Defense Minister: Protesting Soldiers will be Punished

Incoming Defense Minister of Georgia Irakli Okruashvili made a short comment regarding the protest of around 60 servicemen from the Internal Troops, who deserted their military unit in Mukhrovani and held a protest rally outside the Georgian Public Defender?s Office in Tbilisi, demanding better social conditions.

?All of them will be punished,? Irakli Okruashvili told reporters.

The servicemen also demanded redeployment to military units which are close to their homes. ?They should know that Georgia is their home,? Irakli Okruashvili added.

He also said that the military unit in Mukhrovani was just recently reconstructed and well-equipped.