Deputy defence minister discusses new defence code with religious denominations

Deputy Defense Minister of Georgia Grigol Giorgadze on Thursday met with the representatives of the State Agency for Religious Affairs and various religious denominations to brief them about the country’s new defence code and approaches to clerics in this direction. 

Giorgadze has pointed to the legal loophole that allowed individuals to avoid military service with the help of fictitious “religious organisations”.

The deputy minister noted that no denomination would have the opportunity to use discretionary conditions under the new code, and the representatives of all religions required to serve in the military. 

The official stressed the clergymen would have the opportunity to undergo non-military alternative labor service, the conditions of which would be determined by the relevant legislation.

Representatives of religious denominations have presented opinions and proposals that would further refine the mechanisms that will be used in the legislation.

At the end of 2022, the Ministry of Defense initiated the draft of the Defense Code, which is planned to be discussed and adopted in the spring session of the Parliament.