Georgian parliament introduced amendments to Civil Code, granting the status of legal persons of public law to 5 religious units - Armenian Apostolic Church, Roman Catholic Church, the Muslim community, the Jewish community and the Baptist church in Georgia.

Christian Democrats opposition parliamentary group voted against the draft law, explaining decision by the fact that Georgian Church was not given similar status in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“Legal status does not envisage special rights for the recipients, with Georgian Church retaining its full rights,” parliamentary vice speaker Giga Tsereteli stated in reply.

Law of Georgia defines a legal person of public law as an organization separated from the state bodies, created by the relevant law, enact of the President of Georgia or by the administrative act of state bodies, adopted on the basis of law, which conducts political, state, social, educational, cultural and other public activities.