Georgia (country)

Georgiais a country inEastern EuropeandWest Asia.It is part of theCaucasusregion, bounded by theBlack Seato the west,Russiato the north and northeast,Turkeyto the southwest,Armeniato the south, andAzerbaijanto the southeast. Georgia covers an area of 69,700 square kilometres (26,900 sq mi).It has apopulationof 3.7 million,of which over a third live in the capital andlargest city,Tbilisi.Georgians, who are native to the region, constitute a majority of the country's population and are itstitular nation.
Georgia has been inhabited sinceprehistory, hosting the world's earliest known sites ofwinemaking, gold mining, and textiles.Theclassical erasaw the emergence of several kingdoms, such asColchisandIberia, that formed the nucleus of the modern Georgian state. In the early fourth century,Georgiansofficiallyadopted Christianity, which contributed to theirunificationunder theKingdom of Georgia. Georgia reachedits Golden Ageduring theHigh Middle Agesunder the reigns of KingDavid IVand QueenTamar. Beginning in the 15th century, the kingdom declined anddisintegratedunder pressure from various regional powers, including theMongols, theOttoman Empire, andPersia, before beinggradually annexedinto theRussian Empirestarting in 1801.
After theRussian Revolutionin 1917, Georgia briefly emerged asan independent republicunderGerman protection,but wasinvaded and annexedby theRed Armyin 1921, becomingoneof therepublics of the Soviet Union. In the 1980s, an independence movement grew quickly, leading toGeorgia's secession from the Soviet Unionin April 1991. For much of thesubsequent decade, the country endured economic crises,political instability, and secessionist wars inAbkhaziaandSouth Ossetia. Following the peacefulRose Revolutionin 2003, Georgia strongly pursued apro-Westernforeign policy, introducing a series ofdemocratic and economic reforms aimed at integrationinto theEuropean UnionandNATO. This Western orientation led toworsening relations with Russia, culminating in theRusso-Georgian Warof 2008 and continued Russian occupation ofparts of Georgia.
Georgia is arepresentative democracygoverned as aunitaryparliamentary republic.It is adeveloping countrywith a very highHuman Development Indexand anemerging market economy. Sweeping economic reforms since 2003 have resulted in one of thefreest business climatesin the world, greatereconomic freedomandtransparency, and among thefastest rates of GDP growth.In 2018, Georgia became the second countryto legalize cannabis, and the first former socialist state to do so. Georgia is a member of numerous international organizations, including theCouncil of Europe,Eurocontrol,BSEC,GUAM,Energy Community. As part of theAssociation Trio, Georgia is a candidate formembership in the European Union.
Ancient Greeks(Strabo,Herodotus,Plutarch,Homer, etc.) andRomans(Titus Livius,Tacitus, etc.) referred to early western Georgians asColchiansand eastern Georgians asIberians(Iberoi,Ἰβηροιin some Greek sources).
The first mention of the nameGeorgiais in Italian on themappa mundiofPietro Vescontedated 1320.At the early stage of its appearance in the Latin world, the name was often spelledJorgia.Lore-based theories were given by travellerJacques de Vitry, who explained the name's origin by the popularity ofSt. Georgeamong Georgians,whileJean Chardinthought thatGeorgiacame from the Greekγεωργός('tiller of the land'). These centuries-old explanations for the wordGeorgia/Georgiansare now mostly rejected by the scholarly community, who point to thePersianwordgurğ/gurğān(گرگ, 'wolf') as the likely root of the word.Under this hypothesis, the same Persian root was later adopted in numerous other languages, including Slavic and West European languages.
The native name isSakartvelo(საქართველო; 'land ofKartvelians'), derived from the core central Georgian region ofKartli, recorded from the 9th century, and in extended usage referring to the entire medievalKingdom of Georgiaprior to the 13th century. The Georgiancircumfixsa-X-ois a standard geographic construction designating 'the area where X dwell', where X is anethnonym.The self-designation used byethnic GeorgiansisKartvelebi(ქართველები, i.e. 'Kartvelians'), first attested in theUmm Leisun inscriptionfound in theOld City of Jerusalem.
The medievalGeorgian Chroniclespresent an eponymous ancestor of the Kartvelians,Kartlos, a great-grandson ofJaphethwho medieval chroniclers believed to have been the root of the local name of their kingdom. However, scholars agree that the wordKartliis derived from theKarts, a proto-Kartvelian tribe that emerged as a dominant regional group in ancient times.The nameSakartvelo(საქართველო) consists of two parts. Its root,kartvel-i(ქართველ-ი), specifies an inhabitant of the core central-eastern Georgian region ofKartli, or Iberia as it is known in sources of theEastern Roman Empire.
