Reducing suicide rates in the Georgian Armed Forces
All gambling soldiers will be dismissed, says Defence Minister
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Georgia is taking a strong step to reduce the number of soldiers who commit suicide by banning gambling for all members of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF).
At a special briefing today Georgia’s Minister of Defence Tinatin Khidasheli said the major cause of suicide within the GAF was because soldiers were inundated with debt due to gambling.
A new policy had been adopted where any person within the GAF was caught gambling, they would be dismissed immediately. Minister Khidasheli said this new policy would be strictly enforced.
Any employee of the Defence Ministry, no matter if he is a soldier or anyone else, who is caught gambling and this is confirmed, will be fired indefinitely from the Agency,” she said.
There will be no second chance; the [offender] , will be dismissed in the very first case,” Khidasheli added.
The new policy was thrust into action following a case several days ago when a soldier committed suicide.
While commenting on the soldier’s death, Khidasheli said the Ministry of Defence would "make no compromise” to the new policy.
The Ministry of Defence of Georgia has developed new rules and strengthened existing rules where members of Georgia’s Armed Forces (GAF) will be immediately dismissed if they’re found to be under the influence of alcohol or engaged in gambling.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants Georgia to close its casinos because too many Turkish citizens are crossing the border to gamble in the neighbouring country.
The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) has refused to release gambling commercials starting January 1, 2020 to “respond to the public demand” and “fight with the dependence on gambling that has become a serious problem in the country.”