On Military Duty and Military Service

LAW OF GEORGIA

ON MILITARY DUTY AND MILITARY SERVICE

Chapter I - General Provisions

Article 1 - Military duty

1. According to the Constitution of Georgia, the defence of Georgia and the performance of military duty is the obligation of every citizen fit for this purpose. The form of performance of military duty is determined by law.

2. The military duty includes:

а) military registration

b) preparation for military service

c) military service

d) reserve service.

Article 2 - Types of military service

1. The military service is divided into compulsory, contracted (professional), regular military service and the reserve. The compulsory military service may also be performed in the form of contracted service or contracted (professional) military service. The term of contracted service to serve compulsory military service at the Special State Protection Service of Georgia and the Intelligence Service of Georgia, the term of compulsory military service and of contracted (professional) military service at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the State Security Service of Georgia and the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia is defined by Article 32(1)(a) of this Law. Service members shall pass qualification exams to be transferred from contracted (professional) military service to regular military service. The procedure and conditions for passing qualification exams is determined by a normative act of the Minister of Defence of Georgia and the head of the relevant authorised agency.

1¹. Conscripts who intend to perform military duty in the form of contracted (professional) military service shall be enlisted in contracted (professional) military service after a corresponding selection and after meeting relevant requirements.

1². If a service member, who is performing military duty in the form of contracted (professional) military service, terminates the contract on his/her own initiative, arbitrarily or with fault, he/she shall be subject to compulsory military service for the term established by this Law for compulsory military service, unless otherwise provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

1³. To grant special privileges and benefits to service members in regular military service, a contract may be concluded with them for doing military service.

1⁴. The Minister of Defence of Georgia shall, by an individual legal act, define the form of contract for doing contracted (professional) military service under this article.

1⁵. Where a contract concluded for contracted (professional) military service is terminated prematurely, the grounds and procedure for the imposition of financial liability under the contract, or release from, postponement or reduction of financial liability shall be defined by the Regulation on Doing Military Service, which is approved by the Government of Georgia.

2. Persons in military service are called service members, and persons in the reserve, reservists.

3. (Deleted - 4.10.2013, No 1445).

3¹. Continuous service by conscripts in a special state rank in the Special State Protection Service of Georgia for four years shall be considered as doing compulsory military service. These persons shall be enlisted in the reserve of the Military Forces of Georgia in the rank of private.

3². Continuous service by conscripts in a special state rank in the Intelligence Service of Georgia for four years shall be considered as doing compulsory military service. These persons shall be enlisted in the reserve of the Military Forces of Georgia in the rank of private.

4. (Deleted - 1.5.2015, No 3547).

5. Service members doing contracted (professional) service (except for service members of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia), whose service is considered as doing compulsory military service, shall, by order of the head of the respective agency, be granted the rank of private upon discharge from service and shall be enlisted in the reserve of the Military Forces.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 1893 of 25 December 2002 - LHG I, No 3, 17.1.2003, Art. 18

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 2938 of 28 April 2006 - LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 94

Law of Georgia No 4514 of 27 March 2007 - LHG I, No 13, 16.4.2007, Art. 112

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 72 of 27 June 2008 - LHG I, No 12, 14.7.2008, Art. 94

Law of Georgia No 1062 of 13 March 2009 - LHG I, No 5, 24.3.2009, Art. 20

Law of Georgia No 1464 of 16 July 2009 - LHG I, No 20, 28.7.2009, Art. 98

Law of Georgia No 2019 of 6 November 2009 - LHG I, No 35, 19.11.2009, Art. 268

Law of Georgia No 2728 of 9 March 2010 - LHG I, No 12, 24.3.2010, Art. 64

Law of Georgia No 4954 of 24 June 2011 - website, 11.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 1445 of 4 October 2013 - website, 28.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 1791 of 13 December 2013 - website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 2323 of 30 April 2014 - website, 13.5.2014

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Law of Georgia No 3125 of 4 March 2015 - website, 19.3.2015

Law of Georgia No 3547 of 1 May 2015 - website, 18.5.2015

Law of Georgia No 3948 of 8 July 2015 - website, 15.7.2015

Article 3 - Military oath

1. Citizens conscripted into military service shall take a military oath, the text of which is approved by the Parliament of Georgia.

2. Persons without Georgian citizenship shall undertake a written obligation instead of taking a military oath.

3. Before taking a military oath or undertaking a written obligation, service members may not carry out combat tasks (combat operations, combat alert duty, combat service, sentry duty).

Article 4 - Restrictions for citizens who have not performed military duty

Citizens who have not performed military duty may be subject to restrictions in appointment to a public office according to the legislation.

Article 5 - Duties of aliens and stateless persons

1. Stateless persons permanently residing in Georgia are considered liable for military service, and the forms of performance of military duty established by this Law shall apply to them.

2. Aliens may be enlisted in the military service of Georgia at their request and by a decision of the Prime Minister of Georgia. In this case, they shall, instead of taking a military oath, undertake a written obligation of allegiance to the State of Georgia and to military service, and of strict compliance with the legislation of Georgia. The text of the written obligation is defined by the Regulation on Doing Military Service, which is approved by the Government of Georgia.

3. If not specifically indicated otherwise, the rights and obligations under this Law shall also apply to persons having no citizenship of Georgia and persons permanently residing in Georgia.

4. The procedure for doing military service by persons under this article shall be defined by this Law and by the regulation approved by the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Article 5¹ - Powers delegated to municipalities

1. Powers defined by this Law for municipalities are powers delegated to municipalities by the State.

2. The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, according to the Organic Law of Georgia - the Local Self-government Code, performs state departmental supervision over the exercise of powers delegated by the State to municipalities according to this Law.

3. To ensure the exercise of powers delegated by the State to municipalities according to this Law, a relevant structural unit ('the structural unit of a municipality') shall be set up in the Gamgeoba [municipal council]/Mayor's Office of a municipality, and in the case of Tbilisi Municipality, in the District Gamgeoba of the City of Tbilisi ('Tbilisi District').

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 6 - Obligations of public authorities and officials of municipalities in connection with the performance of military duty by citizens

1. The apropriate officials of a municipality/Tbilisi District shall notify a person (conscript, reservist) of a call to appear at the structural unit of the municipality. A state agency/employer shall immediately communicate to its employee a notification from the relevant official of the municipality/Tbilisi District about the call for the person (conscript, reservist) to appear at the structural unit of the municipality.

1¹. If a decision has been made to conscript a conscript into compulsory military service, the authorised official of a municipality/Tbilisi District shall, along with the decision above, inform the conscript of the possibility of using the right under Article 30(1)(d) of this Law.

2. The appropriate officials of public authorities and municipalities may not employ for a job or admit to an educational institution persons liable for military service who do not have a document certifying their military registration.

3. (Deleted).

4. The Ministry of Justice of Georgia and agencies within its system shall, within the scope determined by the legislation of Georgia:

а) inform, within 10 days, the appropriate municipality/Tbilisi district of data to be included in a document certifying the military registration of a citizen (conscript, reservist) who is obliged to be registered but is not registered for military service;

b) within 10 days after the registration or de-registration of a citizen (conscript, reservist), inform the appropriate municipality/Tbilisi District of the date of the registration or de-registration and the new address of the citizen (conscript, reservist).

5. The territorial services of the Legal Entity under Public Law - the Public Service Development Agency shall, within 10 days, inform the appropriate municipality/Tbilisi District of changes made in civil status acts.

6. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia shall conduct a search as determined by the legislation of Georgia and, if a legal ground exists, detain a citizen evading conscription or performance of military service.

7. The Military Police Department of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia shall conduct a search as determined by the legislation of Georgia and, if a legal ground exists, detain a citizen who evades appearance for military reserve service and/or performance of military reserve service.

8. Investigative bodies shall, within 10 days, inform the appropriate municipality/Tbilisi District of the initiation of criminal prosecution against a citizen (conscript, reservist) who is registered or is obliged to be registered for military service.