The official name of the country isGeorgiaper Article 2 of theGeorgian Constitution,adopted in 1995. In Georgia's two official languages (GeorgianandAbkhaz), the country is named საქართველო (Sakartvelo) and Қырҭтәыла (Kərttʷʼəla) respectively. Prior to the adoption of the Constitution in 1995 and following thedissolution of the USSR, the country was commonlycalled the "Republic of Georgia" and occasionally it still is.
Several languages continue to use the Russian variant of the country's name,Gruzia, which the Georgian authorities have sought to replace through diplomatic campaigns. Since 2006, Israel,Japan,and South Korealegally changed their appellation of the country to variants of the EnglishGeorgia.In 2020, Lithuania became the first country in the world to adoptSakartvelasin all official communications.
The oldest traces ofarchaic humansin what is now Georgia date from approximately 1.8 million years ago in the form of theDmanisi hominins, a subspecies ofHomo erectusrepresenting the oldest-known fossils of hominins inEurasia.Buffered by theCaucasusand benefiting from theBlack Seaecosystem, the region seems to have served as arefugiumthroughout thePleistocene,while the first continuous primitive settlements date back to theMiddle Paleolithic, close to 200,000 years ago.During theUpper Paleolithic, settlements developed mostly in Western Georgia, in the valleys of theRioniandQvirilarivers.
Signs of agriculture date back to at least the6th millennium BC, especially in Western Georgia, while theMtkvaribasin became stably populated in the5th millennium BC, as evidenced with the rise of various cultures closely associated with theFertile Crescent, including theTrialetian Mesolithic, theShulaveri–Shomu culture, and theLeyla-Tepe culture.Archaeological findings show that settlements in modern-day Georgia were responsible for the first use of fibers, possibly for clothing, more than 34,000 years ago,thefirst cases of viticulture(7th millennium BC),and thefirst signs of gold mining(3rd millennium BC).
TheKura-Araxes,Trialeti, andColchian culturescoincided with the development of proto-Kartvelian tribes that may have come fromAnatoliaduring the expansion of theHittite Empire, including theMushki,Laz, andByzeres. Some historians have suggested that the collapse of the Hittite world in theLate Bronze Ageled to an expansion of the influence of these tribes to theMediterranean Sea, notably with theKingdom of Tabal.
The classical period saw the rise of a number of Georgian states, includingColchisin western Georgia, whereGreek mythologylocated theGolden Fleecesought after by theArgonauts. Archaeological evidence points to a wealthy kingdom in Colchis as early as the 14th century BCand an extensive trade network withGreek colonieson the eastern Black Sea shore (such asDioscuriasandPhasis),though, the entire region would be annexed first byPontusand then by theRoman Republicin the first century BC.
Eastern Georgia remained a decentralized mosaic of various clans (ruled by individualmamasakhlisi) until the 4th century BC when it was conquered byAlexander the Great, eventually leading to the creation of theKingdom of Iberiaunder the protectorate of theSeleucid Empire, an early example of advanced state organization under one king and an aristocratic hierarchy.Various wars with theRoman Empire,Parthia, andArmeniamade Iberia regularly change its allegiance, though it remained a Roman client state for most of its history.
In 337, KingMirian IIIadopted Christianity as the state religion of Iberia, beginning the Christianization of the Western Caucasus region and solidly anchoring it in Rome's sphere of influence by abandoning the ancientGeorgian polytheistic religionheavily influenced byZoroastrianism.However, thePeace of Acilisenein 384 formalized theSasaniancontrol over the entire Caucasus, though Christian rulers of Iberia sought to rebel at times, leading to devastating wars in the 5–6th centuries, most famously under the rule of KingVakhtang Gorgasaliwho expanded Iberia to its largest historical extent by capturing all of western Georgia and building a new capital inTbilisi.
In 580, the Sasanian Empire abolished the Kingdom of Iberia, leading to the disintegration of its constituent territories into various feudal regions by theearly Middle Ages. TheRoman–Persian Warsplunged the region into chaos, with bothPersiaandConstantinoplesupporting various warring factions in theCaucasus, however, theByzantine Empirewas able to establish control over Georgian territories by the end of the 6th century, ruling Iberia indirectly through a localKouropalates.
