PM discusses new defence code with minister to upgrade conscript, reserve systems, servicemembers’ social conditions

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday discussed the country’s new defence code with defence minister Juansher Burchuladze and other officials of the body, with the document involving a modernising of the conscript and reserve systems and further steps to ensure better social conditions for servicemembers.

The government administration quoted officials as saying the code, scheduled to be submitted to parliament for approval by the end of this year, would also establish a new approach in the ministry’s management system, paving a way to a “completely new, flexible system” for military conscription.

• Defence minister says conditions in Georgian army “better than in most European states”

Naming the creation of “adequate conditions” for servicemembers and provision of social guarantees among the government’s “top priorities”, Garibashvili highlighted the new code also covered handover of accommodation to the country’s military personnel and regulating their social guarantees by law.

The defence code has been drafted per the initiative of the prime minister. Photo: government of Georgia press office. 

Pointing to the “serious increase” in the defence ministry budget thanks to the double-digit economic growth, the PM said the ongoing construction of residential blocks on Makhata Hill in Tbilisi - a project of building 39 seven-storey blocks designated for more than 1,000 servicemembers and their families - was at “final stage”, and noted the project was expected to continue after the completion of the flats. 

• Defence minister thanks PM for “very important” move to increase salaries for servicemembers

In his earlier comments in late September, the defence minister praised conditions provided for the country's servicemembers as “better than in most of European states” and said the ₾80 million ($28 million) increase in budget funding for the ministry this year would also be used for the implementation of “medium- and long-term projects” with support of foreign partners, including purchase of anti-aircraft, anti-tank and anti-armour systems.

He also said his body had carried out “all key reforms” to ensure “better-than-ever” conditions for the country’s military personnel, and stressed “all promises” made by the prime minister while in the position of minister of defence between 2019-2021 for social welfare for armed forces had been fulfilled.