9. The court shall, within 10 days, inform the corresponding municipality/Tbilisi District of entry into force of a judgement with respect to a citizen (conscript, reservist) who is registered or is obliged to be registered for military service, and in the case of a service member, the court shall also send such notification to the workplace of the service member.

10. The appropriate health care facility shall, within 10 days, inform the corresponding municipality/Tbilisi District of the recognition of a citizen (conscript, reservist) as a person with disabilities, who is registered or is obliged to be registered for military service.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 5979 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 66

Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010 - LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332

Law of Georgia No 6317 of 25 May 2012 - website, 19.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 7 - Ensuring the implementation of measures related to the performance of military duty

Within the limits established by the legislation of Georgia, public authorities and municipalities shall, within their powers, ensure the implementation of measures related to the performance of military duty by citizens.

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 8 - Material support of citizens in connection with preparation for military service and for undergoing military training

1. In the course of military registration, mandatory preparations for military service and medical examinations related to military service, citizens shall be released from work (educational institution) with the preservation of the place of work (study) and of their average salary (scholarship).

2. In the course of military training, citizens shall be released from work (educational institution) but with preservation of their place of work (study).

3. (Deleted).

4. The municipality ensures the transportation of citizens conscripted into compulsory military service to and from assembly and distribution centres for conscripts. The Municipality of the City of Tbilisi performs this obligation voluntarily, except when the place of appearance of citizens conscripted into compulsory military service is outside the administrative boundaries of the Municipality of the City of Tbilisi.

Law of Georgia No 4120 of 17 December 2010 - LHG I, No 75, 27.12.2010, Art. 476

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Chapter II - Procedure for the Performance of Military Duty

Article 9 - Age of persons subject to compulsory military service

Citizens of Georgia aged from 18 to 27, who are registered or are obliged to be registered for conscription and who have no grounds to be released from conscription into compulsory military service, or to enjoy deferment from conscription, shall be subject to performing compulsory military service.

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 10 - Studying at a military school

1. After passing military school entrance exams, the following persons registered for military service, having completed general and/or higher education, and are admitted to military schools, are considered service members and called attendees:

a) persons who have not done compulsory military service and are registered for conscription;

b) persons who are in the reserve;

c) persons who are service members in contracted (professional) or regular military service.

2. Attendees under paragraph 1(a) and (b) of this article (except for persons with appropriate military ranks in the reserve), before completing the corresponding course (programme) of the military school, are granted an entry-level military rank of private. If an attendee under paragraph 1(a) of this article terminate studies at a military school, he/she shall be considered as having done compulsory military service and shall be enlisted in an appropriate category of the reserve with the rank of private if he/she has served for the term established by this Law for the performance of military duty. An attendee (except for service members in regular military service) is considered to be a service member in contracted (professional) service.

3. After completing military training, a student of an appropriate officer course shall have the status of a service member without a military rank. In this case, all the rights and obligations of a service member apply to him/her.

4. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia shall, with respect to military institutions of higher education, exercise the powers granted to a founder under the legislation of Georgia and under the relevant acts on the basis thereof.

5. Students admitted to military institutions of higher education according to the Law of Georgia on Higher Education may be civilians, service members or persons having a special rank, according to a decision of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. Students of military institutions of higher education are called junkers [students] and the respective rights and obligations (except for the right to receive remuneration, which is paid only in the cases provided for by the legislation of Georgia) apply to them.

6. The rights established for students under the Law of Georgia on Higher Education may be limited under a contract concluded with a junker of a military institution of higher education. In the case of contradiction between the Law of Georgia on Higher Education and the legislation of Georgia regulating the relations with service members or persons having special ranks, the legislation of Georgia regulating the relations with service members or with persons having special ranks shall apply respectively.

7. A pre-condition for the enrolment of a person in a military institution of higher education, except as determined by the legislation of Georgia, may also be a requirement to sign a contract under Article 2(14) of this Law. In the case of refusal to sign a contract or failure to pass a competitive examination, the person shall not be enrolled in the military institution of higher education. The Legal Entity under Public Law - the National Assessment and Examinations Center shall be notified of such person.

8. A person under the age of 18 may, as determined by the legislation of Georgia, become a junker of a military institution of higher education with the consent of parents.

9. The staff of a military institution of higher education may consist of service members, persons with special rank, and civilians. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia appoints and dismisses service members and persons having special rank. In the case of contradiction between the Law of Georgia on Higher Education and the legislation of Georgia regulating the relations with service members or persons having special rank, the legislation of Georgia regulating the relations with service members or with persons having special ranks shall apply respectively.

10. Under the statute of a military institution of higher education there may be formed a structure, different form the one defined under the Law of Georgia on Higher Education for higher educational institutions founded by the State and the rights and obligations of structural units, and a different procedure for occupying the post of Rector.

11. The sources of funding for military institutions of higher education are appropriations from the Ministry of Defence of Georgia, grants and other revenues provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

12. The grounds and procedure for disciplinary liability of attendees of military schools/junkers of military institutions of higher education are defined by the respective disciplinary regulations.

13. The publicity of decisions, reports of management bodies and of legal acts may be restricted in military institutions of higher education in cases determined by the legislation of Georgia. If work and research of the academic staff contain secret information, such information shall be protected from disclosure as determined by the legislation of Georgia.

14. The Ministry of Defence of Georgia, on the recommendation of a military institution of higher education, appoints at military institutions of higher education service members or persons having special ranks to academic positions corresponding to the respective military or special rank.

15. If the holding of an academic position is the pre-condition for holding an administrative position or for being a member of the management body, then upon the expiry of the term of an academic position, the corresponding administrative position or position in the management body shall be terminated, provided the person has not been elected through a competition and the term of his/her appointment has not been extended.

16. The restrictions under the Law of Georgia on Higher Education may be imposed on service members and persons having a special rank in military institutions of higher education in cases determined by the legislation of Georgia.

17. Normative acts regulating disciplinary proceedings against service members and persons having special rank, which take precedence over the provisions of the Law of Georgia on Higher Education, shall apply to junkers of military institutions of higher education who are service members or persons having special rank respectively.

18. Junkers of military institutions of higher education who are service members or persons having special rank shall comply with the requirements established by the legislation of Georgia for service members or persons having special rank respectively.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 4197 of 27 December 2006 - LHG I, No 47, 29.12.2006, Art. 370

Law of Georgia No 4702 of 27 April 2007 - LHG I, No 17, 17.5.2007, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 3015 of 27 April 2010 - LHG I, No 23, 4.5.2010, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 5012 of 1 July 2011 - website, 15.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 919 of 6 August 2013 - website, 20.8.2013

Law of Georgia No 2238 of 16 April 2014 - website, 28.4.2014

Article 10¹ - Procedure for doing compulsory military service in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia

1. The procedure for doing compulsory military service or contracted service by conscripts through their conscription into the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia, and the procedure for the selection of conscripts and financing their compulsory military service is approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Head of State Security Service of Georgia within the scope of their competence.

 2. For conscripts enlisted in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia or the State Security Service of Georgia, continuous service for four years shall be considered as doing compulsory military service. After this term elapses, they shall be granted a rank of private by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia or the Head of State Security Service of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1445 of 4 October 2013 - website, 28.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 3948 of 8 July 2015 - website, 15.7.2015

Article 10² - Procedure for doing compulsory military service and contracted service in the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia

1. The procedure for doing compulsory military service and contracted service by conscripts through their conscription into the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia, and the procedure for selecting conscripts and financing their compulsory military service is defined under the Procedure for Doing Compulsory Military Service and Contracted Service in the Ministry of Corrections Assistance of Georgia, which is approved by order of the Minister of Corrections of Georgia.

2. Continuous service for four years by conscripts enlisted in the Special Penitentiary Service shall be considered as doing compulsory military service. After this term elapses, these persons are granted a military rank of private by order of the Minister of Corrections of Georgia and enlisted in the reserve of the Military Forces.

