On Saturday evening, the opposition Girchi party is holding a rally against mandatory military service. Hundreds of people, mostly students, are participating in the action near the Georgian Parliament.
On the evening of March 11, a rally against compulsory military service began near the parliament building in Tbilisi. The rally was organized by the Girchi party.
The demonstrators, mostly students, hold posters with slogans against forced conscription into the army. They demand from the authorities to abandon this practice and advocate for service on a voluntary basis. The participants also urge creating normal conditions for the soldiers and provide them with salaries.
In late March 20, the Georgian parliament will vote in the first reading for an updated version of the Defense Code, which, in particular, regulates conscription into the army.
According to the current legislation, the military service continues a year without a break. The new norm assumes service for a period of 6, 8 and 11 months. Conscripts who serve 6 or 8 months will be able to take paid leave for 10 days. Those who join the army for 11 months will be able to get 15 days of vacation. Also, conscripts will be able to take 10 days of paid leave for a valid reason.
At the same time, the draft age is not going to change. It will remain the same – from 18 to 27 years.
