Shevardnadze Criticizes Law on Bailing out of Military Service

(Tbilisi, September 1, 2003, Civil Georgia) – President Shevardnadze supports the cancellation of a fee that allows Georgian citizens to delay their military service requirement, claiming that the adoption of this law was a mistake.

“Each Georgian citizen is obliged to serve in the Georgian Army, since the army is a priority of the country’s strength,” Shevardnadze said in his radio broadcast on September 1.

Under the law, which was adopted by Parliament last year, each person can choose to pay a fee of 200 GEL (up to USD 100) that!
will delay the commencement of their military service for one year.

However, the law does not imply a full escape from military service. Every 26-year-old male citizen will be obliged to undergo a 6 or 12 month compulsory training and to join the military reserve.

The law was expected to have enabled the Ministry of Defense to accumulate up to 16 million GEL (approximately 8 million USD) annually.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian)