On the State Language

Organic Law of Georgia

On the State Language

Constitutional Law of Georgia of 13 October 2017 No. 1324 – website, 19.10.2017.

The Georgian language is the historical and cultural heritage of Georgia and an indispensable condition of its statehood. It is the common state property of all citizens of Georgia. The Georgian State performs all its functions in this language, protects it and determines the policy of its functioning and development as the state language.

At the same time, the Georgian State protects and strengthens the centuries-old tradition of coexistence and harmonious development of languages and cultures in the country. It considers inadmissible any expression of disrespect towards any language, the infringement of the linguistic rights of a citizen of Georgia, and prevents actions contrary to the constitutional principles of the state language policy.

Article 1. Scope of regulation of the Law 1. This Law strengthens the constitutional status of the state language, establishes the legal grounds for its use and protection, and regulates legal relations related to the functioning of state and non-state languages.🔗

2. This Law applies to a citizen of Georgia, a stateless person having status in Georgia, a stateless person and an alien.

3. This Law does not apply to personal relations.

Article 2. Legislation of Georgia on the state language 1. The legislation of Georgia on the state language consists of the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties and agreements of Georgia, this Law and other legislative and subordinate normative acts.🔗

2. The main directions of the state language policy shall be determined by the Parliament of Georgia.

Article 3. Definition of the terms used in the Law The terms used in this Law have the following meaning:🔗

a) State language – the language(s) to which this status is conferred by the Constitution of Georgia and which, in accordance with historical tradition, is (are) the principal means of exercising state authority and of relations between citizens of Georgia and other natural and legal persons;

b) non-state language – any language other than the state language, which citizens of Georgia and other persons residing in Georgia use in private life or publicly;

c) language of a national minority – a non-state language traditionally used by citizens of Georgia residing compactly in a certain territory of Georgia;

d) literary language – the written, standardised form of the state language, which serves all spheres of official-business relations, education, science, culture and mass communication;

e) State Language Department – a legal entity of public law, state control over whose activity is exercised by the Government of Georgia. It is the body ensuring the protection and popularisation of the constitutional status of the state language, the establishment and consolidation of the norms of the Georgian literary language and special terms, and implementing the unified state language policy;

f) unified state language programme – a unified document determining the main directions of the development, technological support, normalisation and standardisation of the state language, which is developed by the commission of experts on the state language and approved by the Government of Georgia upon the submission of the State Language Department;

g) transliteration – rendering of a phoneme (sound) of one language by a written sign of another language.

Article 4. Status of the state language🔗

1. In accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 2 of the Constitution of Georgia, the state language of Georgia is Georgian, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – also Abkhaz.

2. The state ensures the protection of the constitutional status of the state language throughout the entire territory of Georgia.

3. The state shall constantly care for the preservation and study of the Kartvelian languages and dialects, as the most important condition for the viability of the state language.

Organic Law of Georgia No. 966 of 2 November 2021 – website, 05.11.2021.

Article 5. Guarantees of the protection of the state language 1. The state is the principal guarantee of the protection, functioning and development of the state language.🔗

2. The guarantees of the protection of the state language are established by the Constitution of Georgia, this Law and other legislative acts.

3. State bodies and municipalities shall, in all spheres of state and public life, ensure the creation of the organisational and material-technical conditions necessary for the functioning of the state language and the protection of its purity.

4. The state shall ensure the implementation of the unified state language programme.

Organic Law of Georgia No. 6871 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 6. Guarantees of the Use of the State and Non-State Languages 1. The State shall ensure the creation of appropriate conditions for the study and use of the state language.🔗

2. A citizen of Georgia, in accordance with the General Administrative Code of Georgia, shall be provided with public information in the state language, except where the public information is kept in a non-state language.

3. A public servant, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, shall be provided with official information in the state language.

4. A public servant shall be obliged to know the state language.

5. The State shall ensure the creation of the opportunity for a person employed in the public service to study the state language.

