The State Agency for Religious Affairs of Georgia reported that in 2024, state funding for four religious associations (Islamic, Jewish, Roman Catholic and Armenian Apostolic) will increase by 1 million lari, from 5.5 million lari to 6.5 million lari, Georgia Online reports.
It is noted that all four religious associations have been funded from the state budget since 2014. This is the decision of the recently resigned Prime Minister of the country, Irakli Garibashvili, which he made during his first term.
The agency's statement says that the purpose of the financing is partial compensation for material and moral damage caused during the Soviet totalitarian regime. This goal was stated in 2014, when it was decided to allocate state funding to four religious associations.
At the same time, the Georgian Orthodox Church, which is granted special status and important privileges by the Constitutional Agreement concluded in 2002, is also funded from the State budget. The 2024 state budget allocated GEL 25 million for the Georgian Orthodox Church.