At a session of the Diaspora Committee, Maka Botchorishvili highlighted the principal priorities of the country’s diaspora policy and the state support programmes envisaged for 2026
On 27 May 2026, at a session of the Diaspora Committee, the Georgian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maka Botchorishvili, highlighted the principal priorities of the country’s diaspora policy and the state support programmes envisaged for 2026.
“The Georgian state’s approach toward its diaspora has been defined by the Parliament through the Constitution of Georgia. Since 2018, the maintenance and development of ties with our compatriots residing abroad has been enshrined as a constitutional objective of the state,”stated the Minister.
Maka Botchorishvili reviewed the diaspora programmes implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed the results achieved through these initiatives. According to her, the existing programmes have yielded significant outcomes in preserving the Georgian language, culture and national identity; however, engagement with the diaspora requires a more systematic and results-oriented approach. In this context, the Minister placed particular emphasis on strengthening the role of Georgia’s diplomatic representations and consular offices abroad, viewing them as the principal institutional bridge between the diaspora and the Georgian state.
“Over the years, the Government of Georgia has made significant efforts to support the preservation and development of the Georgian diaspora’s ties with Georgia. With the support of the Government of Georgia, numerous Sunday schools and cultural centres have been established and sustained; they are consistently provided with Georgian-language textbooks, and cultural and educational programmes are actively supported,” noted the Minister.
Maka Botchorishvili placed particular emphasis on three main strategic directions of diaspora policy.
“Diaspora programmes will be aligned with the priorities of the Georgian state and will be grounded in the fundamental values of Georgian identity - homeland, language, and faith,” highlighted Maka Botchorishvili.
According to the Minister, “The Georgian language is the principal foundation of national identity, and its preservation is directly linked to the future of our diaspora and its connection with the homeland”.
Within the “language” component, the following programmes will be implemented in a phased manner: “My Georgian Language,” “My Georgian School,” “Ambassador of the Georgian Language” and “Emigrant’s Voice.” These initiatives are designed to enhance the quality of Georgian language instruction, introduce modern educational methodologies and strengthen Sunday schools. In addition, support for diaspora media and digital platforms will create new opportunities for the integration of the Georgian language into contemporary communicative spaces.
Within the “homeland” component, the implementation of programmes such as “Artistic Bridge,” “Georgia in Frame,” “Georgian Taste,” “Global Connections in Science,” and the “Youth Camp” is planned. These initiatives aim to promote Georgian culture, science, creativity and traditions internationally, strengthen diaspora engagement and foster closer ties between diaspora youth and their peers residing in Georgia.
The Minister also addressed the third component, “Faith.” Within this framework, particular attention will be devoted to supporting Georgian spiritual and cultural identity abroad. Maka Botchorishvili noted that, in 2026, events marking the 1,700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia will occupy a significant place in the overall programme.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its diplomatic representations, will support the activities of the Georgian Patriarchate abroad and will make every effort to ensure the maximum involvement of the diaspora in the relevant events,” the Minister stated.
Maka Botchorishvili emphasized the importance of diaspora unity, noting that forms of polarization employed within society are detrimental abroad, affecting both the state and the diaspora itself. She also referred to the decision to abolish the practice of holding elections abroad, stating that, according to electoral statistics from 2012 to the present, the participation of voters registered outside the country had not had a substantive impact on the overall electoral outcomes.
Finally, Georgia has become a co-founding country, within the framework of the United Nations diaspora-related structures, of the highest-level international platform - the Global Diaspora Policy Alliance. Since 2024, Georgia, together with Ireland, has been co-chairing the Steering Committee of the Alliance and has been actively engaged in the implementation of its action plan. According to the Minister, in the autumn of 2026, Georgia will host the Global Diaspora Summit.
At the committee session, the Minister for Foreign Affairs responded to questions from members of Parliament.