REPORT: Georgia’s policy towards its national minorities: Tolerance or Integration

TI Georgia, June 2008

Historically, Georgia has been a multiethnic country and remains so to this day. Georgians consider that they are among the most tolerant countries/nations in the world and argue that non-Georgian minorities residing in the country have never been threatened or suppressed or otherwise disenfranchised. Minority communities in Georgia do not always share this opinion, however. Feeling isolated and deprived, minorities often accuse the national authorities of being unwilling to take the issues more seriously and address the existing problems.

Georgia has recognised the international principles and best practices regarding the policy towards national minorities and the need for their integration. The country is a signatory to the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) and takes note of most international instruments and recommendations on the subject of minority rights.1 However, the country has not ratified other important conventions, notably the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.2 Taking note of the fact that effective protection of rights of minorities at times substantially differs from the general protection of human rights the EU-Georgia ENP Action Plan specifically addresses this issue. Chapter 4.1.1 calls on Georgia to “ensure respect for rights of persons belonging to national minorities; sign and ratify European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages” and “develop and implement a civic integration strategy and ensure its implementation, including creation of appropriate monitoring instruments.” In spite of these international commitments, the government has not addressed the issue in a coherent and consistent manner.

This paper will explore the state policy towards national minorities in general and on the individual institution level and review several key concerns voiced by minorities and the state’s responses to them.