Defence spending to increase

Georgia’s defence budget prior to the recent war was GEL 1,395 billion. After additional financing the budget is now GEL 1,545 billion. This notable increase has raised questions in society, and President Saakashvili has had to comment on it.

Saakashvili says that the increase is primarily designed to finance the rehabilitation of the military infrastructure and not arms purchases. “We have more then enough arms. The infrastructure should be developed”, Saakashvili has stated.

As soon as Defence Ministry experts and their American counterparts have assessed the losses, it will be specified where the money will go. Defence Minister David Kezerashvili thinks that the Georgian defence infrastructure has suffered around USD 200 million in losses.