Georgia to draft clergymen into army

A meeting has been held with representatives of almost all religious organisations registered in Georgia at the Georgian Defence Ministry.

During the conversation, Georgian Deputy Minister Grigol Giorgadze informed the clergymen about the draft of the new Defence Code, according to Kommersant.

He noted that some Georgian citizens “will be unable to take advantage of the opportunity in the previous version of the code,” which allowed “unscrupulous people” to evade military conscription, referring to their religious affiliation.

“This will be an “important innovation” in the law from now on,” Giorgadze added.

The precedent created by the libertarian Girchi party is considered the most scandalous one. A few years ago, this party founded and registered the Biblical Freedom religious organisation at the Georgian Ministry of Justice. Any young man who did not want to serve in the army could simply come to the Girchi office, pay about $10–15, and receive a certificate certifying his rank as a bishop. Thus, such people were exempted from military service.

Founder of Girchi office Zurab Japaridze explained his principled position saying that Georgia, as a pro-Western country, needs only a contract army.

Georgia has a contract army. According to open sources, it has about 30,000 soldiers and officers. Georgia also retains conscription.

Moreover, the new Defence Code also envisages an increase in the cost of a one-year military deferment: instead of 2,500 lari (about $930), it will cost 10,000 lari ($3,700). Moreover, a young person aged 18-27, fit for military service, will be able to take advantage of the military deferment only once.

The draft new code has already been submitted to the parliament and, taking into account the support of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, will likely be adopted during the spring session.