KHUJAND, January 16, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- 38 criminal proceedings were instituted against servicemen of the Sughd military garrison last year, which is 20 proceedings fewer than in 2007, the Sughd military prosecutor Qurbonali Mirzoyev announced at a press conference in Khujand on January 15.

According to him, desertion cases accounted for 40 percent of crimes committed by servicemen of the Sughd garrison in 2008.

“Due to work of the regional military prosecutor’s office the number of cases of violation of the military discipline reduced last year by 50 percent compared to 2007,” the military prosecutor said.

Mirzoyev also pointed to the necessity of improving the procedure of registration of conscripts in order to avoid problems during the conscription campaign.