6. The use of a non-state language shall be free, unless this restricts the constitutional status of the state language.

Article 7. Language of Education 1. The State shall ensure the delivery of early and pre-school upbringing and education, general, vocational and higher education in the state language. The issue of the delivery of education in non-state and national minority languages shall be regulated by the legislation of Georgia.🔗

2. In a non-Georgian-language general education institution established in the territory of Georgia in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia, the teaching of the Georgian language (in a non-Abkhaz-language general education institution existing in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – also of the Abkhaz language) as a subject shall be mandatory.

3. A non-state-language higher education institution established in the territory of Georgia in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia shall be obliged to offer the relevant persons a special course of the Georgian language, and a non-Abkhaz-language higher education institution existing in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – also a special course of the Abkhaz language.

Law of Georgia of 8 June 2016 No. 5374 - website, 24.06.2016.

Law of Georgia of 23 March 2017 No. 501 - website, 27.03.2017.

Article 8. Principles of the State's Foreign Language Policy Taking into account the norms of international law and the international treaties and agreements of Georgia, the State shall promote:🔗

a) the teaching and popularization of the state language outside the borders of Georgia;

b) the deepening of Kartvelological and Abkhazological research;

c) the dissemination of appropriate scientific and popular-scientific literature, and the organization of scientific forums and public events.

Article 9. Rights and obligations of a citizen of Georgia in the sphere of language use 1. Every citizen of Georgia has the right to demand from the State the creation of the conditions necessary for the protection, study and development of the state language, and the ensuring of the guarantees established by this Law and other legislative acts.🔗

2. Every citizen of Georgia shall, in accordance with the General Administrative Code of Georgia and this Law, communicate with state and municipal bodies in the state language, except for the exceptional cases established by the legislation of Georgia.

3. In a municipality where representatives of a national minority live compactly, the State shall ensure that a person belonging to the national minority communicates with state and municipal bodies in the language of that national minority with the assistance of an interpreter.

Organic Law of Georgia No. 6871 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 10. The right of a citizen of Georgia to receive an official document and information in the state language Every citizen of Georgia has the right to request and, in the manner established by law, receive information existing about him/her in state and municipal bodies and an official document in the state language, except for a copy of a document that is issued in the language of the original.🔗

Organic Law of Georgia No. 6871 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 11. Language of official proceedings of state and municipal bodies 1. State and municipal bodies shall conduct official proceedings in the state language, except for the case provided for by paragraph 4 of this Article.🔗

2. Relations and correspondence between state and municipal bodies shall be conducted in the state language.

3. State and municipal bodies shall receive, consider and respond in the state language to applications, complaints and proposals of natural and legal persons, except for the cases established by the legislation of Georgia.

4. In a municipality where representatives of a national minority live compactly, state and municipal bodies are entitled to establish a rule different from that provided for by the General Administrative Code of Georgia, which implies, where necessary, the translation of an application, complaint submitted by a person belonging to the national minority to a municipal body in the language of that national minority, and of the response issued thereto. At the same time, only the original of the respective text shall have official force.

Organic Law of Georgia No. 6871 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 12. Language of law-making and legislative activity🔗

1. A normative act shall be prepared and published in the Georgian language, and in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia – also in the Abkhaz language. A normative act may also be published in a non-state language, but such a text has no official force.

2. In a municipality where representatives of a national minority live compactly, the municipal body shall, where necessary, ensure the translation of the normative act adopted by it into the language of that national minority. At the same time, only the original of the respective text has official force.

3. A draft law and a legislative proposal shall be submitted to the Parliament of Georgia by way of legislative initiative in the Georgian language.

Law of Georgia Organic Law No. 6871 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 13. Language of legal proceedings In accordance with the Constitution of Georgia and procedural legislation, legal proceedings shall be conducted in the state language. A person who does not know the state language shall be provided with an interpreter.🔗

Article 14. Use of language in the Defence Forces of Georgia and in a state institution of special purpose🔗

1. The Defence Forces of Georgia and a state institution of special purpose shall carry out official activities in the Georgian language, unless otherwise provided by law and/or an international treaty of Georgia.

2. In the Defence Forces of Georgia and in a state institution of special purpose, the language of service and of military orders is Georgian.

Law of Georgia Organic Law No. 3544 of 21 September 2023 – website,

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Law of Georgia Organic Law No. 819 of 26 June 2025 – website, 01.07.2025.

