Legal Issues Committee discussed with the I reading the Draft Defense Code, reregulating the issues related to the organization and activity of the Defense Ministry and the military service.

The Draft re-titles the mandatory military service into the “national military service of conscripts” and reduces the term of service for the conscripts, namely – the 12-month service shall be replaced with the differentiated terms: 6 months for serving in the combat unit; 8 months – in the defense or security unit; and 11 months – for preliminarily determined majors. The conscription shall be ensured providing the priorities of the Ministry. The conscripts may serve only in the system of the Ministry.

The hereof novelties shall become effective as of January 1, 2025. Yet another novelty in the Draft is the opportunity for the students to serve in the national military service, namely, the student may be subject to the random selection to the national conscription; in such a case, he, with his own will, may select and pass one of the forms of the military service – 6, 8 or 11 months, or get enrolled in the respective military program envisaging the summer training during 4 years.

The Draft envisages the revision of the conscription fee – 10 000 GEL for the postponement for 1 year instead of 2000 GEL (for postponement with 18 months) and a person is eligible to apply the postponement only once.

The Draft increases the compensation for injuries, mutilation or death in the line of duty; at that, the compensation shall as well apply to the civilians of the system of the Ministry. As of 2024, the Ministry undertakes to provide the military servants with the construction of residual areas through co-financing once per 3 years.