Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release February 22, 2001
(Georgian in PDF format)

Jehovah’s Witnesses to Appeal to European Court

TBILISI, GEORGIA—Minister of Justice Mikheil Saakashvili commented on today’s Supreme Court decision to dissolve two associations registered on behalf of Jehovah’s Witnesses: “From a legal standpoint the decision is very doubtful.” He added, “I don't think it’s a very successful page in the history of the Supreme Court.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses are determined to proceed to the European Court of Human Rights.

International human rights lawyer John Burns declared in an interview following the decision: “The European Convention on Human Rights, the European Court precedent and Georgia’s international law commitments all support the right of association, which includes the right of religious communities to use legal entities. The Supreme Court is attempting to remove that right in violation of the European Convention and Georgia’s own Constitution.”

Although the Court stated emphatically that this ruling does not mean that the religious activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been declared illegal, Mamuka Chabashvili, lawyer for the Witnesses, expressed concern that some may misinterpret the Supreme Court decision. “The decision is based on a technicality of law regarding registration. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not banned. Under the Constitution of Georgia, they have the right to hold meetings and import religious literature. Anyone interfering with those rights will be liable to prosecution.”

Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600