In 645, the Arabs invaded southeastern Georgia, starting anextended period of Muslim dominationin the region; this also led to the establishment of several feudal states seeking independence from each other, such as theEmirate of Tbilisiand thePrincipality of Kakheti.Western Georgia remained mostly a Byzantine protectorate, especially following theLazic War.
The lack of a central government in Georgia allowed the rise of theBagrationi dynastyin the early 9th century. Consolidating lands in the southwestern region ofTao-Klarjeti, PrinceAshot I(813–830) used infighting between Arab governors to expand his influence to Iberia and was recognized as Presiding Prince of Iberia by both theAbbasid Caliphateand the Byzantine Empire. Though Ashot's descendants formed competing princely lines,Adarnase IVmanaged to unify most Georgian lands (except for Kakheti and Abkhazia) and was crownedKing of the Iberiansin888, restoring the monarchy abolished three centuries prior.
In Western Georgia, theKingdom of Abkhaziabenefited from the weakening of Byzantium in the region to unify various tribes and become one of the most powerful states of the Caucasus in the 8th century.In the 9th-10th centuries, Abkhazia grew its influence through several military campaigns and came to control much of Iberia and competing with the Bagrationi. Dynastic conflicts eventually weakened Abkhazia in the second half of the 10th century while in Tao-Klarjeti, PrinceDavid IIIused his influence withinByzantine Anatoliato empower the Bagrationi. Bagrat III, heir of the Bagrationi dynasty, successively became King of Abkhazia (978), Prince of Tao-Klarjeti (1000), and King of the Iberians (1008), allowing him to unify most Georgian feudal states and be crowned in 1010 asKing of Georgia.
For much of the 11th century, the nascent Georgian kingdom experienced geopolitical and internal difficulties, with various noble factions opposed to the centralization of the Georgian state. They were often backed by the Byzantine Empire, which feared a dominion of the Caucasus region by the Bagrationi dynasty, and in some instances fueled internal conflict through aristocratic families seeking more power. However, ties between Byzantium and Georgia were normalized when the two countries faced a new common enemy, the risingSeljuk Empirein the 1060s. Following the decisive Byzantine defeat at theBattle of Manzikertin 1071, Constantinople started to retreat from eastern Anatolia and entrusted Georgia with its administration, placing Georgiaat the forefrontof Turkish in the 1080s.
The Kingdom of Georgia reached its zenith in the 12th to early 13th centuries. This period during the reigns ofDavid IV(r. 1089–1125) and his great-granddaughterTamar(r. 1184–1213) has been widely termed as theGeorgian Golden Age.This early Georgian renaissance, which preceded its Western European analog, was characterized by impressive military victories, territorial expansion, and a cultural renaissance in architecture, literature, philosophy and the sciences.The Golden Age of Georgia left a legacy of great cathedrals, romantic poetry and literature, and the epic poemThe Knight in the Panther's Skin, considered a national epic.
David IV suppressed dissent of feudal lords and centralized power in his hands to effectively deal with foreign threats. In 1121, he decisively defeated much larger Turkish armies during theBattle of Didgoriand abolished theEmirate of Tbilisi.
The 29-year reign of Tamar, the first female ruler of Georgia, is considered the most successful in Georgian history.Tamar was given the title "king of kings"and succeeded in neutralizing her opposition, while embarking on an energetic foreign policy aided by the downfall of the rival powers of the Seljuks and Byzantium. Supported by a powerful military élite, Tamar was able to build on the successes of her predecessors to consolidate an empire that dominated the Caucasus, and extended over large parts of present-day Azerbaijan, Armenia, eastern Turkey, and northern Iran, and used the vacuum of power left by theFourth Crusadeto create theEmpire of Trebizondas a Georgian vassal state.
The revival of the Kingdom of Georgia was set back after Tbilisi was captured and destroyed by the Khwarezmian leaderJalal ad-Dinin 1226,followed by devastating invasions by Mongol rulerGenghis Khan. The Mongols were expelled byGeorge V the Brilliant(r. 1299–1302), known for reuniting eastern and western Georgia and restoring the country's previous strength and Christian culture. After his death, local rulers fought for their independence from central Georgian rule, until the total disintegration of the kingdom in the 15th century. Georgia was further weakened by several disastrous invasions byTimur. Invasions continued, giving the kingdom no time for restoration, with bothQara QoyunluandAq QoyunluTurkomans constantly raiding its southern provinces.
