Armed Forces Day (; ) also known as Tajik National Army Day () or Defender of the Fatherland Day () is a national holiday celebrated annually on 23 February, commemorating the founding of the

Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan The Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan (; ), also known as the Tajik National Army (; ) is the national military of the Republic of Tajikistan. It consists of Tajik Ground Forces, Ground Forces, Tajik Mobile Forces, Mobile Forces, and th ...

. The event is marked by

military parade A military parade is a formation of military personnels whose movement is restricted by close-order manoeuvering known as Drill team, drilling or marching. Large military parades are today held on major holidays and military events around the ...

s, fireworks and ceremonies around of the country.

History

The day has its roots with the Red Army Day in the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

. On February 23, 1992, President

Emomali Rahmon Emomali Rahmon ( ; born 5 October 1952), born Emomali Sharipovich Rahmanov, is a Tajik politician who has served as the President of Tajikistan since 1994, having previously led the country as Chairman of the Supreme Assembly (Tajikistan), Su ...

signed a decree establishing the Armed Forces of Tajikistan. Also known as the Tajik National Army, it now consists of the Air and Air Defense Forces, the Ground Forces and Mobile Forces, all of which serve under the

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

. The armed forces also includes the

Presidential National Guard The National Guard (; ), formerly called the Brigade of Special Mission and Presidential Guard, is the National Guard service branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan, under direct command of the President of Tajikistan. Their pri ...

, the

Border Guards Day Border Guards Day (; ; ; ; ; ), also known as Frontier Guards Day is a former Soviet holiday that celebrates the border guard services of Russia and former Soviet republics. It is currently observed in Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan ...

and the

Tajik Internal Troops The Tajik Internal Troops () are the internal security force of Tajikistan, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Tajikistan), Interior Ministry (VKD). They act as the primary reserve force of the Tajik Armed Forces, and are in charge of homela ...

under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (VKD). February 23 is also celebrated in

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...

Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains, Pamir mountain ranges. Bishkek is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Kyrgyzstan, largest city. Kyrgyz ...

, and partially recognized republics of

South Ossetia South Ossetia, officially the Republic of South Ossetia or the State of Alania, is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus with International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, partial diplomatic recognition. It has an offici ...

and

Transnistria Transnistria, officially known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and locally as Pridnestrovie, is a Landlocked country, landlocked Transnistria conflict#International recognition of Transnistria, breakaway state internationally recogn ...

as Defender of the Fatherland Day.

Military events and notable celebrations

Celebrations of Tajik National Army Day are organized by the

. On most years, the anniversary of the Tajik National Army is celebrated during events held in Victory Park, Dushanbe, where wreaths are laid. On jubilee years, the Tajik defence ministry will decide to hold a large

of the Dushanbe Garrison (similar to the

Tajikistan Independence Day Military Parade The Tajikistan Independence Day Military Parade is the main event of the Independence Day of Tajikistan. This parade is held every 5 years in Dushanbe on September 9. The participants in the parade are from agencies of the Armed Forces of the Re ...

) through the center of

Dushanbe Dushanbe is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Tajikistan. , Dushanbe had a population of 1,564,700, with this population being largely Tajiks, Tajik. Until 1929, the city was known in Russian as Dyushambe, and from 1929 to 1961 as St ...

. Concerts of Tajik military bands will also take place in the city and throughout the country. With the holiday coinciding with Defender of the Fatherland Day, it is commonplace for personnel of the Russian 201st Military Base in

Tajikistan Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital city, capital and most populous city. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, south, Uzbekistan to ...

to celebrate Armed Forces Day alongside their Tajik counterparts.

1993

The first military parade of Tajikistan took place in Dushanbe in honor of the founding of the Tajik National Army, which took place that same day. The parade was commanded by the country's first defence minister, Colonel Alexander Shishlyannikov, as well as Colonel Ramazon Radjabov (the Deputy Minister of Defense), an officer who often considered to be a potential successor to Shishlyannikov. Participants in the parade were attended an induction ceremony in the presence of President

Rahmon Nabiyev Rahmon Nabiyevich Nabiyev (5 October 1930 – 11 April 1993), was a Tajikistani politician who served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Tajikistan from 1982 to 1985 and twice as the 2nd President of Tajikistan from 23 September 19 ...

on Ozodi Square prior to the start of the parade.

2003

It was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Tajik military. President Rahmon affirmed his commitment to the anti-terrorist coalition led by the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

2008

jubilee A jubilee is often used to refer to the celebration of a particular anniversary of an event, usually denoting the 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, and the 70th anniversary. The term comes from the Hebrew Bible (see, "Old Testament"), initially concerning ...

medal was instituted in honor of the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the armed forces.

2013

2013 celebrated the 20th anniversary of the armed forces. The celebrations and events took place with the participation of more than 10,000 troops of the armed forces. Tajik

Defense Minister A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divid ...

Sherali Khayrulloyev inspected the anniversary parade in the capital, which saw troops and personnel of the Anticorruption Agency and the State Committee for National Security take part in the parade for the first time. Women were also first time participants.

2018

It celebrated

silver jubilee Silver Jubilee marks a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, the 25th year of a monarch's reign or anything that has completed or is entering a 25-year mark. Royal Silver Jubilees since 1750 Note: This ...

of the Tajik Armed Forces. A ceremony and a festive concert took place at the Kokhi Borbad State Complex in Dushanbe. Performers at the concert included the academic ensemble of the national army and the Military Brass Band of the Ministry of Defense. The Center for the Management of the Armed Forces (which would serve as the main military command center for the president) was opened on this day. The quinquennial parade was canceled by President Rahmon due to the government refusing to hold any major parades until 2021 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of independence.

2020

The 2020 parade was held in honor of the 27th anniversary of the armed forces. Unlike most years, the parade was held at a National Guard base in Dushanbe.

2023

Events were held to mark the 30th anniversary of the armed forces.

Other service holidays

*26 May (

) *3 September (Day of the National Guard/Рӯзи Гвардияи миллии){{cite web , url=http://freedom.tj/2018/09/03/ruzi-gvardiyai-millii-jumhurii-tojikiston-muborak/ , title=Рӯзи Гвардияи миллии Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон муборак! {{! Дафтари озодиҳои шаҳрвандӣ , website=freedom.tj , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908171739/http://freedom.tj/2018/09/03/ruzi-gvardiyai-millii-jumhurii-tojikiston-muborak/ , archive-date=2018-09-08

References

Armed Forces days Military of Tajikistan Public holidays in Tajikistan 1993 establishments in Tajikistan