Georgia

In October 2020, a number of organisations from Georgia, individual Georgian citizens as well as Armenian and Azerbaijani activists released a powerful statement entitled “Peace Manifesto” in response to the military conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. [1] The statement addressed various actors including the governments involved in the conflict as well as international actors, calling them on taking action for peace in the region. The call, published in Georgian, Azerbaijani, Armenian as well as English said:

“We, the peoples living in the Caucasus region, have the severest experience of brutal wars, conflicts and exile. We have all realized from our own historical experiences that wars are heavy burdens of people’s backs, has the power to destroy and impoverish them, and only brings pain, suffering and frustration. None of the ethnic group or nation in our region has gained victory and development as a result of war. Therefore, we believe, that only cooperation politics, negotiations and peace can bring stability and development to our region.”

According to the reply of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia to the Questionnaire about EBCO’s Annual Report 2020 (e-mail on 20/01/2021):

In Georgia, the term of compulsory military service is 12 months. The term of non-military, alternative labor service is 18 months.

Passing non-military, alternative labor service is regulated by the Constitution of Georgia and the Law of Georgia on Non-military, Alternative Labor Service, which was adopted on October 28, 1997.

Citizens receive relevant information from the members of the summoning commission. Also in the municipalities, in the relevant services, in prominent places, information is posted on the rights and duties of citizens in connection with the compulsory military service.

A citizen, within 10 days after receiving the notification of conscription to the military service, applies to the conscription commission with a statement about passing non-military, alternative labor service. After that, the citizen goes to the medical-expert commission and in case of suitability, the relevant documents are sent to the state commission for non-military, alternative labor service. In case of observance of the norms of the Georgian legislation, no case of refusal was observed towards the citizen.

Citizens are engaged in non-military, alternative labor in civil services and religious institutions. The issues of conscription for non-military, alternative labor are coordinated by the authorized ministry defined by the decree of the Government of Georgia.

Citizens aged 18 to 27 will be called up for compulsory military service / non-military, alternative labor.

According to the reply of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia to the Questionnaire about EBCO’s Annual Report 2020 (e-mail on 25/01/2021):

Pursuant to the Georgian legislation length of compulsory military service is 12 months and length for non-military, alternative, labour service – 18 months.

The Law of Georgia on “Non-military, Alternative, Labour Service” was adopted on October 28, 1997 which guarantees the right granted by the second part of the Article 70 of the Constitution of Georgia.

All conscripts are informed about their right to conscientious objection to military service through conscription commissions, which are set up locally in every municipality.

Applications of the conscripts are being discussed by the conscription commissions. Private cases of the conscripts together with their medical examination documents are referred to the commission for recruitment in non-military, alternative, labour service. The commission is entitled to discuss the cases and support their employment in those organizations/enterprises that are determined by the law. As a rule, the commission discusses and approves/satisfies all the applications. After completion of the services, all private cases are sent back to the military divisions in order for the conscripts to be enlisted the reserve.

The system is organized by the Ministry of IDPs, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.

The law determines that a decision on the conscription of a person into compulsory military service may be made only after the person attains the age of 18 and persons having attained the age of 27 or over, who have not done compulsory military service before the age of 27, shall not be conscripted into compulsory military service.

There are no intentions/threats to abolish/suspend conscription.