Defense Minister says her employees involved in gambling will be dismissed forever
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, September 7
Georgia’s Defence Minister, Tinatin Khidasheli, has stated at a special briefing that major cases of suicide in army were caused due to debts taken for gambling.
The Minister has stated due to preventive measures, the Ministry will make its policy especially strict.
“Any employee of the Defence Ministry, no matter whether he is a soldier or a civilian, will be dismissed from service if caught gambling with no chance of returning to work in the national defence field.
“There will be no second chance, he will be dismissed in the very first case,” Khidasheli added.
Khidasheli stressed that no previous experience and merit would be taken into account.
“We will make no compromise. The last case was detected several days ago when a soldier committed suicide,” Khidasheli said.
Tinatin Khidasheli also focused on two more initiatives that are related to human life and prestige of the Army – drug addiction and alcoholism.
“Everyone should know that there will be no compromise and tolerance from our side even if they have a very good service history and took part in combat activities or participated in international missions. We respect all previous service but won’t accept such behaviour that risks their lives, as well as the prestige and image of the Army.”
Deputy Defence Minister Ana Dolidze emphasized the physiological problems that are caused by gambling. “This innovation to prohibit gambling for the personnel of the Defence Ministry is aimed at their psychological health and prevention. We should consider that it causes psychological problems when people are addicted to gambling and this might become a problem for the security of the country. These restrictions will assist us to have a psychologically healthy and strong armed forces,” she added.
Defence Ministry also plans to open a new centre for legal and physiological consultations that will serve both military and civilian personnel.
