100 People Dismissed from Georgia’s Defense Ministry

TBILISI –Around 100 people have already been dismissed from the Military Police of Georgia’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) and further reduction of its staff is also expected.

The information was confirmed by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Shalva Jabakhidze.

However, the Ministry’s key figures say the dismissals were not related to the Government’s decision that 10% decrease in administrative expenses in all Ministries of Georgia would be carried out.

They explain that the changes had been planned within a necessary reform within the Ministry itself.

However, it was previously stated by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, and other governmental officials that dismissals would not be addressed in terms of the law enforcement bodies.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff told Imedi TV that optimization would also affect military battalions.

"Our goal is that the military police battalions were paramilitary units, which will have such servicemen who have undergone at least one contract terms and have received military education. This is the reason why we fired those people. We do not need exaggerated personnel,” Shalva Jabakhidze commented.

Parliament’s Defense and Security Committee Head, Irakli Sesiashvili also commented on the issue and approved the developments within the ministry.

"I understand that for any person losing a job is very difficult, but I would like to say, unfortunately, the Ministry of Defense needed and still needs serious optimization,” he added.

The sacked servicemen say they were not been given any detailed information about their dismissal. They only were told that reduction of staff is underway at the Ministry.

Some sources say that Ministry of Internal Affairs is also going to reduce its number of employees in the near future.

By Thea Morrison