Georgian Defense Minister Dzhuansher Burchuladze said that the department is working on creating a cyber security department with the support of Great Britain and other allies. The minister noted that Georgia's defense budget will increase by 260 million lari ($93 million) next year.
In an interview with the Public Broadcaster, Burchuladze said that in the last quarter of the current year, the budget of the Ministry of Defense increased by almost 10% or 80 million GEL, and these funds will be distributed proportionally in all directions. Starting next year, the budget of the defense department will increase by 260 million GEL, and maintaining this trend, he said, "will be a very good result."
According to the draft state budget, 1 billion 260 million GEL is provided for the Ministry of Defense, which exceeds the approved plan for 2022 by 257.6 million GEL.
Work on the creation of infrastructure for the new cyber security administration will begin in 2023, using both 5 million GEL ($1.8 million) allocated for this purpose from the budget and additional funds in the form of grants.
The increase in the defense budget will allow the department to "launch new projects and take further steps to popularize the armed forces" among the younger generation, Burchuladze noted. The minister emphasized that the department is working on a new model of the reserve forces, following the instructions of Prime Minister Iraklii Garibashvili - to make military service more "attractive" for the country's citizens.
"We made great efforts to modernize the reserve and conscription system. At the same time, we used the experience of the Baltic countries, as well as Finland and Switzerland. I hope that soon we will submit a document to the legislative body that will serve as a reference point for the next 10-20 years," said Buruladze.
Responding to claims by a section of the opposition that conditions in the army have deteriorated, the minister said "it is hard to imagine, but certain forces oppose the advancement and strengthening of our armed forces." Burchuladze believes that the authorities have ensured "better than ever" conditions in the armed forces.
Last week, Georgia's prime minister discussed with officials the country's new defense code, a document that modernizes the conscription and reserve system, as well as further steps to improve social conditions for servicemen. The code is planned to be submitted to parliament for approval by the end of this year, and will also establish a new approach in the ministry's management system, paving the way for a "completely new, flexible system" of military conscription, the government administration reported.