Law of Georgia No 3547 of 1 May 2015 - website, 18.5.2015

Chapter III - Military Registration

Article 11 - Obligation of citizens to be registered for military service

1. Every citizen shall be registered for military service. The following persons shall not be subject to military registration:

а) persons released from the performance of military duty according to this Law;

b) women having no military occupational specialty;

c) persons in military service;

d) employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including contracted (professional) employees, and contracted (professional) employees of the State Security Service of Georgia, the Ministry of Corrections, the Special State Protection Service, and the Intelligence Service of Georgia, and the employees of the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia that have been granted a special state rank;

e) persons doing non-military, alternative, labour service;

f) persons having attained the age limit for being in the reserve;

g) persons serving a criminal sentence in the form of imprisonment.

2. Persons under paragraph 1(d) of this article shall be recorded in a special register of the relevant authority.

Law of Georgia No 1849 of 19 March 1999 - LHG I, No 12(19), 6.4.1999, Art. 42

Law of Georgia No 1893 of 25 December 2002 - LHG I, No 3, 17.1.2003, Art. 18

Law of Georgia No 811 of 24 December 2004 - LHG I, No 39, 25.12.2004, Art. 190

Law of Georgia No 2938 of 28 April 2006 - LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 94

Law of Georgia No 4514 of 27 March 2007 - LHG I, No 13, 16.4.2007, Art. 112

Law of Georgia No 1464 of 16 July 2009 - LHG I, No 20, 28.7.2009, Art. 98

Law of Georgia No 1791 of 13 December 2013 - website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 3125 of 4 March 2015 - website, 19.3.2015

Law of Georgia No 3948 of 8 July 2015 - website, 15.7.2015

Law of Georgia No 4651 of 16 December 2015 - website, 25.12.2015

Article 12 - Agencies carrying out military registration

1. The military registration of citizens (conscripts, reservists) is carried out according to the place of their registration, and the military registration of persons having no place of registration, according to the place of their residence. A municipality/Tbilisi District carries out the military registration of citizens (conscripts, reservists).

2. The military registration of citizens that have military rank of officer and are enlisted in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia is carried out accordingly by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia under the procedure established by this Law.

3. The procedure for the military registration of citizens is determined by the Regulation on the Military Registration of Citizens that is approved by the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1849 of 19 March 1999 - LHG I, No 12(19), 6.4.1999, Art. 42

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 1893 of 25 December 2002 - LHG I, No 3, 17.1.2003, Art. 18

Law of Georgia No 811 of 24 December 2004 - LHG I, No 39, 25.12.2004, Art. 190

Law of Georgia No 2938 of 28 April 2006 - LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 94

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 1464 of 16 July 2009 - LHG I, No 20, 28.7.2009, Art. 98

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 1791 of 13 December 2013 - website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Law of Georgia No 3948 of 8 July 2015 - website, 15.7.2015

Article 13 - Types of military registration

1. The types of military registration are:

a) the (primary) military registration of conscripts

b) the military registration of reservists

c) special military registration.

2. The military registration of reservists is carried out according to the Law of Georgia on Military Service in the Reserve.

3. A municipality/Tbilisi District carries out the military registration of persons of reserve enlistment age who have not been registered for military service.

4. A municipality/Tbilisi District shall, according to the established procedure, carry out the military registration of persons (conscripts, reservists) in the case of termination or elimination of the grounds defined under Article 11(1) of this Law.

5. A municipality/Tbilisi District carries out the military registration of women if they have obtained a military occupational specialty.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 4748 of 11 May 2007 - LHG I, No 18, 22.5.2007, Art. 162

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 4120 of 17 December 2010 - LHG I, No 75, 27.12.2010, Art. 476

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 14 - (Primary) military registration of conscripts

1. A municipality/Tbilisi District carries out the (primary) military registration of conscripts. The (primary) military registration of conscripts shall be documented by an individual administrative act of the Gamgebeli [head of local administration]/mayor of a municipality/Tbilisi District.

2. A structural unit of a municipality carries out military registration of persons from 1 January to 30 April of the year in which the person attains the age of 17, except as provided for by paragraph 3 of this article.

3. Persons aged from 17 to 27, who have no military registration, may be registered for military service. A municipality/Tbilisi District carries out the military registration of such persons upon their identification.

4. Persons under the age of 27 registered for military service are called conscripts, except for persons who have done compulsory military service or who are deemed to have completed compulsory military service.

5. An authorised official of a municipality/Tbilisi District shall inform a person of the decision made on the registration of the person for military service, and his/her obligations with respect to military registration and conscription into compulsory military service.

6. Upon request, a municipality/Tbilisi District shall provide to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia reports on military registration and conscription into compulsory military service. The Ministry shall submit this data to the Ministry of Defence of Georgia and the Government of Georgia in a consolidated form.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 4258 of 22 February 2011 - website, 10.3.2011

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 15 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 4258 of 22 February 2011 - website, 10.3.2011

Article 16 - Obligations of persons with respect to military registration

1. A person shall appear for military registration in a municipality/Tbilisi District upon a call of the authorised official of the municipality/Tbilisi District.

2. Persons discharged from compulsory military service shall, within two weeks after discharge, appear for military registration in the structural unit of the respective municipality according to the place of their registration, and in the case of no place of registration, according to the place of their actual residence.

3. If requested by an authorised official of the municipality/Tbilisi District, persons (conscripts, reservists) registered for military service shall, within two weeks, provide information to the authorised official about their marital status, place of work and places of residence (actual and registration), education, change of office and other information required by the legislation of Georgia.

4. Persons (conscripts, reservists) shall:

a) in the case of the change of the place of residence (actual or registration), appear for military registration within two weeks according to their new place of residence;

b) in the case of emigration abroad, appear for military registration in an embassy or mission of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 4120 of 17 December 2010 - LHG I, No 75, 27.12.2010, Art. 476

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Chapter IV - Preparation of Persons for Military Service

Article 17 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Article 18 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 3428 of 30 June 2006 - LHG I, No 27, 17.7.2006, Art. 224

Article 19 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 4197 of 27 December 2006 - LHG I, No 47, 29.12.2006, Art. 370

Chapter V - Conscription into Compulsory Military Service

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 20 - Basis for conscription

1. The basis for conscription for compulsory military service is an ordinance of the Government of Georgia, the draft version of which shall incorporate the requirements of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia, the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia, the State Security Service of Georgia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

2. If a conscript is subject to release from compulsory military service or to deferment of conscription according to Article 29 or 30 of this Law (except for the grounds under Article 29(1)(а) and (c) and Article 30(1)(a) and (b) of this Law) requests to perform military duty voluntarily, he/she may be conscripted into military service. Such persons shall do military service for the full term established by law if no grounds established by law re-occur for their release from military service or deferment of conscription.

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 811 of 24 December 2004 - LHG I, No 39, 25.12.2004, Art. 190

Law of Georgia No 2700 of 2 March 2006 - LHG I, No 7, 20.3.2006, Art. 52

Law of Georgia No 2938 of 28 April 2006 - LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 94

Law of Georgia No 1464 of 16 July 2009 - LHG I, No 20, 28.7.2009, Art. 98

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 1791 of 13 December 2013 - website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Law of Georgia No 3948 of 8 July 2015 - website, 15.7.2015

Article 21 - Citizens liable for military service

1. Persons referred to in Article 9 of this Law shall be subject to doing compulsory military service.

2. A decision on the conscription of a person into compulsory military service may be made only after the person attains the age of 18.

2¹. Conscripts willing to enjoy the right to deferment under Article 30(1)(d) of this Law shall inform the respective structural unit of a municipality/Tbilisi District one month before conscription into compulsory military service.

3. 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 but shall be enlisted in the reserve on the basis of an individual administrative act of the Gamgebeli/mayor of a municipality/Gamgebeli of Tbilisi District.

4. The form of the performance of military duty by citizens of Georgia permanently residing or working abroad is determined by a relevant normative act.

5. (Deleted).