Article 15. Language of the text of a seal, stamp, die, blank A state body, a municipal body shall draw up the text of a seal, stamp, die, blank in the state language. Where necessary, the respective text may also be indicated in one of the non-state languages.🔗

Law of Georgia Organic Law No. 6871 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 16. Language of foreign relations A representative of the state authority of Georgia shall be obliged to exercise, in foreign relations, the rights provided for by the norms of international law in the field of the state language.🔗

Article 17. Language of elections In the electoral process, candidates are registered, the relevant documentation is drawn up and electoral procedures are carried out in the state language, except for the cases established by the Organic Law of Georgia "Election Code of Georgia".🔗

Article 18. Language of a referendum and plebiscite 1. A referendum and plebiscite shall be prepared and held in the state language, except for the cases provided by the Organic Law of Georgia "Election Code of Georgia".🔗

2. Ballots to be used for holding a referendum and plebiscite and decisions adopted as a result of a referendum and plebiscite shall be drawn up in the state language, except for the cases provided by the Organic Law of Georgia "Election Code of Georgia".

Article 19. Language of a competition and attestation State and municipal bodies shall conduct competitions and attestations provided by the Law of Georgia "On Public Service", as well as by other legislative and subordinate normative acts, and shall draw up documentation related thereto in the state language.🔗

Organic Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6871 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 20. Language of an official event🔗

1. An official event of a state body, municipal body, institution, organization, enterprise shall be held in the state language, unless otherwise provided by the legislation of Georgia. If a speaker at an official event uses a non-state language, his/her speech shall be translated into the state language.

2. In a municipality where representatives of a national minority live compactly, an official event of local significance (except for a sitting of a municipal body) may be held in the language of that national minority.

3. Paragraph 1 of this article shall not apply to an international official event to be held on the territory of Georgia.

Organic Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6871 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 21. Naming of a geographical object Issues related to the naming of a geographical object shall be regulated by the Law of Georgia "On Naming of Geographical Objects".🔗

Article 22. Spelling of a name, father's name and surname 1. The official registration of the name, father's name and surname of a citizen of Georgia, of a person permanently residing in Georgia shall be carried out in the state language, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.🔗

2. A name, father's name and surname shall be rendered from the state language into another language and from another language into the state language in compliance with the transliteration rules established by the norms of the respective literary language.

Article 23. „Language of the name of a state body, municipal body, institution, organization, enterprise🔗

1. The official name of a state body or a municipal body shall be created and used in the state language. This name, together with the state language, may also be used in one of the non-state languages, and in a municipality where representatives of a national minority live compactly, also in the language of that national minority.

2. The name of an institution or an organization shall be entered in the state register in the state language.

3. A legal entity of private law shall be named in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

4. Non-compliance with the respective norms of the names provided for by paragraphs 1–3 of this Article shall be corrected in accordance with the recommendation of the Department of the State Language.

Organic Law of Georgia No. 6871 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020

Article 24. Language of public information The text of an application, notice, headline, placard, sign, poster, advertisement, other visual information intended for public information shall be executed in the state language. Where necessary, the respective information may also be indicated in a non-state language, and in a municipality where representatives of a national minority live compactly, also in the language of that national minority.🔗

Article 25. Presentation and arrangement of inscriptions intended for public information 1. Presentation of an inscription intended for public information in the state language shall be mandatory.🔗

2. The procedure for presenting an inscription intended for public information in a non-state language (including in the language of a national minority) shall be developed and approved by the Department of the State Language.

3. In the cases established by this Law, when conveying an official name in the state and non-state languages, the text executed in the state language shall be placed first (on the left or at the top), and the text executed in a non-state language – afterwards (on the right or below).

4. When conveying an official name in Georgian, Abkhaz and non-state languages, the Georgian text shall be placed first (on the left or at the top), the Abkhaz text – in the centre, and the text executed in a non-state language – afterwards (on the right or below).

5. In a case different from that provided for by paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Article, the text executed in the state language shall be placed before (on the left or at the top of) the text executed in a non-state language.

6. When a text executed in a non-state language is used together with a text executed in the state language, the font of the non-state-language text shall not be larger than the font of the state-language text.

