JULY 12 2011 (The Conway Bulletin) – Georgian society is relatively conservative and — rejuvenated after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union — the Orthodox Church plays a prominent role people’s lives.

So when the government acted on a recommendation from the Council of Europe to improve the status of minority religions it triggered more than just a murmur of discontent.

Thousands of people marched through the streets of Tbilisi in the biggest demonstrations for years on July 9, three days after President Mikheil Saakashvili signed into law an amendment that granted minority religions recognition for the first time. The amendment allows minority religions to register as religious associations and not just as non-profit associations.

The Georgian Orthodox Church, lead by Patriach Ilia II, at first said the amendments were dangerous but then toned down its opposition and said that the amendments needed to be debated more fully before they were formalised.

Although the Georgian Orthodox Church’s seniority is enshrined in the Constitution, Church officials are disgruntled. Many said the changes would have serious negative consequences for State-Church relations.

Since coming to power in the peaceful Rose Revolution of 2003, Mr Saakashvili has firmly pushed Georgia towards the US and the European Union. Roughly 90% of Georgia’s population say they are part of the Orthodox Church.

Tweaking the law on religion is a risk for Mr Saakashvili but it is also an important signal to his Western partners that he wants Georgia to move further towards integration.

ENDS