Law of Georgia No 2185 of 25 June 1999 - LHG I, No 27(34), 6.7.1999, Art. 145

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 22 - Periods of conscription

1. Citizens shall be conscripted into compulsory military service, as a rule, two times a year, in spring and in autumn.

2. The specific periods for starting the conscription of citizens shall be determined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 984 of 29 December 2004 - LHG I, No 42, 31.12.2004, Art. 234

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Article 23 - Organising conscription

1. The Gamgebeli/mayor of a municipality, or the Gamgebeli of Tbilisi District in the Municipality of the City of Tbilisi, shall be responsible for organising the conscription of citizens into compulsory military service.

2. The conscription of citizens into compulsory military service shall be performed by a municipality/Tbilisi District, and conscription into contracted (professional) military service, by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia or the relevant agency.

3. The procedure for conscripting citizens is defined by this Law and the Regulation on the Military Registration of Citizens which is approved by the Government of Georgia.

3¹. The appropriate department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia receives information from municipalities/districts of Tbilisi on the progress of the conscription of citizens into compulsory military service and on the results, and, if requested, provides this information to the Ministry of Defence of Georgia in consolidated form.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 4748 of 11 May 2007 - LHG I, No 18, 22.5.2007, Art. 162

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 24 - Conscription Commission

1. In municipalities, conscription commissions of municipalities are set up locally for the conscription of citizens into compulsory military service, and in a Tbilisi District, a conscription commission of the Tbilisi District. The composition of the Conscription Commission (the ‘Conscription Commission’) of a municipality/Tbilisi District is approved by the Gamgebeli/mayor of the respective municipality and, in the Tbilisi District, by the Gamgebeli of Tbilisi District.

2. The Conscription Commission is composed of:

а) the Chairperson of the Commission - the Gamgebeli/mayor of a municipality, and in a Tbilisi District, the Gamgebeli of the respective district;

b) the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission - a respective official of a municipality/Tbilisi District;

c) members of the Commission - representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia, and if necessary, an employee (employees) of the respective structural unit of a municipality/Tbilisi District;

d) the Secretary of the Commission - an employee of the respective structural unit of a municipality/Tbilisi District.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 6607 of 29 June 2012 - website, 10.7.2012

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Law of Georgia No 3948 of 8 July 2015 - website, 15.7.2015

Article 25 - Rights and obligations, and the rules of procedure of a Conscription Commission

1. In the course of conscription, a Conscription Commission shall, within its authority, make one of the following decisions with respect to a conscript:

а) conscription into compulsory military service;

b) deferment of conscription into compulsory military service;

c) release from conscription into compulsory military service;

d) release from the performance of military duty.

2. The Conscription Commission may, in cases provided for by the Law of Georgia on Non-military, Alternative Labour Service and in the established order, draw a conclusion on the basis of a relevant application of a citizen.

3. After making a decision to conscript a citizen into compulsory military service, the municipality/Tbilisi District shall arrange for the appearance of the conscript at the assembly and distribution centre, at the address defined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia. A Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination and a working group created by the Conscription Commission from among its members ('the Working Group') shall operate at the assembly and distribution centre. The Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination shall determine the degree and category of fitness of conscripts for military service after conducting a medical examination (including, an additional medical examination if necessary); a member (members) of the working group shall, according to the ordinance of the Government of Georgia provided for by Article 26 (1) of this Law, determine the agency where the conscript is to do compulsory military service.

4. In cases provided for by the Regulation on Military Registration, a person may be released from the obligation to appear at the session of the Conscription Commission if a decision to release him/her from conscription or to defer his/her conscription into compulsory military service can be taken without his/her attendance.

5. The Conscription Commission shall make decisions on the basis of the law. The decision of the Conscription Commission shall not contradict a decision of the Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination, which has conducted a medical examination to establish the fitness of the conscript for compulsory military service.

6. If the Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination makes a decision under Article 27(2)(c), (d) or (e) of this Law with respect to a conscript, the Conscription Commission shall, within 10 days after receiving the conclusion of the Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination, declare void the decision on the conscription of the conscript into compulsory military service and make a relevant decision defined by the legislation of Georgia. In this case, a conscript may not be conscripted for compulsory military service during the period from the moment when the Standing Military Medical Examination Commission makes a decision under Article 27(2)(c), (d) or (e) of this Law up to the moment when the Conscription Commission declares void its individual administrative act.

7. If a citizen evades conscription into compulsory military service, an authorised official of a municipality/Tbilisi District shall hand over the corresponding materials to law enforcement authorities.

8. The chairperson of the Conscription Commission shall communicate the decision of the Commission to a citizen liable for compulsory military service. If the citizen so requests, the chairperson of the Conscription Commission shall give him/her an extract from the decision of the Commission.

9. The person may appeal the decision of the Commission in the court within 10 days after it has been made. In this case, the execution of the decision of the Commission shall be suspended until a court decision enters into force.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 25¹ - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Corrections - LHG 1, No 16, 13.6.2003, p. 2

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 26 - Central Conscription Commission

1. The Central Conscription Commission is set up, and its composition and rules of procedure are defined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia. A Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination is set up within the Central Conscription Commission and its composition is defined under the same ordinance.

1¹. The powers of the Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination and the procedure for organising and conducting a medical examination is defined by the Regulation on Military and Medical Examination, which is approved by the Government of Georgia.

2. The Central Conscription Commission is composed of:

а) the chairperson of the Commission;

b) the deputy chairperson of the Commission;

c) members of the Commission - representatives from the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia, and the State Security Service of Georgia. If necessary, representatives of social organisations and other persons may be included in the composition of the Central Conscription Commission;

d) the Secretary of the Commission.

Law of Georgia No 1987 of 28 May 1999 - LHG I, No 21(28), 14.6.1999, Art. 103

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Law of Georgia No 3948 of 8 July 2015 - website, 15.7.2015

Article 27 - Medical examination

1. Citizens subject to conscription into compulsory military service shall undergo a medical examination conducted by the Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination at an assembly and distribution centre.

2. After the examination of a conscript, the Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination shall issue a conclusion on the fitness of the conscript for military service according to the following categories:

a) fit for military service;

b) fit for military service with minor limitations;

c) fit for limited military service;

d) temporarily unfit for military service;

e) unfit for military service.

3. Medical and preventive, and recreational activities for the preparation of citizens for military service, additional medical examination of conscripts to be conscripted into compulsory military service, and the work performed by the Standing Commission for Military and Medical Examination are funded from appropriations allocated to the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia from the State Budget of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 28 - Obligations of conscripts

Conscripts shall, on the call of the Gamgebeli/mayor of a municipality, the Gamgebeli of a Tbilisi District or an official authorised by him/her, appear at a session of the Conscription Commission, or for conscription into compulsory military service.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Chapter VI - Release from and Deferment of Conscription

Article 29 - Release from conscription

1. The following persons shall be released from conscription:

а) persons recognised as unfit for military service due to their health status;

b) persons who have done military service in the military forces of another State;

c) persons who have been convicted of a grave or especially grave crime;

d) persons who have done non-military, alternative labour service;

e) (deleted - 13.12.2013, No 1777);

f) (deleted - 29.7.2014, No 2554);

g) an only son in a family, in which at least one family member has been killed in the struggle for the territorial integrity of Georgia or while doing military service.

h) a member of the Parliament of Georgia.

2. The Prime Minister of Georgia may release especially talented conscripts from conscription into compulsory military service.

