A Georgian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Justice Lana Morgoshia is participating in the UN Innovation Summit, which focuses on the transformation of public administration and services. During a discussion held as part of the event, Lana Morgoshia presented the reforms implemented in Georgia to modernize public institutions.

The Deputy Minister of Justice emphasized the importance of safeguarding fundamental human rights and the rule of law throughout the digital transformation process. Lana Morgoshia noted that the success of innovation depends not only on the introduction of new technologies but also on their effective use.

“Effective leadership means not only putting new solutions into practice but also identifying problems, adapting institutions to citizens’ needs and ensuring that no one is left behind. The success of transformation should not be measured by the number of reforms we implement or by how advanced our technologies become. The key measure should be whether these changes actually improve people’s lives.

“Looking ahead, we firmly believe that governments should foster a culture of continuous learning, cooperation and responsible innovation. Leaders must constantly reassess established practices, listen to citizens’ needs and develop solutions that address emerging challenges. We believe that it is precisely through these approaches that sustainable public value can be created and more inclusive societies can be built,” Lana Morgoshia stated.

The Deputy Minister noted that the primary goal of digital transformation is to respond effectively to citizens’ needs and provide them with fast and accessible services. As an example, she highlighted the Public Service Halls, which provide more than 600 services throughout the country. Lana Morgoshia also spoke about electronic services and the Mobile Public Service Hall project, which aims to ensure access to relevant services for citizens living far from district centers and in mountainous regions.

The event was also attended by Giorgi Zakharashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to Azerbaijan.

The Public Administration Innovation Summit is being held in Baku, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. High-level delegations from more than 100 countries are participating in the event.

The European Court of Human Rights has delivered its decision in the case of Supreme Religious Administration of All Muslims of Georgia v. Georgia.

The Court fully endorsed the legal position presented by the Ministry of Justice, found the applicant organization’s complaint manifestly ill-founded and unanimously declared it inadmissible.

The case concerned the allocation of funding to the Diocese of Marneuli and Hujabi from the 2022 budget of Marneuli Municipality. The applicant organization alleged that the allocation of municipal funds exclusively to the Diocese constituted discrimination on religious grounds.

In its submissions to the Court, the Government argued that the applicant organization and the Diocese were not in comparable situations. It emphasized the constitutional status of the Orthodox Church, as recognized by the Constitution and the Constitutional Agreement, as well as its historical and cultural role and the number of its parishioners and religious buildings. The Government therefore maintained that the funding in question was not discriminatory.

In its examination, the Court noted that the allocation of municipal budget funds to religious organizations fell within the discretionary powers of local authorities. It observed that 55 churches and monasteries in Marneuli Municipality, designated as cultural heritage sites, belonged to the Georgian Orthodox Church and were administered by the Diocese of Marneuli and Hujabi, which was responsible for their maintenance and preservation. Two mosques in the municipality held the same cultural heritage status. However, the applicant organization had failed to demonstrate that it owned or administered either mosque, or that it was responsible for their upkeep. The Court endorsed the assessment of the domestic courts that the applicant organization had neither a legal nor a factual connection with these properties.

In light of these differences, the Court endorsed the position of the Ministry of Justice and concluded that the Supreme Religious Administration of All Muslims of Georgia and the Diocese were not in analogous situations with regard to the allocation of funding. In the Court’s view, this conclusion was unaffected by the religious composition of the municipality’s population or by the fact that both organizations engaged in religious activities. Consequently, the Court found the discrimination complaint manifestly ill-founded and declared it inadmissible.