The Legal Regime of Compulsory Military Service
Conscription into the national military service of conscripts is regulated by the Defense Code and constitutes a clearly defined procedure: the age of persons subject to conscription, the basis of the call-up, the rules of summons, the role of the conscription commission and the procedure for appealing the decision are all embedded in the Code's special norms. Such detailed regulation means that every stage — from the summons to entering the service — is legally defined, and each point of dispute is protected by law.
Compulsory conscription into the national military service applies to a person from 18 to 27 years of age who is on the military register of conscripts and has no ground for exemption from or deferral of conscription. A person who has turned 27, was on the military register but has not served, is granted the rank of private by an individual administrative-legal act of the Minister and is enrolled in the reserve of the defense forces; the same follows for a person not on the register once that fact is discovered.
The Basis of Conscription and the Rules of Summons
The basis of conscription is a resolution of the Government of Georgia. Its draft is initiated by the Ministry, and the resolution determines the specific dates of conscription, the number of persons to be conscripted, the organizational matters connected with the call-up, and the priorities, rules and conditions of conscription. Summons are issued by technical or other means of communication, on the principle of annual random selection, in the established order — a process that runs through an electronic system.
Upon being summoned, the conscript must appear, within a reasonable period, at a session of the conscription commission. If the conscript fails to appear before the conscription commission or at the standing medical expert commission for a medical examination, or evades the examination, the entity authorised to conduct conscription transfers the materials to the court. After the decision is taken, that entity ensures the conscript's transfer to the appropriate subdivision of the ministry's system, providing food where necessary.
The Conscription Commission and Central Coordination
For the general guidance, coordination and control of the conscription process, a central conscription commission is created by government resolution. A collection and distribution center for conscripts operates alongside it, where a working group formed from the commission's membership functions. The commission's composition, authority and rules of operation are determined by government resolution upon the Ministry's proposal.
Notification of the Decision and Appeal
The decision on conscription enters into force immediately upon its official notification to the conscript. Notification takes place by announcement at the deciding body, by delivery at the address of registration, actual residence or workplace, by technical or other means of communication, or by public publication. In the case of public publication, the decision is deemed notified on the seventh calendar day after publication, and the conscript must appear before the deciding body within 10 calendar days of notification.
A person has the right to appeal the conscription decision, as well as any other related decision adopted under the Defense Code, to a court within 15 calendar days of its official notification. An appeal does not suspend the operation of the decision; its suspension is possible only under the procedure established by administrative procedural legislation. This lever is the legal instrument by which a conscript can challenge the grounds of the call-up as unfounded.
Cooperation of State Bodies
The organization of conscription rests on cooperation among many state agencies. On the basis of a written request, the Ministry of Internal Affairs assists the conscription entity in searching for persons evading conscription and supplies information on border crossings. The Prosecutor's Office and the courts must, within 10 days, notify the start or termination of criminal prosecution or the entry of a conviction into force regarding a person on the military register. The agency regulating medical and pharmaceutical activities ensures electronic access to information on disability status, while educational institutions supply data on studies.
Personal data in this process are processed in compliance with the Law on Personal Data Protection, solely to ensure the conduct of conscription-related measures and to produce statistics, in the volume necessary for a legitimate aim. This means that the balance between the conscription procedure and its informational basis is established by the Code itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which age groups are subject to compulsory conscription?
Persons from 18 to 27 years of age who are on the military register of conscripts and have no ground for exemption or deferral. At 27, a person who has not served is enrolled in the reserve with the rank of private.
What is the basis of conscription?
A resolution of the Government of Georgia, which determines the dates, the number of conscripts, organizational matters and the priorities, rules and conditions of the call-up. Summons are issued by annual random selection through an electronic system.
What happens if a person fails to appear upon summons?
If the conscript fails to appear before the conscription commission or for the medical examination, the materials are transferred to the court; failure to appear at the designated place after the decision is taken is reported to law enforcement bodies.
How can a conscription decision be appealed?
To a court within 15 calendar days of official notification. The appeal does not suspend the decision — suspension is possible only under administrative procedural legislation.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The conscription procedure often turns on many concrete details — the date of notification, the grounds, the deadlines. On Legal.ge we help assess the legality of a decision, calculate the appeal periods and formulate a position for the court. Contact us — we will analyse your case on the basis of the Code's exact norms.