Georgia has revised the tax rate in respect of the GOC
The constitutional court of Georgia considered that tax breaks for the Orthodox Church constitute discrimination.
In Georgia, the constitutional court overturned a provision of the Tax code, which assumes the liberation of the Georgian Orthodox Church from taxes during the construction of temples, their restoration and painting, Interfax reported.
In March 2017, the representatives of religious organizations appealed to the constitutional court with the claim requiring to revise the Tax code.
The lawsuit was filed by the Evangelical-Baptist Church of Georgia, “Church – word of life”, the Transcaucasian Union of Christians-seventh-day Adventists, the Union of Muslims of Georgia and the “Church of the Holy Trinity”.
They protested against the fact that is exempt from taxes during the construction of only the GOC.
In the end, the constitutional court of Georgia acknowledged that the tax incentive for the Georgian Church “is a discriminatory regulation.”
“The court noted that the special role of the Georgian Orthodox Church is its historic contribution and does not serve to create in the future a privileged legal status for the Orthodox Christian religion”, – stated in the official decision.
Previously in Ukraine, MPs have prepared a bill exempting religious organizations from the equity participation in the construction of facilities.