3. Persons with disabilities defined by the legislation of Georgia are released from the performance of military duty.

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 1777 of 13 December 2013 - website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 30 - Deferment of conscription

1. Conscription into military service shall be deferred for a conscript if he/she:

а) is recognised as temporarily unfit for military service (for up to one year) due to the health status;

a¹) is recognised as fit for limited military service;

b) is subject to criminal prosecution, until an appropriate decision is made by respective authorities;

c) is a student of a higher or secondary specialised educational institution and has been enlisted in the military department [of the institution], until sub-paragraph (c¹) of this paragraph enters into force;

c¹) is a student of a higher educational institution of Georgia or a higher educational institution of a foreign country recognised by the legislation of the foreign country, until completion of the studies, at every stage of higher education;

c²) is a resident at a post-graduate stage of higher medical education and/or a person at an alternative post-graduate educational stage of residency, who is undergoing a professional training in one of the medical specialities within the established term of a residency programme, until completion of the residency programme;

d) has paid a fee for the deferment of compulsory military service as determined by the Law of Georgia on the Fee for the Deferment of Compulsory Military Service;

e) is a student of a general education institution, until he/she attains the age of 20;

e¹) has registered for the Unified National Examinations in the year of completing a general education institution, until the results of the examinations are announced; if he/she has acquired the right to be enrolled in a higher educational institution on the basis of the results of the examinations, until being enrolled in the higher educational institution under sub-paragraph (c¹) of this paragraph in the same year;

e²) has registered for the Unified Master's Examination in the year of completing an undergraduate educational programme of academic higher education, until the results of the Unified Master's Examination are announced; in the case of passing the Unified Master's Examination successfully, until the results of the examination/examinations determined by the higher educational institution are announced; in the case of passing successfully the examination/ examinations determined by the higher educational institution, until the enrolment in the higher educational institution under sub-paragraph (c¹) of this paragraph for a Master's educational programme of academic higher education in the year of completing the undergraduate educational program of academic higher education;

e³) has applied to the Conscription Commission with a request for deferment of military service to continue his/her studies in a doctoral educational programme of academic higher education, until the submission of a corresponding application to a higher educational institution under sub-paragraph (c¹) of this paragraph in the year of completing the Master's educational programme of academic higher education; and after the submission of the above application, until a decision is made by the higher educational institution under sub-paragraph (c¹) of this paragraph on his/her admission for the doctoral educational programme of academic higher education;

e⁴) has registered as determined by the legislation of Georgia for a residency competitive examination in the year of graduation from a medical institution of higher education, until the end of the competition announced in the year of registration; and in the case of taking a residency post based on the results of the completion, until the enrolment in the higher educational institution under sub-paragraph (c²) of this paragraph in the same year;

f) is a person permanently residing (registered at the respective address) with a family member (spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather) who has the status of a person with disabilities defined by the legislation of Georgia, except when an adult member of the family resides at the specified address, with respect to whom the status of a person with disabilities has not been established. If there is (are) a person (persons) residing with a family member, who is (are) also subject to compulsory military service, the eldest person (persons) shall be conscripted into compulsory military service, except when the younger person voluntarily expresses written consent to do compulsory military service;

g) has two or more children;

h) (deleted - 29.7.2014, No 2554);

i) (deleted - 29.7.2014, No 2554);

j) has a dependent minor sister or brother;

k) is a priest or studies in a theological school;

l) is an only child;

m) works as a teacher or a doctor in a village;

n) has been granted the right to the deferment of conscription by the Prime Minister of Georgia;

o) has one child, for the period of three years after the date of the birth of the child;

p) holds a doctor's degree or an academic degree equated thereto and carries out academic and research activities.

2. If a conscript has been registered as a candidate for membership in the Parliament of Georgia as determined by the legislation of Georgia as of the day of his/her conscription into compulsory military service, his/her conscription shall be deferred until the final results of the respective elections are announced.

3. The procedure and conditions for the payment of a fee under Article 30(1)(d) of this Law shall be determined by the Law of Georgia on the Fee for the Deferment of Compulsory Military Service.

4. In cases under paragraph 1(f) of this article, a conscript shall not be granted a deferment from conscription into compulsory military service if he/she is a person with disabilities and the status of a person with disabilities has been established for him/her due to such disease, or anatomical or mental defects, in the case of which labour activities of such persons in special or individual conditions are permitted by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 1208 of 25 March 2005 - LHG I, No 14, 18.4.2005, Art. 92

Law of Georgia No 4702 of 27 April 2007 - LHG I, No 17, 17.5.2007, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 2019 of 6 November 2009 - LHG I, No 35, 19.11.2009, Art. 268

Law of Georgia No 3540 of 21 July 2010 - LHG I, No 47, 5.8.2010, Art. 311

Law of Georgia No 524 of 5 April 2013 - website, 24.4.2013

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 1777 of 13 December 2013 - website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 1778 of 13 December 2013 - website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Chapter VII - Military Service

Article 31 - Military service

1. Military service is a special form of public service that includes compulsory, contracted (professional) and regular military service, and military service in the reserve during the period of military training and military service. The procedure for doing military service is defined by this Law and the Regulation on Doing Military Service, which is approved by the Government of Georgia. Within the scope of the discretionary powers determined by the legislation of Georgia with respect to issues relating to conscription and official relations with service members, an individual administrative act of the Minister of Defence of Georgia may define issues relating to the policy of management of the military personnel of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia.

2. Citizens of Georgia or persons without the citizenship of Georgia doing military service in the Military Forces of Georgia are considered as service members. The status of a service member is determined by the legislation of Georgia.

3. Service members doing military service (performing military duty) are considered as representatives of state authorities and are protected by the State. Service members shall be subordinated only to the leadership defined by military regulations. Interference in the official activities of service members shall be inadmissible.

4. To regulate legal relations related to the performance of military duty and doing of military service, the following conditions are considered as proof of performing official duties:

a) participation in combat operations;

b) performance of official duties determined by military regulations;

c) performance of combat alert duty (combat service);

d) participation in field exercises and ship campaigns;

e) performance of an order or instruction issued or a mission assigned by the commander(chief);

f) staying in the territory of a military unit (facility) during duty hours determined by the daily routine, or if this is caused by needs of the service;

g) travelling for official or medical purposes;

h) travelling to the place of service and back;

i) travelling to the place of medical treatment and back;

j) undergoing military training;

k) staying in captivity (except for voluntary surrender into captivity), being a hostage or internee;

l) being missing, until the person is declared missing or announced dead as determined by law;

m) protection of the life, health, and dignity of other persons;

n) rendering of assistance to law enforcement authorities;

o) other actions recognised by a court to be performed for protecting public and state interests;

р) the period of serving a measure of restriction illegally imposed on him/her.

5. During military service, the person shall retain his/her place of work.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 3015 of 27 April 2010 - LHG I, No 23, 4.5.2010, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Article 32 - Length of military service

1. The following periods of military service are established for service members:

а) 12 months for persons doing compulsory military service through conscription;

a¹) at least three years for persons doing contracted (professional) military service through conscription;

a²) the term of military service for persons doing contracted (professional) military service is established on the basis of a contract under Article 2(1⁴) of this Law;

b) (deleted);

c) (deleted);

d) at least 10 years for regular officers;

e) (deleted - 30.4.2014, No 2323);

2. The date of enlistment in a military unit or in the military service of a corresponding military agency shall be considered to be the date of beginning military service.

2¹. Not later than 24 hours after receipt from an assembly and distribution centre of the list of persons to be enlisted into compulsory military service, the respective state agency shall issue an individual administrative act enlisting those persons into compulsory military service.

2². After a person completes compulsory military service, the respective state agency shall send to this person or to the respective municipality/Tbilisi District a notification confirming this fact.

3. The date of expiry of the term of military service established by this Law and removal from the list of the personnel of a military unit is considered to be the date of the completion of military service.

4. The time of undergoing military training and doing military service shall be included in the overall length of military service and/or labour.

Law of Georgia No 2396 of 9 September 1999 - LHG I, No 43(50), 21.9.1999, Art. 226

Law of Georgia No 500 of 26 October 2004 - LHG I, No 32, 10.11.2004, Art. 148

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 1207 of 25 March 2005 - LHG I, No 14, 18.4.2005, Art. 91

Law of Georgia No 2938 of 28 April 2006 - LHG I, No 14, 15.5.2006, Art. 94

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 1464 of 16 July 2009 - LHG I, No 20, 28.7.2009, Art. 98

Law of Georgia No 5742 of 2 March 2012 - website, 6.3.2012

Law of Georgia No 524 of 5 April 2013 - website, 24.4.2013

Law of Georgia No 1791 of 13 December 2013 - website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 2323 of 30 April 2014 - website, 13.5.2014

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 33 - Military positions

1. The head of the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Georgia or the head of another relevant military agency shall, in agreement with the Minister of Defence of Georgia, compile a list of military positions according to military occupational specialties and submit it to the Government of Georgia for approval.