Article 26. Language of reference material 1. Reference material to be disseminated in Georgia by a state body, a natural and/or legal person shall, as a rule, be issued (published) in the state language.🔗

2. Non-state-language reference material shall be accompanied by a translation into the state language, except where this material is intended only for a non-state-language user.

Article 27. Language of broadcasting Issues related to the language of broadcasting shall be regulated by the Law of Georgia "On Broadcasting".🔗

Article 28. Language of advertising Issues related to the language of advertising shall be regulated by the Law of Georgia "On Advertising".🔗

Article 29. Right of the consumer to receive information in the State language 1. A consumer shall have the right, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia, to request and receive information in the State language.🔗

2. Lack of knowledge of the State language may not be a ground for refusing to provide a service.

Article 30. Use of the language in the field of science 1. In a Georgian-language higher educational (scientific) institution, the submission of a paper for the purpose of obtaining an academic (scientific) degree and its public defence shall be carried out in the State language, except for exceptional cases established by the legislation of Georgia.🔗

2. In a state scientific institution, the results of scientific research shall, as a rule, be drawn up and disseminated in the State language.

3. In the case of publication of the results of scientific research in a non-state language on the territory of Georgia, they shall be accompanied by a summary in the State language.

4. Unified terminology shall be used in technical documentation as well as in record-keeping. The norms for the establishment and use of terminology shall be determined by the Commission of Experts on the State Language.

Article 31. Use of the language in the field of informatics 1. The State shall promote the full-fledged use of the Georgian language in information technologies.🔗

2. Computer (electronic) equipment used by state and municipal bodies, legal entities of public and private law shall be capable of producing text in the State language.

Law of Georgia No. 6871 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 32. Use of the language in the field of culture For the purpose of the development and full-fledged functioning of the State language, the State shall promote:🔗

a) the translation into the State language and publication of fiction, scientific, political and other literature existing in another language;

b) the translation into the State language and public broadcasting of an audiovisual work.

Article 33. Compliance of a person with the requirement related to knowledge of the State language Compliance of a person with the requirement of paragraph 4 of Article 6 of this Law shall be confirmed by:🔗

a) a document confirming completion of a state-language general educational institution or a higher educational institution;

b) a document confirming completion of a non-state-language general educational institution established on the territory of Georgia in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia;

c) a certificate of passing the State language examination.

Article 34. State Language Examination 1. The rules for conducting the state language examination shall be developed by the Legal Entity of Public Law – National Assessment and Examinations Centre, in agreement with the State Language Department, and shall be approved by the Government of Georgia.🔗

2. The conduct of the state language examination shall be ensured by the Legal Entity of Public Law – National Assessment and Examinations Centre.

3. Taking into account the result of the state language examination, the document (certificate) confirming a person's compliance with the requirement related to knowledge of the state language established by the legislation of Georgia shall be issued by the State Language Department.

Article 35. State Control of State Language Protection State control of state language protection shall be exercised, within the scope of their powers, by:🔗

a) the Parliament of Georgia;

b) the Government of Georgia;

c) municipal bodies;

d) the State Language Department.

Organic Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6871 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 36. State Language Department 1. Within the framework established by this Law and other legislative acts, the State Language Department shall ensure the protection and popularization of the constitutional status of the state language, and the establishment and consolidation of the norms of the Georgian literary language. It is a Legal Entity of Public Law established on the basis of this Law.🔗

2. The Government of Georgia shall approve the Statute of the State Language Department.

3. The Prime Minister of Georgia shall appoint and dismiss the Chairperson of the State Language Department.

4. The Government of Georgia shall exercise state control over the activities of the State Language Department.

5. The State Language Department shall be financed from the State Budget of Georgia.

6. The State Language Department:

a) shall ensure the implementation of a unified policy in the field of protection, development and use of the state language;

b) shall develop and issue normative acts necessary for the protection and development of the state language;

c) shall supervise the implementation of this Law;

d) shall establish the State Language Expert Commission and submit the norms and terminological standards of the Georgian literary language developed by the Commission to the Government of Georgia for approval;

e) shall ensure the development of a unified state language program and coordinate its implementation;

f) shall give recommendations to state and municipal bodies, legal entities of public and private law, to eliminate existing violations in the field of language use;

g) in case of violation of this Law and the norms of the Georgian literary language, shall be entitled to apply to a state body with a request to apply the liability measure established by Georgian legislation against the violator;

h) shall implement information and methodological support measures in the field of the state language;

i) shall exercise other powers determined by the Statute of the State Language Department.

