Georgia to end conscription in 2017

Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Alasania said on January 8 that conscription will end in 2017. Conscripts will serve 12 instead of 15 months.

Georgia has had 93 peacekeepers wounded in Afghanistan in the last 3 years (20 in 2010, 44 in 2011 and 29 in 2012). Georgia has lost 19 soldiers in Afghanistan, including 8 in 2012.

Conscription terms in Georgia were extended to 15 months about a year ago. Georgia has 37,000 soldiers serving, including 1600 in Afghanistan.

Adapted from Vestnik Kavkaza