2. The Minister of Defence of Georgia or an official authorised by him/her, by an individual administrative act, or another respective military agency shall establish qualification requirements for each military position/rank.

3. The list of military occupational specialties, their codes and career types, and the officials authorised to grant a military occupational speciality to service members, the code of this speciality and the career type are defined by a decree of the Government of Georgia or by an individual administrative act of an official authorised by the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 4748 of 11 May 2007 - LHG I, No 18, 22.5.2007, Art. 162

Law of Georgia No 3015 of 27 April 2010 - LHG I, No 23, 4.5.2010, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Article 34 - Military uniform

1. A uniform of respective types of troops is established for service members.

2. The Minister of Defence of Georgia shall approve a military uniform and military insignia, and the procedure for wearing them.

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Article 35 - Age limit for military service

1. For service members, the age limit for military service is:

а) for privates, corporals, and sergeants (warrant officers) in contracted (professional) military service - age 50;

b) for junior officers in contracted (professional) military service - age 45;

c) for senior officers in regular military service:

c.a) up to colonel - age 50;

c.b) for colonel - age 55;

d) for top officers in regular military service - age 60.

2. The age limit for military service may be extended for up to five years:

a) in special cases, for service members under paragraph 1(a), (b) and (c.a) of this article, on the basis of an order of the Minister of Defence of Georgia or the head of a corresponding governmental institution;

b) for service members under paragraph 1(c.b) and (d) by the Government of Georgia, on the recommendation of the head of the relevant executive agency.

3. A service memeber who has attained the age limit for military service shall be discharged from military service by enlistment in the reserve or by retirement.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 4327 of 29 December 2006 - LHG I, No 2, 4.1.2007, Art. 42

Law of Georgia No 3015 of 27 April 2010 - LHG I, No 23, 4.5.2010, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Article 36 - Premature discharge from military service

1. Service members who have been recognised by the Commission for Military and Medical Examination as unfit for military service or fit for limited military service, shall be prematurely discharged from military service.

2. Other cases of premature discharge of service members from military service are determined by the legislation of Georgia and the Regulation on Doing Military Service, which is approved by the Government of Georgia.

3. Service members doing military service through conscription shall be prematurely discharged from military service if the circumstances under Article 29 or Article 30 (except for Article 30(1)(c¹), (c²), (m), (o)) of this Law occur.

4. Service members declared missing in accordance with legislation shall be removed from the list of personnel of a military unit.

5. Service members doing military service through conscription, except as provided for by this article, may be prematurely discharged from military service in individual cases by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 984 of 29 December 2004 - LHG I, No 42, 31.12.2004, Art. 234

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 1777 of 3 December 2013 - website, 28.12.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 37 - Discharge from military service

1. Service members shall be discharged from compulsory military service after the periods specified in Article 32(1)(a) and (b) of this Law expire.

2. Officers with top military ranks are discharged from military service by the President of Georgia after they attain the age limit for military service.

3. Service members having served 20 or more calendar years in military service may, notwithstanding the age limit for military service, be discharged from military service by enlistment in the reserve (by retirement).

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 2447 of 23 December 2005 - LHG I, No 56, 28.12.2005, Art. 395

Chapter VIII - Military Ranks

Article 38 – Service members and their military ranks

1. Service members and their military ranks are:

a) service members (other than officers) in compulsory military service and in contracted (professional) military service:

a.a) corporals and privates:

a.a.a) army (land, air) military ranks: Private, Private First Class, Corporal, Corporal Specialist;

a.a.b) ranks of Naval Forces: Marine Private, Marine Private First Class, Marine Corporal, Marine Corporal Specialist;

a.b) junior sergeants (warrant officers):

a.b.a) army military ranks: Junior Sergeant, Sergeant;

a.b.b) ranks of Naval Forces: Junior Warrant Officer, Warrant officer;

a.c) senior sergeants (warrant officers):

a.c.a) army ranks: Senior Sergeant, Master Sergeant;

a.с.b) ranks of Naval Forces: Senior Warrant Officer, Master Warrant Officer;

a.d) sergeants major (warrant officers):

a.d.a) an army military rank - Sergeant Major;

a.d.b) a rank of Naval Forces - Chief Warrant Officer;

b) junior officers in contracted (professional) military service:

b.a) army military ranks: Lieutenant, Senior Lieutenant, Captain;

b.b) ranks of Naval Forces: Lieutenant, Senior Lieutenant, Captain Lieutenant;

c) senior and general officers in regular military service:

c.a) army military ranks of senior officers: Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel;

c.b) ranks of Naval Forces of senior officers: Captain III Rank, Captain II Rank, Captain I Rank;

c.c) army ranks of general officers: Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, General of the Army;

c.d) ranks of Naval Forces of general officers: Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral.

2. Entry-level military ranks are granted to the following persons:

a) a rank of private is granted to:

а.a) persons conscripted into compulsory military service;

a.b) persons enlisted into contracted (professional) military service;

b) a rank of lieutenant is granted to:

b.a) persons with higher education enlisted into contracted (professional) service if they meet the qualification requirements for the position;

b.b) persons who have completed:

b.b.a) an undergraduate programme in a military school, the issues relating to the completion of which are regulated by the legislation of Georgia;

b.b.b) a corresponding course for junior officers, the issues relating to the completion of which are regulated by an individual administrative act of the Minister of Defence of Georgia;

b.b.c) a corresponding course for officers, when studying as a student, the issues relating to the completion of which are regulated by an individual administrative act of the Minister of Defence of Georgia;

b.b.d) a course for acquiring a military rank of lieutenant, the issues relating to the completion of which are regulated by order of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, and who have complete general, secondary vocational and/or higher education;

b.b.e) a course for acquiring a military rank of lieutenant, the issues relating to the completion of which are regulated by order of the Head of the State Security Service of Georgia, and who have complete general, secondary vocational and/or higher education.

3. Service members shall be granted military ranks sequentially, without skipping steps. Service members shall be granted military ranks (except for the rank of general officer) if the following conditions simultaneously exist:

a) the term under paragraph 4 of this article for doing military service by a service member in a military rank has expired (except when the next military rank is granted ahead of time in accordance with this article);

b) the service member meets the qualification requirements for the military rank to be granted;

c) the service member is holding a military position for which a military rank equal to or higher than the military rank to be granted is stipulated by the staffing plan.

4. To grant the next military rank, the following minimum periods of doing military service are determined:

a) from private (marine private) to private first class (marine private first class) - 1 year;

b) from private first class (marine private first class) to corporal or corporal specialist (marine corporal or marine corporal specialist) - 2 years;

c) from corporal or corporal specialist ( marine corporal or marine corporal specialist) to junior sergeant (junior warrant officer) - 2 years;

d) from junior sergeant (junior warrant officer) to sergeant (warrant officer) - 2 years;

e) from sergeant (warrant officer) to senior sergeant (senior warrant officer) - 3 years;

f) from senior sergeant (senior warrant officer) to master sergeant (master warrant officer) - 5 years;

g) from master sergeant (master warrant officer) to sergeant major (chief warrant officer) - 5 years;

h) from lieutenant to senior lieutenant - 2 years;

i) from senior lieutenant to captain (captain lieutenant) - 3 years;
j) from captain (captain lieutenant) to major (captain III rank) - 3 years;

k) from major (captain III rank) to lieutenant colonel (captain II rank) - 4 years;

l) from lieutenant colonel (captain II rank) to colonel (captain I rank) - 5 years.

5. The time limit is not established for granting a military rank of general officer. To be granted this rank, the requirement under paragraph 3(c) of this article shall be met. The ranks of General of the Army and Admiral may be granted only during war for special service in battle.

6. In contrast to the time limits provided for by paragraphs 4 and 5 of this article, it shall be established that:

a) during the period of doing military service, service members (except for privates and corporals) may be granted a military rank ahead of time for special merit;

b) during a duty travel, an officer sent abroad to participate in operations for the restoration of peace and ensuring of security, and in other peacekeeping operations and international missions, may be temporarily granted a higher military rank (including, by skipping steps), taking into account the position to which he will be appointed in the international mission. Different qualification requirements may be established for temporarily granting a military rank.

