Compulsory service to remain deferred for students under New Defence Code - Defence Ministry
The statement of the Ministry noted students would complete the service during their studies only if they voluntarily applied for the programme, which has been completely transferred to the Ministry’s mandate from other state bodies. Photo: MOD of Georgia
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Georgia’s new Defence Code will recognise the status of a student as a basis for deferring compulsory military service for citizens of the country, the Ministry of Defence said on Friday in latest updates on the updated legislation.
The statement of the Ministry noted students would complete the service during their studies only if they voluntarily applied for the programme, which has been completely transferred to the Ministry’s mandate from other state bodies.
It also said student holidays and weekends would be used to allow students to complete their service, and added the new Code was “fully compatible” with NATO and European Union standards.
The Ministry detailed terms for the completion of the service for students, explaining it was offering them annual month-long trainings in the summer for the next four years, or a two-year junior officer training programme in a schedule that would “not hinder their education”.
Those joining the programme will be awarded the rank of a lieutenant if they receive an academic degree, and the rank of a sergeant in the absence of a degree. They can also qualify for a “existing paid territorial reserve” service to serve for 45 days annually over four years, with the conclusion of the third year of service also marking their compulsory service as completed.
Georgia’s total defence strategy and deterrence policy are aimed at “maximum strengthening” of the country’s self-defence capabilities based on “existing needs and absence of international security umbrellas”, Deputy Defence Minister Grigol Giorgadze told the Georgian Public Broadcaster on Tuesday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday laid the symbolic foundation for the ₾40 million ($15 mln) project of building a military lyceum in the Krtsanisi district of capital Tbilisi to serve the eastern section of the country’s defence structure, the Government press office said.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday announced “major changes” to the country’s defence system as part of the new defence code, which includes full transition of the compulsory military service to the Ministry of Defence mandate, requirement for the state to provide accommodation for servicemembers and their families, a “more flexible” military reserve system for students and moves to prevent evasion of service.
The Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) welcomed the first round of newcomers for compulsory military service today.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday called Girchi opposition party an “anti-national movement” and said it was a disaster that they have been telling young individuals to become “false priests” in order to escape from the army.
The Georgian Defence Ministry will aim to “raise the patriotic spirit”, promote healthy lifestyle and awareness of the country’s armed forces among the young generations by offering school students a summer Army Camp programme.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze discussed issues of European and Euro-Atlantic integration and strategic challenges at the Schuman Security and Defence Forum in Brussels on Tuesday.
Georgia’s Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze on Wednesday highlighted the significance of projects supported by the Council of Europe with the aim of contributing to human rights-oriented policing in the country.
The fourth season of the Security School, a project by the country’s State Security Service aimed to raise awareness of security threats, concluded on Saturday, with Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the Service, awarding the participant students with certificates.