Compulsory military service may be abolished in Georgia

The Legal Committee of the Georgian parliament has approved amendments to the law on 'Military Duty and Military Service', envisaging the abolition of compulsory military service.

The purpose of the bill, which will come into force on January 1, 2016, is to reallocate funds the state spends on mandatory military service, the development of a professional military and the defensive capacity of Georgia.

According to the amendments, military service will be divided into contract, reserve, and military personnel units. In the case of military operations, all Georgian citizens will be required to perform military duties.