- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Georgia plans to amend law on military service

Subscribe
Georgia's Defense Ministry is with the parliamentary committee on defense and security drafting a number of amendments to the country's law on military service, a parliamentary source said Friday.
TBILISI, October 3 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia's Defense Ministry is with the parliamentary committee on defense and security drafting a number of amendments to the country's law on military service, a parliamentary source said Friday.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has as commander-in-chief criticized the army over the recent attempt to take control of South Ossetia and urged changes in the country's conscription laws.

"The possible extension of the 18-month term of compulsory military service is currently being studied," the source said. "We are also considering conducting the draft more frequently than twice a year."

In addition, there could be changes to the training program for reservists.

European and U.S. military experts have a role in drafting the amendments.

A Russian intelligence source earlier said that Georgia lost up to 3,000 servicemen and police in the conflict over South Ossetia and that Georgian leadership covered up the real scale of the losses, reporting about 70 confirmed deaths.

The source said Georgia suffered such heavy losses because of the poor training and low morale of its military personnel, especially reservists.

Georgian troops attacked the breakaway republic on August 8, killing a number of Russian peacekeepers and hundreds of civilians. In response, Russia launched a five-day military operation to "force Georgia to accept peace."

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала