraz, and Shymkent, where conscripts were reportedly taken from the streets, jobs, or even during final exams.

One of the more widely discussed cases occurred in Qostanay on June 16, when 18 students were taken to the regional assembly point after completing a final exam at a construction college.

Video footage showed an enlistment officer requesting that students leave the classroom, while some parents insisted on proper procedures, including formal delivery of summonses. According to the mother of one student, her son is still officially enrolled until June 30 and thus eligible for a deferment.

The regional Defense Department stated that the event was coordinated with the college administration and that the students were invited for medical screening.

A separate incident in Taraz involved a young man resisting what appeared to be forced conscription by two men, one in military uniform.

Eyewitnesses claim he resisted, sustained a head injury, and was later released. The military said the actions of law enforcement were lawful and added that some individuals refuse to comply with legal orders.

In Shymkent, videos circulated showing individuals in uniform and civilian clothes escorting young men into vehicles.

Observers claimed these were not simple summons deliveries but forced conscription.

In Qostanay, a video captured a man being taken after work. His colleagues said it happened without legal explanation or the presence of a lawyer.

Another case in Yekibastuz involved a video, where voices can be heard demanding that the person filming delete the footage.

In response to growing concern, the Ministry of Defense issued a statement denying the existence of illegal detentions or “raids.” It stated that the operations target individuals who have not responded to draft notices.

If it is not possible to issue it in person, ensuring appearance is the responsibility of the internal affairs agencies,
 the Ministry of Defense said.

The Ministry did note that some situations may involve the use of force if individuals refuse to comply.

Warnings about possible conscription "raids" have purportedly circulated in messaging apps, prompting some young people in cities to stay indoors. According to the Defense Ministry, up to 40% of conscripts are exempt from service for health reasons, while the number of those avoiding service is growing.

Deputy Defense Minister Sultan Kamaletdinov previously attributed young people’s reluctance to serve not to fear of military fatalities, but to social and psychological reasons. He noted that some are not ready to change their current lifestyle.

Deaths happen not only in the army, but also in schools and on the roads, so there’s no need to focus attention on this,
he said. 

He also noted that army-related deaths have significantly decreased in recent years.

However, when asked to provide exact figures for the past year, the Deputy Minister was unable to answer.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov