ECMI Caucasus - European Centre For Minority Issues Caucasus

ECMI recent working papers

National Minorities and the Media Situation in Georgia
ECMI Working Paper #52: Tobias Akerlund, January 2012, 28 pp., appendix.

The working paper explores the media situation in Georgia in relation to national minorities and shows that although there are a number of positive recent developments in terms of policy making on media issues, problems still remain in relation to media and national minorities. Although the ethnic Georgian minority population faces many problems similar to those confronted by minorities such as imbalanced or inappropriate information due to poor professionalism of journalists, it seems evident that persons belonging to minorities generally face more serious challenges. Looking at the current media situation for minorities, the paper indentifies four areas that require more attention: the deficiencies in access for minorities to information; licensing of new media outlets; the geographical coverage of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, and journalistic professionalism and ethical standards. The paper aims at identifying and documenting existing problems, and suggests ways forwards toward finding solutions to these challenges.

Resettlement of Ecological Migrants in Georgia: Recent Developments and Trends in Policy, Implementation, and Perceptions
ECMI Working Paper ##53: Justin Lyle, January 2012, 14 pp., appendix.

The working paper provides a brief overview of the legal basis for addressing the needs of ecological migrants in international and domestic law, and then summarizes the limited activities in Georgia by national and international actors in the emerging field of humanitarian work that addresses the needs of persons displaced due to ecological disaster. The paper also surveys the Georgian Government’s approaches and efforts in respect to the eco-migrants, especially in recent years, and highlights new developments and trends in policy, implementation and perceptions. By documenting the current status of ecological migrants in Georgia, ECMI hopes to bring that renewed attention to the plight of this disadvantaged group.

Chinese in Georgia
ECMI Working Paper #54: Jiayi Zhou, January 2012, 20 pp., appendix.

The paper provides an introduction to the Chinese economic migrants in Georgia. As of today, there are around 1,000 Chinese in Georgia divided into five groups: specialists, businessmen, shopkeepers, contract workers, and those in the restaurant and catering sector. The paper provides detailed information about the history of Chinese migrants in Georgia, driving causes, their level of integration (or lack there-of), vulnerabilities, and their status in Georgian society. It also offers insights into the increasingly large-scale Chinese economic ventures in the country, the status of Chinese as a foreign language in Georgia, and the role of the PRC Embassy for the Chinese community.

South African Boars in Georgia?
ECMI Working Paper #55: Conor Prasad, January 2012, 12 pp., appendix.

The paper examines the Georgian government scheme to attract South African Boer farmers’ to Georgia. It examines the Georgian government’s aims and methods, how it plans to carry the scheme out and how it will fit into the Ministry of Agriculture’s broader plans for agricultural reform and rural development. The paper looks at both the potential benefits and risks of the potential resettlement, taking into account the views and experiences of both Georgian local farmers and South African Boers who are considering moving, or have already moved, to Georgia.

Islam and Religious Transformation in Adjara
ECMI Working Paper #57: Thomas Liles, February 2012, 23 pp., appendix.

The working paper provides an assessment of the current religious situation in upper Adjara. The paper is organized around three main themes. Firstly, it analyzes the structural factors of the current situation which have given impetus to religious transformation and conversion to Christianity. Secondly, the paper addresses the effects of local institutions on the religious situation in upper Adjara. Finally, the working paper analyzes current Muslim issues as well as state policy on religious affairs in upper Adjara.

Georgia’s Muslim Community: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?
ECMI Working Paper #58: Conor Prasad, February 2012, 25 pp., appendix.

The principle objective of the paper is to examine the creation of the new Administration of Georgian Muslims; how and why it has been created and what its specific role, function and means of operating will be. Most importantly, it examines how the administration has been received by Georgia's Muslims and how it will affect them. The paper principally focuses on dynamics and relationships within the Muslim community and therefore it deals primarily with Georgia’s ethnic-Azeri community, which is simultaneously the largest ethnic and religious minority in the country and is concentrated in the Kvemo Kartli region.

A minority mainstreaming manual

A minority-mainstreaming manual, designed to train employees of governmental and non-governmental organizations on minority issues, and how minority issues can be mainstreamed in emergency and development programme design. The English-language manual focuses on minority issues in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. A Georgian-language manual covering Georgia only, will be published in early 2012.

Photo exhibition: “The UnPromised Land: The Meskhetians’ Long Journey Home”

The Meskhetians are a Muslim population originally settled in Georgia’s southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. Under thoughts of being a potential “fifth column” of neighboring Turkey they were collectively deported in 1944 from Georgia by the Stalin regime. It is estimated that the number of people, who were deported to the Central Asian republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan reached above 100,000 persons. After Stalin’s death some restrictions imposed upon the Meskhetians were lifted and it became possible for a few families to return. Currently, there are about 130 Meskhetian families living in Georgia, while large Meskhetian communities exist in Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, USA and the three Central Asian states.

The Deported Meskhetians

In 1999, Georgia committed to provide for the repatriation of the deported Meskhetians, and finally in 2007 a law on repatriation was adopted. In 2011, the repatriation process entered into an active phase and 333 Meskhetian families out of 5,841 applications have so far been granted permission to repatriate. It is expected that several thousand will receive repatriation status in 2012 and that the physical repatriation will also begin soon.

Facilitating the Return of Deported People

In the past year, ECMI Caucasus has implemented a large scale EU funded programme “Supporting the Repatriation of Persons Deported from Georgia in the 1940s and their Descendants”– working in partnership with Spanish NGO Action Against Hunger to support the repatriation of people deported from Georgia by the Soviet authorities, mainly the indigenous Turkish speaking population of Samtskhe-Javakheti called the Meskhetians.

Since the government of Georgia has no experience in managing repatriation of deported people, the support of ECMI is playing an important role in the overall facilitation of the process. An international expert seconded by the ECMI to the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia

(MRA) ensures that the repatriation process is being implemented in greater accordance with the established international standards. In order to coordinate the repatriation process between a range of governmental agencies the government of Georgia has, with the support of the programme, created an “Interagency Governmental Council on the Repatriation of Forcefully Deported Persons from the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia During the 40s of XX Century by Former USSR” and a Working Group. ECMI is closely cooperating with both bodies especially with regard to the drafting of a repatriation strategy, which is currently being drawn up. Additionally, ECMI is supporting the creation, maintenance and updating of a database of repatriate-seekers at the MRA.

Apart from supporting the government structures in advancing the repatriation process, ECMI implements various activities to prepare Georgian society for the return of Meskhetian repatriates. These activities include trainings for regional authorities on diversity management, implemented in partnership with the Georgian ALPE Foundation, public lectures and seminars, winter schools for university students, photo exhibitions, cultural festivals, publication of information material and the launch of an informational website.

New website on repatriation - www.repatriation.ge

For the purpose of raising awareness in Georgian society regarding the deported populations and their repatriation and to provide Meskhetians with an important source of information on the repatriation process, ECMI on 15 December launched a new website. The website is maintained in three languages: English, Georgian and Russian. It contains a legal section, where all relevant legislative acts can be found as well as information on procedures for repatriation. Information on Meskhetian organizations is also provided, as well as a collection of informative articles and useful links. Additionally, the site holds many interesting sections about the Meskhetians, their history and current being. The website’s photo gallery is a useful tool allowing the reader to get a clear visual image of the Meskhetian people. Besides, the news and announcement sections of the website constantly keeps visitors updated on the latest developments regarding repatriation issues and programme development. The content of the website is enriched with the publications of ECMI concerning Meskhetian issues including a new book: “Meskhetians: Homeward Bound...”, written by three leading experts in the field: Tom Trier, George Tarkhan-Mouravi and Forrest Kilimnik. The book is accessible for free download in three languages.

