Tengrinews.kz - Kazakhstanis are calling to raise the age for compulsory military service. A corresponding petition has appeared on the official ePetition.kz portal.
A group of citizens has proposed increasing the draft age for compulsory military service from 18 to 20 years. In the petition addressed to the Ministry of Defense, the authors emphasize that by the age of 20, young people become psychologically and physically more mature, making them better prepared for service. Additionally, many 18-year-olds are still pursuing their education, and conscription during this period could disrupt their academic process and career prospects.
One of the key arguments is also the reduction in the level of desertion and offenses among servicemen.
"Increasing the draft age will help reduce the number of desertion cases and other offenses in the army, as more mature individuals typically possess greater responsibility and self-discipline," the petition authors write.
The authors also refer to the experience of other countries, such as Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, where the draft age begins at 19-20 years. They believe that this allows for better preparation of draftees both physically and mentally, which in turn enhances the army's combat readiness.
The petition signatories are confident that raising the draft age to 20 years will lead to an improvement in military service, protect the interests of youth, and bring positive changes to the country's defense system.
Previously, Kazakhstani lawmaker Magerram Magerramov has proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years for certain crimes.
