THOUGHTS: Second Apparent Suicide in Georgian Military

Please note that out of respect for the families of the deceased service members discussed in this article, CASE has chosen not to name them. Doing so contributes nothing to national or regional security. Instead, it could have the opposite effect.

In many developed nations, particularly those with more liberal governments, military service is viewed unfavorably and, at times, with outright hostility. However, the voluntary military of all developed countries makes up a tiny percentage of the total population. While certain groups are prone to cite various factors causing low numbers of volunteers to join the military, the actual reason is it's just not easy to get accepted.

Military training in developed nations is mentally and physically demanding. Those asked to serve in the defense of their countries must, by necessity, meet rigorous standards. Otherwise, how will they meet and overcome the challenges presented by conflict and war?

Yet there is an often overlooked issue the departments of defense in many countries do not effectively manage, and that issue is suicide. At World War II's end, veterans would spend months together on ships as they headed home. Their time together built on and strengthened the camaraderie they had for one another. And over those long months, they discussed issues they may have had due to war.

But in modern times, despite groundbreaking advances in the understanding of military and veteran psychology, coupled with new therapies for PTSD and related combat issues, few hear or seem to care about the issue of military suicide. And in more developed countries, the numbers are shocking—more than 22 U.S. military and veterans take their life daily in America. Yet there are non-government outreach organizations in the U.S. working to address this issue because no one should ever forget those who serve.

Overlooking or marginalizing the demands and sacrifices required by those who commit themselves to military service diminishes national security. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the loss of morale and combat effectiveness suicide brings to a unit. And Georgia is no exception to this.

In less than two months, two members of the Georgian military have apparently committed suicide. The Georgian Ministry of Defense has confirmed the one which occurred on April 28, 2023, as a suicide. But the more recent one, which happened on June 8, 2023, is still under investigation. However, reports indicate a soldier shot himself with his issued firearm. Witnesses heard a gunshot and came to find the soldier deceased, with no immediate sign of struggle or unauthorized trespass to his post.

While Article 115, in Part I of the Georgian Criminal Code, addresses incitement to suicide, meeting the burden of proof required to bring charges is nearly impossible. But incitement to suicide is the exception if one assumes one individual causes another to take their own life. In reality, numerous factors are involved when any person commits suicide—not only when military service members take their lives.

Yet the standards we hold for civilians are generally much lower than those of military personnel. Likewise, the standards military members have for themselves tend to differ from their civilian counterparts. Because of this, the needs of civilians are served at disproportionately higher rates than those of service members. In other words, the issue of suicide is proactively dealt with for all segments of the population, except those who have served in the military.

If suicide rates among the military continue in Georgia at their current pace, it presents a significant obstacle to national security. Without our military, we cannot secure borders or provide local and regional security. Our nation would be unable to meet the constantly evolving threats faced in the Greater Caucasus Region.

However, there are things we can do to ensure the health and mental well-being of our soldiers. Most important is developing a support infrastructure for our service personnel. Many such non-governmental organizations exist to support the militaries of partner nations that help Georgia, and there is much we can learn from them.

While our focus at CASE is on more traditional threats, we encourage our readers and partners to consider what steps we, as a community, can take to support our service members. Because while it only takes one step to start a journey, sometimes the wrong step can end it. The apparatus of national and regional security in the Caucasus has many moving parts. It takes all of us working together to ensure we are protected from threats, wherever and however they may present themselves.

U.S. Veteran Support Group: PLATOON22