Media cooperation and Peace Journalism in the South Caucasus

In partnership with the Georgian NGO, International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN) and funded by the EU supported UNDP mechanism Confidence Building Early Response Mechanism, ECMI Caucasus has initiated a media coorporation project. The project has so far succeeded in creating a mechanism for systematic exchange of information for media representatives in Abkhazia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. About 25 media representatives were trained in peace journalism in Famagusta, northern Cyprus on 12-17 September 2011. Through a grant provided by the German Marshall Foundation a preparatory meeting was also held in Ankara on 14-15 April. It is envisaged that the project can be continued in 2012.

The International Visegrad Fund

Empowering National Minorities through Developing Civil Society in Minority-Populated Regions of Georgia

Based on the experiences of the Visegrad countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary), this project has aimed at developing civil society in minority inhabited regions of Georgia. The project has focused especially on southern Georgia, where large numbers of Armenians and Azeris live, but it has also succeeded in initiating activities addressing other groups, notably national minority community groups in eastern Georgia and in Adjara on the Black Sea coast. Both regions are rich in cultural and ethnic diversity though very little interest has been seen among national and international actors in supporting the needs of these minority groups (Kurds, Jews, Roms, Chechens, Avars, Ossetians, Abkhazians and others). Through civil society development and community mobilization in areas settled by persons belonging to national minorities, the project through trainings and provision of small grants helped to build the capacities of NGOs and CSO in the minority regions.

State Inter Agency Commission implements the Annual Work Plan for 2011

The State Inter-Agency Commission (SIAC) for coordination of issues relating to civic integration, which functions under the auspices of the Office of the State Minister for Reintegration, continues its mandate to implement the National Concept for Tolerance and Civic Integration and its five-year Action Plan. The members of the Commission consist of representatives of ministries and other governmental bodies working in areas of relevance for national minority issues.

SIAC collaborates actively with bodies of local self-government (municipal administrations and elected councils), the Office of the Public Defender (including its Council of National Minorities), and civil society and international organizations. A recent example of such cooperation is the monitoring of the implementation of the annual State Report on the implementation of the National Concept, which came as a result of joint efforts of all parties, including state bodies and civil society organizations. ECMI has played a key role in establishing the Inter-Agency Commission in July 2009 and in supporting the efficient functioning of the body under previous and current programmes.

The Roms: ECMI continues efforts to reduce marginalization in Georgia
Vocational Education

In the past year, around 50 community members from Romani settlements in Kakheti and Adjara regions were able to go through a vocational education program launched by ECMI Caucasus with the financial support of the Open Society Foundation in Georgia. Courses in driving, sewing and tailoring were offered, and the interest in the Romani communities was immense. The training courses were specially designed based on the needs in the different communities, and with the newly acquired skills many Roms have greatly improved their chances for employment or making an income. In this way, the vocational training has contributed to the social and economic integration of the marginalized group.

Empowerment

One of ECMI’s strategic aims is to empower minority communities, in order for minorities to build capacities to help themselves and address their own concerns. ECMI Caucasus seeks to facilitate also the development of community based organizations and NGO for the Romani communities. These efforts have resulted in the establishment of a Romani NGO in eastern Georgia, the Kakheti Romani Union “Roma” and in western Georgia the Adjara Romani Union “Roma”, both established in July 2009. A third NGO, the Gachiani Romani Union “Roma,” has been established in November 2011 and is expected to cover activities both in the southern Kvemo Kartli region and in the capital Tbilisi. To further support the political participation of the

community, the Kakheti Romani Union “Roma” in March 2011 became a member of the Council of National Minorities (CNM) - the Georgian Public Defender’s mechanism for dialogue with the national minorities. The CNM membership of the Romani organization is an important step forward in the process of including the community in consultative and decision-making processes. Thanks to capacity building efforts, the Kakheti Romani Union “Roma” has also demonstrated success in receiving small grants on its own, including funding for a project to empower Romani women.