7. Service members are granted:

a) military ranks of general officer and ahead of time, the rank of colonel (captain I rank) by the President of Georgia;

b) military rank of colonel (captain I rank), military rank of lieutenant in the case provided for by paragraph 2(b.a) of this article, and military rank (except for the military rank of colonel) in the cases provided for by paragraph 6 of this article by the Minister of Defence of Georgia;

c) military ranks that are not provided by sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph by the Minister of Defence of Georgia or by an official authorised by him/her on the basis of an individual administrative act;

d) military ranks provided for by sub-paragraphs (b) and (c) of this paragraph in other state agencies, by the head of that agency or by an official authorised by him/her on the basis of an individual administrative act;

8. Persons with special ranks shall be enlisted into the Armed Forces of Georgia from the military reserve in a reserve military rank.

Law of Georgia No 297 of 16 May 2000 - LHG I, No 21, 1.6.2000, Art. 53

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 1891 of 8 July 2005 - LHG I, No 42, 29.7.2005, Art. 300

Law of Georgia No 3428 of 30 June 2006 - LHG I, No 27, 17.7.2006, Art. 224

Law of Georgia No 4327 of 29 December 2006 - LHG I, No 2, 4.1.2007, Art. 42

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 788 of 19 December 2008 - LHG I, No 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 256

Law of Georgia No 2019 of 6 November 2009 - LHG I, No 35, 19.11.2009, Art. 268

Law of Georgia No 3015 of 27 April 2010 - LHG I, No 23, 4.5.2010, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 3394 of 13 July 2010 - LHG I, No 41, 21.7.2010, Art. 262

Law of Georgia No 4120 of 17 December 2010 - LHG I, No 75, 27.12.2010, Art. 476

Law of Georgia No 5598 of 23 December 2011 - website, 30.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 3948 of 8 July 2015 - website, 15.7.2015

Article 39 - Deprivation of a military rank, reduction in rank and reinstatement of rank

1. Service members, and persons in the reserve or retired, may be deprived of a military rank only by a court.

2. In the case of expungement (removal) of conviction or rehabilitation, the deprived military rank of persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this article shall be reinstated by the official authorised to grant this military rank.

3. Service members may be demoted by one military rank or reinstated to the previous military rank according to the procedure defined by basic army regulations and other normative acts.

Chapter IX - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 4197 of 27 December 2006 - LHG I, No 47, 29.12.2006, Art. 370

Article 40 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1987 of 28 May 1999 - LHG I, No 21(28), 14.6.1999, Art. 103

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 1893 of 25 December 2002 - LHG I, No 3, 17.1.2003, Art. 18

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 4197 of 27 December 2006 - LHG I, No 47, 29.12.2006, Art. 370

Article 41 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 4197 of 27 December 2006 - LHG I, No 47, 29.12.2006, Art. 370

Article 42 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 4197 of 27 December 2006 - LHG I, No 47, 29.12.2006, Art. 370

Article 43 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 2185 of 25 June 1999 - LHG I, No 27(34), 6.7.1999, Art. 145

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 4197 of 27 December 2006 - LHG I, No 47, 29.12.2006, Art. 370

Article 44 - (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1987 of 28 May 1999 - LHG I, No 21(28), 14.6.1999, Art. 103

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 4197 of 27 December 2006 - LHG I, No 47, 29.12.2006, Art. 370

Chapter X - Responsibility for Violation of the Legislation on Military Duty and Military Service

Article 45 - Responsibility of citizens and officials for violating the legislation on military duty and military service

1. Citizens (conscripts, reservists) who, upon the call of a structural unit of a municipality, fail to appear within the specified time limit without valid excuse shall be considered as persons evading military duty/military service in the reserve and shall be held responsible according to the legislation of Georgia.

2. Citizens (conscripts, reservists) who, upon the receipt of a relevant notice from the Gamgebeli/mayor of a municipality/Gamgebeli of the Tbilisi District or from a person authorised by him/her, fail to appear in the respective structural unit of a municipality within the specified time limit without valid excuse shall be held responsible according to the legislation of Georgia. A valid reason for the failure to appear upon the call of a municipality/Tbilisi District shall be deemed the death or illness of a close relative (mother, father, spouse, child, sister, brother) or a carer of the citizen (conscript, reservist), which shall be confirmed with documents; also natural phenomena or other force majeure circumstances.

3. If a doctor, a member of the Conscription Commission or other officials participating in the medical examination of a citizen in connection with his/her military registration, preparation for military service and doing military service, assists the citizen in evading military duty, he/she shall be held responsible according to the legislation of Georgia.

4. Service members and reservists called up for military training shall be held responsible according to the Disciplinary Regulations of the Military Forces for the violation of military discipline, and for the commission of a crime, according to legislation.

5. Citizens shall be held responsible according to the legislation of Georgia for wearing military uniform and insignia illegally.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Chapter XI - Transitional Provisions

Article 46 - Citizens released from the performance of military duty

1. Citizens subject to military duty defined in Article 9 of this Law, who have attained the age of 25 by the date of entry of this Law into force, shall not perform military duty and shall be enlisted in the reserve.

2. (Deleted - 29.7.2014, No 2554).

3. Article 6(1)(a) and (b) and Article 6(5-8), Article 12(1), Article 13(1) and (1¹), Article 14 (1)(a) and (b), Article 16(1-4), Article 23(2), Article 24(2)(a) and (b); Article 25(3), Article 28 and Article 45(1) and (2) of this Law shall enter into force on 1 January 2003.

4. The grounds for the deferment of conscription, except for the grounds under Article 30(1) of this Law, are:

a) having one or more children by persons who enjoyed or could have enjoyed the right to the deferment of conscription;

b) the enrolment of conscripts in higher educational institutions before 15 July 2002 – until graduation, but not older than 24 years of age.

5. Article 30(c¹) of this Law shall enter into force on 1 April 2005, after the accreditation of higher educational institutions provided for by legislation.

6. Former students of higher educational institutions who have passed state examinations in higher educational institutions and have not been granted military ranks before 1 September 2009, shall be granted a military rank of private by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Georgia and shall be enlisted in the reserve of the Military Forces if:

a) before the abolition of the Military Department or the Department of Military Training in the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, they completed the full course in the Military Department or the Department of Military Training and passed state examinations in the Military Department;

b) at the time of the abolition of the Military Department or the Department of Military Training in the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, they were in their final year of study at the above department;

c) before the abolition of the Military Department or the Department of Military Training in the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, they completed the full course of studies in the Military Department or the Department of Military Training and were not able to pass the state examinations in the Military Department due to the abolition of the Department.

7. Article 10 and Article 30(1)(e) of this Law shall also apply to persons who will receive secondary vocational education before 2009-2010 academic year as determined by the legislation of Georgia.

8. Graduates of the Legal Entity under Public Law - the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, who have not been granted military ranks before 1 September 2009, shall be granted a military rank of private by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Georgia and shall be enlisted in the reserve of the Military Forces if:

a) before the abolition of the Department of Military Training at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, they completed a full course in the Department of Military Training and passed the state examinations in the Military Department;

b) at the time of the abolition of the Department of Military Training in the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, they were in their final year of study in the above Department;

a) before the abolition of the Department of Military Training at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, they completed a full course in the Department of Military Training and were not able to pass the state examinations in the Military Department due to the abolition of the above Department;

9. Release from financial liability arising under a contract concluded for contracted (professional) military service before 2 April 2009, its postponement or reduction shall be performed in cases and according to the procedures determined by this Law and the Regulation on Doing Military Service approved by the President of Georgia.

10. (Deleted).

