SHARIAsource

Country Background

Georgia is located at the edge of Eastern Europe and views itself as part of Europe geopolitically. It is bounded by Russia, Turkey, and the Black Sea. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi. The official language is Georgian. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 5 million. Georgia is a predominantly Christian country, with about 83% of the population Orthodox and 10% Muslim. 

Constitution & Legal Structure

Georgia is referred to as a semi-presidential republic. The current Constitution was ratified in 1995, replacing the 1992 Decree of State Power that was enacted after the dissolution of the Soviet Union (of which Georgia was a part). The Constitution was heavily amended in 2010, and the changes came into effect in 2013. Georgia has a civil law system. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Although religious institutions are separate from the state, the Georgian Orthodox Church is officially recognized in the country's Constitution and Concordat of 2002. Although not a member state of the European Union, Georgia signed the Association Agreement in 2014, giving the country a strong relationship with the European Union under its European Neighbourhood Policy.

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Georgia.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Georgia.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Georgia has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  • Parliament
  • Legislative Herald (official gazette)
• Executive
  • President
  • Council of Ministers
  • Ministry of Justice
• Judicial
  • Supreme Court
  • Constitutional Court - includes decisions

 Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Georgia (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Georgia (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Georgia (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Georgia (World Intellectual Property Organization)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].