The Majilis approved the draft law "On territorial defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan" in the first reading, the Kazinform agency correspondent reports.

The purpose of the draft law is to increase the country's defense capability, ensure the safety of the population, territorial defense facilities and protect the territory of the republic during mobilization, martial law and in wartime.

The draft law introduces new concepts for the Kazakh defense system: "self-defense formation" and "volunteer". Self-defense formations are formed by local military command bodies during martial law and in wartime.

Volunteers are understood to be citizens of Kazakhstan who have voluntarily enlisted in self-defense formations. They will include persons subject and not subject to mobilization, who are not called up to the ranks of the Armed Forces at the time of the creation of the self-defense formation. They will be involved in the implementation of tasks on the protection and defense of populated areas, territorial defense facilities, the construction of defensive structures, the implementation of evacuation measures and others.

— Volunteers are provided for in the bill. Their use includes combat missions, support missions and auxiliary missions, based on the functions they will perform. If volunteers perform combat missions, they will be provided by the Ministry of Defense. Support for volunteers from auxiliary rear units will be assigned to local executive bodies, — explained Vice Minister of Defense Sultan Kamaletdinov.

The accompanying draft amends the Entrepreneurial Code and five laws. They consolidate the competencies of the relevant government agencies (the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Security Committee, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Defense) in the field of territorial defense.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan received new functions.

Author

Daniyar Ishchanov