The Kingdom of Georgiacollapsedinto anarchy by 1466 and fragmented into three independent kingdoms and five semi-independentprincipalities. Neighboring large empires subsequently exploited the internal division of the weakened country, and beginning in the 16th century, various Ottoman and Iranian forces subjugated western and eastern regions of Georgia, respectively.This pushed local Georgian rulers to seek closer ties with Russia. In 1649, theKingdom of Imeretisent ambassadors to the Russian royal court, with Russia returning the favor in 1651. In the presence of these ambassadors,Alexander III of Imeretiswore an oath of allegiance to TsarAlexis of Russiaon behalf of Imereti.Subsequent rulers also sought assistance from PopeInnocent XIIbut without success.
The rulers of regions that remained partlyautonomousorganized rebellions on various occasions. As a result of incessantOttoman–Persian Warsand deportations, the population of Georgia dwindled to 784,700 inhabitants at the end of the 18th century.Eastern Georgia, composed of the regions ofKartliandKakheti, had been under Iraniansuzeraintysince thePeace of Amasyasigned with neighboring rivalling Ottoman Turkey (Safavid Georgia). With the death ofNader Shahin 1747, both kingdoms broke free and were reunified througha personal unionunder the energetic kingHeraclius II, who succeeded in stabilizing Eastern Georgia to a degree.
In 1783, Russia and the eastern GeorgianKingdom of Kartli-Kakhetisigned theTreaty of Georgievsk, which made eastern Georgia a protectorate of Russia, guaranteed its territorial integrity and the continuation of its reigning Bagrationi dynasty in return for prerogatives in the conduct of Georgian foreign affairs.
Despite its commitment to defend Georgia, Russia rendered no assistance when theIraniansinvaded in 1795,capturing and sacking Tbilisiand massacring its inhabitants.Although Russia initiated apunitive campaign against Persiain 1796, the Russian Imperial authorities subsequently violated key promises of the Georgievsk Treaty and in 1801 proceeded to annex eastern Georgia, while abolishing the Georgian royalBagrationi dynasty, as well as theautocephalyof theGeorgian Orthodox Church.Pyotr Bagration, one of the descendants of the abolished house of Bagrationi, later joined the Russian army and became a prominent general in the Napoleonic wars.
On 22 December 1800,TsarPaul I of Russia, at the alleged request of the Georgian KingGeorge XII, signed the proclamation on the incorporation of Georgia (Kartli-Kakheti) within the Russian Empire, which was finalized by a decree on 8 January 1801,and confirmed by TsarAlexander Ion 12 September 1801.TheBagrationiroyal family was deported from the kingdom. The Georgian envoy inSaint Petersburgreacted with a note of protest that was presented to the Russian vice-chancellor, Prince Kurakin.
In May 1801, under the oversight of General Carl Heinrich von Knorring, Imperial Russia transferred power in eastern Georgia to the government headed by GeneralIvan Petrovich Lazarev.The Georgian nobility did not accept the decree until 12 April 1802, when Knorring assembled the nobility at theSioni Cathedraland forced them to take an oath on theImperial Crown of Russia. Those who disagreed were temporarily arrested.
In the summer of 1805, Russian troops on the Askerani River near Zagam defeated the Iranian army during the1804–13 Russo-Persian Warand saved Tbilisi from reconquest now that it was officially part of the Imperial territories. Russian suzerainty over eastern Georgia was officially finalized with Iran in 1813 following theTreaty of Gulistan.Following the annexation of eastern Georgia, the western Georgiankingdom of Imeretiwas annexed by Tsar Alexander I. The last Imeretian king and the last Georgian Bagrationi ruler,Solomon II, died in exile in 1815, after attempts to rally people against Russia and to enlist foreign support against the latter, had been in vain.
From 1803 to 1878, as a result of numerous Russian wars now againstOttoman Turkey, several of Georgia's previously lost territories – such asAdjara– were recovered, and also incorporated into the empire. The principality ofGuriawas abolished and incorporated into the Empire in 1829, whileSvanetiwas gradually annexed in 1858.Mingrelia, although a Russian protectorate since 1803, was not absorbed until 1867.
Russian rule offered the Georgians security from external threats, but it was also often heavy-handed and insensitive. By the late 19th century,discontent with the Russian authoritiesgrew into a national revival movement led byIlia Chavchavadze. This period also brought social and economic change to Georgia, with new social classes emerging: the emancipation of theserfsfreed many peasants but did little to alleviate their poverty; the growth ofcapitalismcreated an urban working class in Georgia. Both peasants and workers found expression for their discontent through revolts and strikes, culminating in theRevolution of 1905. Their cause was championed by thesocialistMensheviks, who became the dominant political force in Georgia in the final years of Russian rule.
After theRussian Revolutionof 1917, theTranscaucasian Democratic Federative Republicwas established withNikolay Chkheidzeacting as its president. The federation consisted of three nations: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.As the Ottomans advanced into the Caucasian territories of the crumbling Russian Empire, Georgia declared independence on 26 May 1918.TheMenshevikSocial Democratic Party of Georgiawon the parliamentary election and its leader,Noe Zhordania, became prime minister. Despite the Soviet takeover, Zhordania was recognized as the legitimate head of theGeorgian Governmentby France, UK, Belgium, and Poland through the 1930s.
The 1918Georgian–Armenian War, which erupted over parts of disputed provinces between Armenia and Georgia populated mostly by Armenians, ended because of British intervention. In 1918–1919, Georgian generalGiorgi Mazniashvililed an attack against theWhite Armyled by Moiseev and Denikin to claim theBlack Seacoastline fromTuapsetoSochiandAdlerfor independent Georgia.In 1920Soviet Russiarecognized Georgia's independence with theTreaty of Moscow. But the recognition proved to be of little value, as the Red Armyinvaded Georgia in 1921and formally annexed it into the Soviet Union in 1922.
In February 1921, during theRussian Civil War, theRed Army advanced into Georgiaand brought the local Bolsheviks to power. The Georgian army was defeated, and the Social Democratic government fled the country. On25 February 1921, the Red Army entered Tbilisi and established a government of workers' and peasants'sovietswithFilipp Makharadzeas acting head of state. Georgia was incorporated into what would soon become theSoviet Union. Soviet rule was firmly established only after local insurrections were defeated.Georgia would remain an unindustrialized periphery of the USSR until thefirst five-year plan(1928–1932), when it became a major centre for textile goods.
Joseph Stalin, an ethnic Georgian, was prominent among the Bolsheviks,ultimately becoming thede factoleader of the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death on 5 March 1953. Fellow Georgians such asLavrentiy BeriaandVsevolod Merkulovlikewise held powerful positions in the Soviet government. Stalin'sGreat Purgebetween 1936 and 1938 led to thousands of Georgian dissidents, intellectuals, and other presumed threats to Soviet authority being executed or sent toGulag penal labor camps, severely truncating the nation's cultural and intellectual life.
DuringWorld War II,Germanyled anAxis invasion of the Soviet Unionin June 1941 with the aim of conquering all territory up to theUral Mountains. As the initial operation stalled, the Axis launched theFall Blauoffensive in 1942 to take control of strategic Caucasian oil fields and munitions factories; ultimately, Axis troops were stopped before reaching Georgian borders. Over 700,000 Georgians—constituting about 20 percent of the population—fought in theRed Armyto repel the invaders and advance towards Berlin; an estimated 350,000 were killed.
AfterStalin's death,Nikita Khrushchevbecame the leader of the Soviet Union and implemented a policy ofde-Stalinization. Khrushchev's purges were met withriotsin Tbilisi that had to be dispersed by military force. This violent turn of events that compromised Georgian loyalty to the Soviet Union, contributing to the nation's consolidation.1978 Georgian demonstrationssaw the return of mass anti-Soviet protests, but this time government backed down.
Throughout the remainder of the Soviet period, Georgia's economy continued to grow and experience significant improvement, though it increasingly exhibited blatant corruption and alienation of the government from the people. With the beginning ofperestroikain 1986, the Georgian Soviet leadership proved so incapable of handling the changes that most Georgians, includingrank and filecommunists, concluded that the only way forward was a break from the existing Soviet system.
Starting in 1988, mass protests erupted in Georgia in favor of independence, led byGeorgian nationalistssuch asMerab KostavaandZviad Gamsakhurdia. The following year, thebrutal suppression by Soviet forces of a large peaceful demonstration held in Tbilisi on 4–9 April 1989proved to be a pivotal event in discrediting the continuation of Soviet rule over the country.
In October 1990, the first multi-partyelectionswere held in Soviet Georgia, which were the first multi-party elections in the entire Soviet Union, in which the opposition groups were registered as formal political parties.TheRound Table—Free Georgiacoalition led by Zviad Gamsakhurdia secured victory in this election and formed a new government. On 9 April 1991, shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, theSupreme Councilof Georgiadeclared independence[ka]after areferendumheld on 31 March.Georgia was the first non-Balticrepublic of the Soviet Union to officially declare independence,with Romania becoming the first country to recognize Georgia in August 1991.On 26 May, Gamsakhurdia was elected president in thefirst presidential electionwith 86.5% of the vote on a turnout of over 83%.
