Armed Forces Day Celebrated in Georgia

April 30 is the day of Armed Forces in Georgia, and this year the Georgian army celebrated its 29th year.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Defense of Georgia and the National Parliamentary Library are holding a virtual exhibition titled 'Soldier Against the Invisible Enemy', depicting the dedicated and hard work of soldiers fighting the pandemic countrywide. 

Based on the government's decision, the Georgian Defense Forces, in cooperation with other agencies, have been involved in measures to reduce the threats related to the coronavirus and ensuring public safety from the very first day of detecting the virus in the country. The Defense Forces, along with the Interior Ministry, have been monitoring the implementation of the State of Emergency and tightened quarantine restrictions throughout the country in a 24/7 emergency mode.

In December 1990, under the Resolution of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia, the National Guard (the Internal Troops of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia) was established. Further development of the Georgian Army was based on the National Guard. On April 24, 1991, the Ministry Cabinet of the Georgian Government issued an order requiring compulsory military service. On April 30, enrollment of recruits started officially, wih the date marking the official beginning of the Georgian Army. 

The Georgian Armed Forces consists of the Land Force, Air Force, National Guard, and Special Operations Forces. The Defense Forces are under the overall leadership of the Minister of Defense of Georgia and directly headed by the Chief of Defense Forces.

The Georgian Army fought in the civil war and separatist conflicts in the 1990s and the Russo-Georgian War of 2008, and has participated in major international military missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Georgia was one of the first former Soviet republics to join the NATO 'Partnership for Peace' program in 1994 and 'Individual Partnership Action Plan' (IPAP) in 2004, and has sought to bring its military in line with NATO standards.

Browse the virtual exhibition 'Soldier Against the Invisible Enemy' here 

By Ana Dumbadze