Public Awareness

In May 2011, a Romani Festival was held in Tbilisi, a joint initiative of ECMI Caucasus, the Innovations and Reforms Centre, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Georgian National Museum. The festival helped both to raise public awareness on the situation of the Romani community in Georgia, and to raise awareness within the Romani community on their rich cultural life. At the same time, the event was used as an occasion to offer Roms consultancy on their legal rights and to inform the community members of the need to obtain formal identity documents. At the festival, ECMI - with its close relations to Romani communities - presented features of the Georgian Romani culture to the broader Georgian public and over 400 guests visited the one-day event. At the opening ceremony, Georgian Deputy Minister of Justice, Giorgi Vashadze, issued Roms with ID cards and birth certificates. The festival also featured a photo exhibition, a video slideshow, a bazaar with Romani handicrafts, and Romani music and dance, all of which highlighted the cultural richness of the Romani communities from across Georgia.

Government Working Group

As a result of awareness raising activities conducted by ECMI and other organizations starting from 2008, the Government of Georgia in November 2011 has taken a significant step to address the problems of the Romani community: a government working group was established in November 2011 under the aegis of the National Security Council, with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the State Minister for Reintegration and the Civil Registry, as well as national and international organizations working in the field. ECMI is a permanent member of the Working Group.

September 2011

Seminar on FCNM Implementation and Reporting Procedures in Georgia
12-13 September, 2011

From September 12-13, 2011, a seminar on FCNM implementation and reporting procedures in Georgia was held as part of Denmark's Georgia Programme 2010-2013 “promotion of judicial reform, human and minority rights in Georgia in accordance with Council of Europe Standards”. The seminar was organized with cooperation from the Council of Europe and the National Security Council. The seminar, which was facilitated by international expert and member of the FCNM Advisory Committee Mr. Francesco Palermo, was arranged to assist working group members responsible for drafting the FCNM second State Report with reporting methodology and technical procedures. The seminar aimed to provide practical inputs on the upcoming State Report, both in terms of structure and procedure as well as content. All procedural and substantive issues regarding the State Report have been addressed and discussed in depth, both in a comparative perspective and with particular attention given to the situation of minorities in Georgia.

June 2011

Problems of the Kakheti region national minorities
29 June, 2011

The round table meeting “Problems of the Kakheti region national minorities” was held from 28-29 June in Grogoleti. The aim of the meeting was to discuss major problems faced by national minorities in the Kakheti region. This region, located in eastern Georgia, is home to a number of national minority groups that live in both dispersed and compact settlements. Yet, unlike other regions such as Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli, very little attention is given to national minority integration and protection. This round table meeting was the first event in Georgia devoted exclusively to minority problems in the Kakheti region. The meeting was attended by representatives of all national minority communities residing in Kakheti, including Azerbaijanis, Ossetians, Avars/Dagestanis, Udins, Roms, Kists/Vainakhs and Chechen refugees, as well as representatives of the Kakheti local government and members of the Council of National Minorities under the auspices of the Public Defender.

During the two-day event, representatives from each community presented detailed descriptions of the problems and challenges faced by their respective ethnic groups. By the end of the meeting, participants had developed a set of recommendations and possible measures that local government could implement to solve these problems. Finally, the representatives decided to officially present these recommendations to relevant decision makers and officials from the central and regional governments.

Round table meeting “National Minority Cultural Heritage of Georgia”
17 June, 2011

The round table meeting “National Minority Cultural Heritage of Georgia” was held on 17 June in Tbilisi. The aim of the meeting was to discuss problems related to the protection of national minority cultural monuments located in different regions of Georgia. The meeting was attended by members of the Council of National Minorities as well as representatives from the Public Defender’s Office, the Ministry of Culture and Monuments Protection, the State Minister’s Office on Reintegration, and various international organizations.

