Georgia's Defense Forces and Military Conscription Agency to be united under new draft law

A new legislative package introduced by the Georgian Dream-led Parliament outlines plans to integrate the National Agency for Military Conscription and Recruitment into the Defense Forces of Georgia during wartime, marking a significant shift in the country’s defense structure and preparedness strategy.

According to the draft amendments to the Defense Code, the integration is intended to enhance coordination and operational readiness. The Agency, which took over responsibilities such as citizen registration, summons issuance, and conscription from local municipalities in 2024, is already equipped with municipal-level infrastructure that the government says must be utilized in times of war. The proposed legislation also mandates joint planning between the Agency and the Defense Forces during peacetime, including military exercises, training, and the development of operational and legal frameworks.

Additionally, the package includes amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses, setting a fine of 1,000 GEL (approx. 365 USD) for failing to appear before a conscription or medical commission in an attempt to avoid mandatory service.

The initiative builds on the Defense Code passed in 2023, which restructured the conscription system. From 2025 onward, all conscripts are required to serve within the Ministry of Defense. That law also raised the military deferral fee from 2,000 to 10,000 GEL and limited young men under 25 to a single one-year deferral.