7. The Chairperson of the State Language Department shall appoint the Chairperson and members of the State Language Expert Commission.

8. Compliance with the norms and terminological standards of the Georgian literary language approved by the Government of Georgia upon the submission of the State Language Department shall be mandatory.

9. The State Language Department shall be entitled, for the performance of the tasks and functions provided for by this Law, to request any public information from state bodies, legal entities of public and private law, and individual enterprises.

10. Submission of incorrect or incomplete information to the State Language Department by the state bodies and persons provided for by paragraph 9 of this Article shall be considered as failure to provide information. Information shall be submitted to the State Language Department within 10 working days from the request.

Organic Law of Georgia No. 6871 of 15 July 2020 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 37. Unified Programme of the State Language 1. The State Language Department, on the basis of a recommendation of the Commission of Experts on the State Language, shall submit the unified programme of the state language to the Government of Georgia for approval.🔗

2. The implementation of the unified programme of the state language shall be ensured by the state bodies determined by the Government of Georgia.

3. The unified programme of the state language provides for:

a) maximum provision for the interests of those wishing to study the state language; the preparation of methodological and learning resources for the purpose of teaching the state language and raising linguistic culture; teaching in accordance with modern requirements for the state language; the introduction of bilingual teaching in linguistic minority groups;

b) consistent research into the structure, history and peculiarities of the functioning of the state language; unified lexicographic provision of modern Georgian; the preparation of a complete corpus of the norms and terminological standards of the Georgian literary language;

c) full technological provision of the state language; the creation of modern, complete digital databases of linguistic data (texts); the preparation of search, analytical-operational and translation computer programmes.

4. The financing of the unified programme of the state language shall be ensured by the State Budget of Georgia.

5. The state shall promote the attraction of investments for the purpose of implementing the unified programme of the state language.

Article 38. Responsibility for violation of this Law For violation of this Law a person shall be liable in the manner established by the legislation of Georgia.🔗

Article 39. Persons responsible for violation of the legislation of Georgia on the state language🔗

1. Heads of state and municipal bodies, institutions and organisations shall, under the legislation of Georgia, bear personal responsibility for violation of the legislation of Georgia on the state language in the sphere subordinate to them.

2. An institution and organisation of the service sector shall, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, be obliged to compensate the damage caused to the state or to a natural person, in violation of this Law, by the relevant official or ordinary worker of that sphere.

Organic Law of Georgia of 15 July 2020 No. 6871 – website, 28.07.2020.

Article 40. Measures to be implemented in connection with the entry into force of the Law 1. Before 1 February 2016:🔗

a) the Government of Georgia shall approve the statute and structure of the Legal Entity of Public Law – State Language Department, and shall determine the procedure for the creation of its property;

b) the Prime Minister of Georgia shall appoint the Chairperson of the State Language Department to the position.

2. Before 14 April 2016, the Government of Georgia shall approve:

a) the unified State Language Programme;

b) the norms of the Georgian literary language and terminological standards;

c) the procedure for conducting the state language examination.

3. The Ministry of Finance of Georgia, when preparing the draft Law of Georgia "On the State Budget of Georgia for 2016", shall ensure the reflection therein of the budgetary funds arising from this Law.

Article 41. Entry into force of the Law 1. This Law, except for Articles 33, 34, 36 and 37 of this Law, shall enter into force on 1 January 2016.🔗

2. Paragraphs 1–5 of Article 36 of this Law, subparagraphs "a"–"f", "h" and "i" of paragraph 6, and paragraphs 7–10 shall enter into force on 1 February 2016.

3. Articles 33 and 34 of this Law, subparagraph "g" of paragraph 6 of Article 36, and Article 37 shall enter into force on 14 February 2016.

President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili

Kutaisi,

22 July 2015

N4084-rs