More officials granted right to carry guns

The circle of Georgian officials allowed to bear arms in public is expanding.

A change to Georgia’s Law on Arms now allowed the secretary of the State Security and Crisis Management Council and other members of the council to carry a ministerial gun.

Under the existing law, dozens of high level authority figures and civil servants in a selection of jobs were eligible to carry an automatic weapon while on duty.

People already included on the list to carry a ministerial gun include authorized officials of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finances, Ministry of Corrections and Ministry of Natural Resources Protection.

Authorized officials of the Intelligence Service, Special State Protection Service, Chief Prosecutor’s Office, judges and court bailiffs can also carry a gun while on duty.

Furthermore, this law extended to collectors and cashiers of the National Bank and other banking facilities (while on duty), Georgian Post officials (when carrying materials of special importance or state secrets), Structural units of the Civil Aviation Security (while on duty), State Audit Presidium members, Security Council members and civil servants who are granted with the title of Senior or Top Officer.

The Council for State Security and Crisis Management was set up in last December upon the Georgian Government’s decision. The council is an advisory board for Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and is under his direct subordination. Accordingly, the Prime Minister is head of the Council.