The Problems of Civil Integration of Ethnic Minorities in Georgia

Georgia is a multi-national country, where almost 16% of the population consists of ethnic minorities.

Presently the problem of civil integration of ethnic minorities is very important. However, very often even ethnic Georgians find it rather difficult to participate in civil processes ongoing in the country. 

“Civil integration represents a problem not only for ethnic minorities, but also for the entire population. Civil integration is a compulsory condition for building a democratic state,” Executive Director of the Civil Integration Foundation Zaur Khalilov said.

It is much spoken today that ethnic minorities fail to actively participate in the country’s public life. 

“Presently we come across a huge problem of non-participation. Ethnic minorities do not feel themselves as citizens of Georgia,” head of the non-governmental organization Multinational Georgia Arnold Stepanyan says. 

According to expert assessments, this is basically caused by insufficient knowledge of the state language. At the same time, the problem of communications in the Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions is very acute .

Noteworthy, that from social-economic point of view, Samtskhe-Javakheti, compared with the Kvemo Kartli region, is less integrated with the rest of Georgia. In this case, the existence of motor roads and their quality is of crucial importance.

It is no secret that the state of infrastructure is extremely grave, that promotes the isolation of these regions, especially Samtskhe-Javakheti. During seasons agricultural products are exported to neighboring Armenia. It should be noted that the roads connecting with this country are in better condition.

However, it is also worth noting that the 2005 state budget envisages funds for the reconstruction of the Akhaltsikhe-Akhalkalaki road.

At the same, only construction of motor roads is not necessary for effective communication and civil integration of ethnic minorities. Good command of the state language is a real factor of integration. Unfortunately, “today ethnic minorities communicate with each other in the Russian language, instead of the state Georgian language,” says Zaur Khalilov.

Noteworthy, that in the regions populated by ethnic minorities various official documents are filled in Russian. At the same time, good command of the Russian language already represents a problem among the youth. Very often they do not speak in any other languages except their native ones (Azerbaijani or Armenian). This naturally triggers their isolation from the processes ongoing in Georgia. 

It is also known, that a level of teaching the Georgian language was always low in the regions populated by ethnic minorities. In this view, even the educational reform has triggered particular misunderstanding.

“The plans of the Ministry of Education aimed at the school reform were perceived by a substantial part of ethnic minorities as the policy aimed at closing of non-Georgian schools. This caused particular discontent among them. Although the new law on Education does not foresee such provisions, people living in the regions know nothing about this at all. The reason is that government does not care for implementation of more effective information policy in the regions” Arnold Stepanyan says.

Along with the educational problems, land problem is also very important for the regions populated by ethnic minorities. “Unequal distribution of lands represents a problem as well. During years the local population was prevented from buying lands, they only could rent them. However, today the payment for rent is very high”, Arnold Stepanyan adds.

Currently much is spoken about new land reform, according to which it will be possible to transfer lands to private ownership.

“The Azerbaijanis living in Kvemo Kartli and the Armenians, living in Samtskhe-Javakheti should not be citizens of Georgia only by their passports. There should be other components as well, so that they feel themselves as citizens of this country. Transfer of land to private ownership will be one of such components,” Zaur Khalilov says.

Moreover, Georgia has not ratified a framework convention on ethnic minorities yet, although upon accession to the Council of Europe in 1999 the authorities undertook this commitment. The term of ratification expires by October 1, 2005.

The authorities have not ratified the Charter on Regional Languages. Neither exists the special law on national minorities.     

Along with a great deal of unsettled problems, the problem of civil integration of ethnic minorities is especially severe in the regions.

The State should not differ citizens by ethnic origination. All the citizens, despite their ethnicity, should have equal living and development conditions. Georgia has already declared its adherence to these principles, however, their enforcement seem to be rather problematic.