Members of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan have reportedly adopted a bill in the first reading that suggests cutting the mandatory military service term by one month for conscripts who achieve high scores in republican book-reading competitions.

According to local lawmakers, this measure is supposedly designed to promote reading among military personnel, boost their interest in literature, and enhance their intellectual capacity. Critics, however, remain skeptical about the practical impact of such initiatives on overall military readiness and operational efficiency.

In addition to the provisions for book lovers, the newly approved draft legislation establishes legal grounds for signing new contracts with graduates of domestic and foreign military higher education institutions who have specialized as pilots. Officials claim these modifications will allow for a more effective utilization of professional skills among qualified aviators to advance the nation's military aviation sector. * * This development follows a prior, controversial initiative in Uzbekistan where reading books was authorized as grounds for shortening prison sentences. Under that framework, inmates can reportedly reduce their incarceration period by three days for every book read, up to a maximum of 30 days per year, overseen by special evaluation committees.

Source: podrobno.uz