The first session of the meeting was devoted to presentations by national minority community leaders, who provided an overview of national minority cultural heritage protection in ethnic Russian, Azerbaijani, Jewish, and Armenian communities in Georgia. It was revealed that a considerable number of national minority monuments in Georgia still lack official status as cultural monuments, and thus do not enjoy official legal protection. Another urgent issue raised by ethnic community leaders was the status of the “sirotski dom,” a cultural site for the Russian/Dukhobor community in Ninotsminda district that, despite repeated promises, has still not been granted the status of museum.

During the second session of the round table meeting, a representative from the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection presented the government program on monument protection, highlighting the government’s general strategy as well as elaborating on previously planned initiatives.

May 2011

Roma Festival
May 21, 2011

Since 2008, the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) has made efforts to enhance the social inclusion of Romani in Georgia. As an initial step, ECMI sought to map Georgia’s Romani communities and identify their most pressing issues. Based on this research, ECMI has been able to develop a number of action oriented projects focused on empowering Romani communities through an emphasis on civil engagement and access to elementary education for Romani children.

On May 21, 2011, the Roma Festival was held as a joint initiative of ECMI, the Innovations and Reforms Centre, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Georgian National Museum. The festival was primarily intended to raise Romani’s awareness of both their rights and the importance of possessing documentation and birth certificates. To this end, the Innovation and Reform Centre used the event as a platform for legal consultancy and assistance to potential beneficiaries. Simultaneously, ECMI, with its close relations to Romani communities, presented Georgian Romani culture to the broader Georgian public in order to enhance inter-ethnic relations and foster tolerance in Georgian society.

Deputy Minister of Justice Giorgi Vashadze was among the 250-300 attendees at the festival. At the opening ceremony, Vashadze issued Romani with ID cards and birth certificates. Additionally, the event included a photography exhibition, a video slideshow, a bazaar, and Romani music and dance, all of which highlighted the cultural richness of various Romani communities from across Georgia.

April 2011

Seminar “Minority Governance in Georgia and Experience of Visegrad Countries”
29-30 April, 2011

The seminar “Minority Governance in Georgia and Experience of Visegrad Countries” was held from 29-30 April in Tbilisi. The seminar aimed to share V4 countries’ experience in the field of minority governance with Georgian authorities and representatives from Georgian civil society. During the seminar, international experts Dr. Michal Vasecka (Center for Research of Ethnicity and Culture) and Mr. Dusan Ondrusek (Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia) gave a presentation on the experience of V4 countries in minority governance and highlighted important aspects of interethnic relations and conflict resolution mechanisms in the V4 area. The presentation was followed by discussions. Georgian officials also presented on the Georgian model of minority governance. Activities, mandates and the structures of all relevant ministries and bodies responsible for implementation of civil integration and minority protection policy were discussed and analyzed by relevant officials.

During the second day of the seminar, issues of civil society development in both V4 countries and Georgia were discussed. Dr. Vasecka summarized the general situation of civil society in V4 countries during the post-socialist period, while Mr. Ondrusek focused on Slovakia’s experience in national minority civil society organizational development and provided examples of conciliation commissions. The last session of the seminar was devoted to civil society development issues in Georgia and focused on national minority networks. Specifically, activities of and challenges for the nationwide national minority network – the Council of National Minorities under the auspices of the Public Defender’s Office – were discussed. Regional national minority stakeholders also discussed problems and activities of civil society networks on a regional level, particularly in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and the Tsalka district. The seminar was attended by 45 participants from various governmental structures and civil society organizations.

July 2010

Commencement of Integration Classes for Roma Children
Location: Public School No. 5, Kobuleti, Adjara
Date: 5 July 2010

With 21 children, together with their parents, in attendance, ECMI Caucasus' staff held an opening meeting on 5 July for the start of integration classes for the Roma community. With an enthusiastic atmosphere the children, ranging from 6 to 14 year-olds, were presented with school books and supplies. The main aim of the integration classes is to instruct the children in basic Georgian as well as arithmetic so they may attend the local school starting in September. In attendance was also the school director and staff as well as the local authorities. The importance of education in the development of a free civil society was discussed amongst general concerns about the starting school year. These integration classes will continue for two months.