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 2226 of 7 May 2003 - LHG I, No 12, 21.5.2003, Art. 65

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 1209 of 25 March 2005 - LHG I, No 14, 18.4.2005, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2958 of 28 April 2006 - LHG I, No 15, 16.5.2006, Art. 108

Law of Georgia No 4702 of 27 April 2007 - LHG I, No 17, 17.5.2007, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 4703 of 27 April 2007 - LHG I, No 17, 17.5.2007, Art. 135

Law of Georgia No 1062 of 13 March 2009 - LHG I, No 5, 24.3.2009, Art. 20

Law of Georgia No 2019 of 6 November 2009 - LHG I, No 35, 19.11.2009, Art. 268

Law of Georgia No 3015 of 27 April 2010 - LHG I, No 23, 4.5.2010, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 3394 of 13 July 2010 - LHG I, No 41, 21.7.2010, Art. 262

Law of Georgia No 1387 of 27 September 2013 - website, 9.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Law of Georgia No 3546 of 1 May 2015 - website, 18.5.2015

Article 46¹ - Performance of military duty by pardoned persons on the basis of the Law of Georgia on Amnesty of 28 December 2000

1. Persons pardoned on the basis of the Law of Georgia on Amnesty of 28 December 2000, except for persons conscripted, or to be conscripted, into compulsory military service in 2000, shall not perform military duty and shall be enlisted in the reserve.

2. Persons conscripted, or to be conscripted, into compulsory military service in 2000, who have been pardoned on the basis of the Law of Georgia on Amnesty of 28 December 2000 and against whom a judgment of conviction has been delivered, or whose case was under review by a court, shall not perform military duty and shall be enlisted in the reserve.

3. Service members pardoned on the basis of the Law of Georgia 2000 on Amnesty of 28 December shall be removed from the personnel of a military unit or other place of service.

Law of Georgia No 698 of 23 December 2000 - LHG I, No 51, 30.12.2000, Art. 151

Article 46² - Term of military service until 1 January 2008

1. The operation of Article 32(1)(a) of this Law shall be suspended until 1 January 2008, and until 1 January 2008, the term of military service for persons doing compulsory military service through conscription shall be 18 months.

2. The term of 18 months for military service under paragraph 1 of this article shall not apply to persons conscripted into military service for a term of 12 months.

Law of Georgia No 500 of 26 October 2004 - LHG I, No 32, 10.11.2004, Art. 148

Law of Georgia No 1049 of 25 February 2005 - LHG I, No 9, 17.3.2005, Art. 58

Article 46³ - Equating the special ranks of persons transferred from the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia into the Armed Forces of Georgia to the corresponding military ranks

1. Persons specified in paragraph 2 of this article who have been transferred from the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia into the Armed Forces of Georgia from 1 December 2008 to 1 February 2009 shall be granted military ranks corresponding to their special ranks.

2. The list of persons transferred from the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia into the Armed Forces of Georgia from 1 December 2008 to 1 February 2009, whose special ranks will be equated to relevant military ranks, shall be defined by a joint order of the Minister of Defence of Georgia and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

3. Where the special ranks of persons under this article are equated to the corresponding military ranks, the years of service in a special rank shall be considered as the years of military service.

Law of Georgia No 788 of 19 December 2008 - LHG I, No 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 256

Article 46⁴ - Equating military ranks

1. The military ranks of active service members and persons in the reserve that were valid before the date of the entry of this article into force, shall be equated to military ranks cancelled (modified) after the entry of this article into force:

a) Gefreiter and Gefreiter Second Class shall be equated to Private; Seaman, Senior Seaman and Seaman Second Class - to Marine Private;

b) Gefreiter First Class - to Private First Class; Seaman First Class - to Marine Private First Class;

c) Battalion Sergeant and Staff Sergeant - to Master Sergeant; Warrant Officer of the Ship and Staff Warrant Officer - to Master Warrant Officer;

d) Brigade Sergeant - Sergeant Major;

d) Junior Lieutenant - Lieutenant.

2. The respective agency and respective structural unit of a municipality shall ensure the amendment of current registration data of service members and persons in the reserve according to paragraph 1 of this article in order to equate military ranks.

3. For servicemen whose ranks have been equated according to paragraph 1 of this article, the years of service in the equated military rank shall include the period during which they have served in the rank to be equated according to paragraph 1 of this article.

4. Article 38(6)(a) of this Law shall also apply to military ranks granted before its entry into force.

Law of Georgia No 3015 of 27 April 2010 - LHG I, No 23, 4.5.2010, Art. 134

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 46⁵ - Changing staff lists within the system of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia and approving the qualification requirements

Before 1 July 2010, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia shall ensure that:

a) relevant changes are made in the staff lists of service members, in particular, of privates, corporals and sergeants (warrant officers) within the system of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia in order to change rank categories of the positions defined in the staff lists;

b) the qualification requirements for military ranks and positions in the staff lists are approved.

Law of Georgia No 3015 of 27 April 2010 - LHG I, No 23, 4.5.2010, Art. 134

Article 46⁶ - Doing compulsory military service for the term of 12 months

The term of 12 months for compulsory military service through conscription provided for by Article 32(1) of this Law shall also apply to persons who were conscripted into compulsory military service for the term of 15 months after 7 March 2012.

Law of Georgia No 524 of 5 April 2013 - website, 24.4.2013

Article 46⁷ - Temporary procedure for granting the next military rank

Based on the priorities of defence, service members within the system of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia may be granted the next military rank before 1 September 2014, including ahead of time, if they meet the qualification requirements specially established by the Minister of Defence of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2428 of 14 May 2014 - website, 27.5.2014

Article 46⁸ - Organising the military registration and conscription into compulsory military service of internally displaced persons - refugees from the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia

1. The Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia shall organise the military registration and conscription of internally displaced persons - refugees from the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia as determined by the legislation of Georgia until the full restoration of Georgia's jurisdiction in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, except for the military registration and conscription of internally displaced persons - refugees from the Azhara Municipality of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. The Azhara Municipality shall organise the military registration and conscription of these persons according to this Law.

2. The powers of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia in the military registration and conscription of internally displaced persons - refugees from the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia shall correspond to the powers delegated by the State to municipalities under this Law.

3. The Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia may, if necessary, set up several conscription commissions and determine their composition.

4. The respective body/agency of public authority shall provide the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia with the information under Article 6(4), (5) and (8-10) on internally displaced persons - refugees from the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

Law of Georgia No 2554 of 29 July 2014 - website, 8.8.2014

Article 46⁹ - Determining the procedure for doing compulsory military service and contracted service in the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia

The Minister of Corrections of Georgia shall, not later than 1 September 2015, issue an order on Approval of the Procedure for Doing Compulsory Military Service and Contracted Service in the Ministry of Corrections of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 3547 of 1 May 2015 - website, 18.5.2015

Chapter XII - Final Provisions

Article 47 - Normative acts to be repealed in connection with the entry of this Law into force

1. Upon the entry of this Law into force:

a) the Law of the Republic of Georgia of 29 December 1992 on Universal Military Duty (the Parliamentary Gazette of Georgia, 1992, No 2, Art. 136) shall be considered repealed.

b) the word 'military' shall be removed from the title of the Law of the Republic of Georgia of 29 April 1993 on Military and Special Ranks and Diplomatic Ranks (the Parliamentary Gazette of Georgia, 1993, No 6, Art. 99) and Chapter 2 of the same law shall be considered repealed.

c) the Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia No 861-IS of 17 September 1997 on the Performance of Military Duty by the Citizens of Georgia Permanently Residing and Working Abroad shall be considered repealed.

d) unnumbered paragraphs 1-3 of paragraph 1 and paragraphs 2-10 of the Edict of the President of Georgia No 629 of 23 September 1996 on Additional Activities for the Preparation of Students as Reserve Officers for the Military Forces of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1527 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 83

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Article 48 - Entry of the Law into force and normative acts to be adopted

1. (Deleted).

1¹. Article 2(1³) of this Law shall apply to legal relations arising form 1 March 2007.

2. This Law shall enter into force upon its promulgation.

Law of Georgia No 641 of 9 December 2004 - LHG I, No 38, 24.12.2004, Art. 178

Law of Georgia No 5239 of 11 July 2007 - LHG I, No 29, 27.7.2007, Art. 308

President of Georgia                                                                                                                                         Eduard Shevardnadze

Tbilisi

17 September 1997

No 860–IS