Overview:

• Registration for groups based on belief is stipulatory rather than mandatory.

• The country’s registration and recognition systems look to be amalgamated rather than ideally differentiated; primary focus is placed on legal registration rather than existential recognition.

• Not receiving the benefits of registration by opting not to register should not in turn impede on religious and belief activities; instances in which this occurs is a violation of religious freedoms.

• The requirement for a group seeking recognition to hold historical ties with the country is dubious in its intent as is need for prior recognition from the Council of Europe.

• Dubious is that the civil code only covers entities regarded under LEPL status; this suggests that non-registered entities and activities may not receive the same defined provisions as those with LEPL status.

• Political instabilities have likely not helped freedoms in the two de-facto states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, thus highlighting the fact that political circumstances almost always come to effect religious freedom despite the principle that such freedoms should remain ectopolitical.

Positive elements:

• Nil.

Recommendations:

• Remove ambiguity from the legislation and also revoke subjective requirements.

• Revoke instances of partial recognition to ensure equality within the system.