June 2010

Training for Local CSO Representatives
Location: Kutaisi, Imereti
Date: 23 June 2010

On 23 June, members of ECMI Caucaus conducted a training in Kutaisi for local CSO representatives. concerning project proposal writing. The main goal of the training was to introduce to participants standard methodology of project proposal writing, budgeting and reporting. Suitably, local representatives were very satisfied and pleased with the training and the information received.

April 2010

Ensuring Transportation of Roma and Georgian Schoolchildren
Location: Public School No. 2, Dedoplistskaro, Kakheti
Date: 12 April 2010

On 12 April, ECMI Caucasus’s staff together with Civic Integration Foundation members the Dedoplistskaro district to hold a meeting with representatives of the local Romani community and the director of Dedoplistskaro Public School No. 2. At the meeting, a grant of 400 litres of diesel petrol was presented to the school, which will ensure the transportation of Roma children from the nearby village of Leninovka to the school together with ethnic Georgian children residing in the same village. This initiative was implemented by the Civic Integration Foundation under ECMI Caucasus’ mini-grant programme. The director of the school is planning to develop a project proposal which will target local Romani community concerning vocational training for adult community members. Furthermore, a series of consultations are planned by ECMI Caucasus for the upcoming months with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia as well as other international and local organizations that may be ready to continue supporting this initiative from September 2010 onwards.

March 2010

Meeting with Minority Community Representatives
Location: Kutaisi, Imereti region
Date: 18-19 March 2010

On 18-19 March, ECMI Caucasus conducted meetings with minority community representatives in Kutaisi in the Imereti region. On the first day, meetings were held with Mr. Nugzar Andghuladze, vice-president of the Georgian-Ukrainian association “Friendship,” and Mr. Tengiz Bitkasha, a representative of Assyrian community in Kutaisi. On the second day, Mr. Giogri Tomash, chairman of the Russian Society “Compatriots,” was met with. All three community representatives expressed their willingness to cooperate with ECMI Caucasus within the framework of its civil society development initiatives and agreed to the need of engaging more youth representatives in trainings and other capacity-building programmes. During these meetings, the possibility of establishing a regional umbrella organization to unite minority community organizations was discussed.

February 2010

Awareness Meeting concerning Educational Reform
Location: Public School No. 3, Akhaltsikhe, Samtskhe-Javakheti
Date: 2 February 2010

On 2 February, the ALPE Foundation together with ECMI Caucasus and the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia conducted a meeting at Akhaltsikhe Public School No. 3 with the school principle, board members, teachers, chairman of the District Education Resource Centre and over a hundred pupils attending. The organizers presented the recent amendments to the Law of Georgia on Higher Education, which provides comparatively favourable conditions for national minorities to enroll in higher education institutions in Georgia. In particular, graduating students for the school year 2009-10 will have an opportunity to enter higher education institutions by only having to pass the General Abilities Test in Armenian or Azeri languages (Ossetian and Abkhazian-language tests will be introduced in the upcoming years). After having successfully passed the General Abilities Test they will be enrolled in higher education institutions and will have to take intensive Georgian language courses during the first year and upon successful completion will continue studying other courses from the second year onwards. Meetings such as these are especially important owing to fact that awareness among minority communities on these recent legislative reforms is rather low. Furthermore, with the fast approaching deadline of 22 March 2010 for applying for entry exams, it is pertinent to inform the minority youth.

January 2010

Civil Society Development in Batumi
Location: Batumi House of Friendship, Batumi, Adjara
Date: 17 January 2010

On 17 January, ECMI Caucasus’ representatives conducted a meeting with members of the Batumi House of Friendship as well as representatives of Batumi Mayor’s Office to introduce ECMI’s new programme on civil society development. and the potential involvement of representatives of minority communities of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. As a result, both the local authorities and members of the House of Friendship expressed their desire to be involved with and benefit from ECMI’s new programme.