State of the World's Minorities 2006 - Georgia

Although the onset of 'coloured' revolutions in the FSU has not as yet had any direct influence on the situations of minorities in the region, the changes in political attitudes coupled with continued pressure from international organizations and the EU are beginning to bear fruit. In November 2003 Georgia became the first country among the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) where entrenched and powerful vested interests were dislodged from government by opposition parties supported by massive popular protests. The unified stance of the three main opposition leaders in the wake of deeply flawed parliamentary elections, shored up by massive public support, sparked the resignation of the then president, Eduard Shevardnadze, in what became known as Georgia's 'Rose Revolution'. Subsequently, in February and March 2004, elections were held for the presidency and repeat elections for parliament that cemented the victory of reformists backed by substantial popular support, and an emerging programme for change. Georgia is expected to ratify the FCNM in October 2005.

The issue of minority rights ties in closely with and runs alongside the distinctive regional make-up of the country. Since independence, the development that has taken place in the country has tended to focus upon the capital Tbilisi and in other cities across the country. In contrast, rural areas have been left to subside into extreme poverty. A key component of how effectively Georgia develops is how minorities and regions of the country become integrated into the central whole. There are critical matters of importance with respect to areas of the country where densely concentrated minorities reside, namely Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli. These two regions have remained isolated from Georgia proper since independence, prompting fears that, unless sensitive integration policies are pursued, the latent threat of conflict will remain. More broadly, the Georgian government has yet to devise policy regarding minority rights and issues, even though around one-fifth of the country in population terms is made up of ethnic minorities.

In addition, the Georgian government is under pressure from the international community to allow repatriation of the Meskhetian Turks. The Stalin regime deported the entire Meskhetian Turkish population from south-west Georgia (Samtskhe-Javakheti) to Central Asia, particularly to Uzbekistan, in November 1944. Unlike other deported people, who were rehabilitated in the 1950s and 1960s, the Meskhetian Turks have neither been rehabilitated nor allowed to return to their land of origin, and their property has never been returned to them nor have they received compensation. Georgian authorities were reluctant to facilitate repatriation of Meskhetian Turks after independence, and the denial of citizenship and residence/working permits and the demand that they adopt a Georgian identity has dispirited many potential returnees. Lack of Georgian language skills has caused problems for integration among the repatriated community. Popular attitudes in Georgia, in particular among the Armenian populated region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, are unfavourably disposed towards repatriation. International organizations have faced severe obstacles in defining the directions of assistance for the Meskhetian Turks. The political problems in facilitating lasting solutions are immense, both with regard to the legal protection of Meskhetian Turks and with regard to resettlement in Georgia. Nevertheless, in 2005 the Georgian government has made steps towards beginning a sustained process to address the issue, and it looks as if that process will continue, including gathering data on the social, economic and legal needs of potential returnees, in 2006 and beyond.