Gamsakhurdia was soon deposed in abloodycoup d'état, from 22 December 1991 to 6 January 1992. The coup was instigated by part of theNational Guardand a paramilitary organization called "Mkhedrioni" ("horsemen"). The country then became embroiled in a bittercivil war, which lasted until December 1993. Simmering disputes within two regions of Georgia;AbkhaziaandSouth Ossetia, between local separatists and the majority Georgian populations, erupted into widespread inter-ethnic violence and wars.Supported by Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia achievedde factoindependence from Georgia, with Georgia retaining control only in small areas of the disputed territories.Eduard Shevardnadze(SovietMinister of Foreign Affairsfrom 1985 to 1991) was named as the head of Georgia's new government in March 1992and was elected as head of state inthat year's elections, later as president in1995.
During theWar in Abkhazia (1992–1993), roughly 230,000 to 250,000 Georgianswere expelled from Abkhazia by Abkhaz separatists and North Caucasian militants (including Chechens). Around 23,000 Georgians fled South Ossetia.
By 1994, Georgia was facing a severe economic crisis, with bread rations and shortages of electricity, water and heat.
In 2003, Shevardnadze (who won re-election in 2000) was deposed by theRose Revolution, after Georgian opposition and international monitors asserted that 2 November parliamentary elections were marred by fraud.The revolution was led byMikheil Saakashvili,Zurab ZhvaniaandNino Burjanadze, former members and leaders of Shevardnadze's ruling party. Mikheil Saakashvili was elected as President of Georgia in 2004.
Following the Rose Revolution, a series of reforms were launched to strengthen the country's military and economic capabilities, as well as to reorient its foreign policy westwards. The new government's efforts to reassert Georgian authority in the southwestern autonomous republic ofAdjaraled to a majorcrisisin 2004.
The country's newly pro-Western stance, along with accusations of Georgian involvement in theSecond Chechen War,resulted in a severe deterioration ofrelations with Russia, fueled also by Russia's open assistance and support to the two secessionist areas. Despite these increasingly difficult relations, in May 2005 Georgia and Russia reached a bilateral agreementby which Russian military bases (dating back to the Soviet era) inBatumiandAkhalkalakiwere withdrawn. Russia withdrew all personnel and equipment from these sites by December 2007while failing to withdraw from theGudautabase in Abkhazia, which it was required to vacate after the adoption of theAdapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treatyduring the1999 Istanbul summit.
There was aRusso-Georgian diplomatic crisisin April 2008.A bomb explosion on 1 August 2008 targeted a car transporting Georgian peacekeepers. South Ossetians were responsible for instigating this incident, which marked the opening of hostilities and injured five Georgian servicemen, then several South Ossetian militiamen were killed by snipers.South Ossetian separatists began shelling Georgian villages on 1 August. These artillery bombardments caused Georgian servicemen to return fire periodically.
On 7 August 2008, the Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili announced a unilateralceasefireand called for peace talks.More attacks on Georgian villages (located in the South Ossetian conflict zone) were soon matched with gunfire from Georgian troops, who then proceeded to move in the direction of the capital of theself-proclaimedRepublic of South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) on the night of 8 August, reaching its centre in the morning of 8 August.According to Russian military expertPavel Felgenhauer, the Ossetian provocation was aimed at triggering Georgian retaliation, which was needed as apretextfor a Russian military invasion.According to Georgian intelligence and several Russian media reports, parts of the regular (non-peacekeeping) Russian Army had already moved to South Ossetian territory through theRoki Tunnelbefore the Georgian military action.
Russia accused Georgia of "aggression against South Ossetia" and began a large land, air and sea invasion of Georgia under the pretext of a "peace enforcement" operation on 8 August 2008.Abkhaz forcesopened a second front on 9 August with theBattle of the Kodori Valley, an attack on the Kodori Gorge, held by Georgia.Tskhinvali was seized by the Russian military by 10 August.Russian forces occupied Georgian cities beyond the disputed territories.
During the conflict, there was a campaign ofethnic cleansing against Georgians in South Ossetia, including destruction of Georgian settlements after the war had ended.The war displaced 192,000 people and while many were able to return to their homes after the war, a year later around 30,000 ethnic Georgians remained displaced.In an interview published inKommersant, South Ossetian leaderEduard Kokoitysaid he would not allow Georgians to return.
ThePresident of France,Nicolas Sarkozy, negotiated a ceasefire agreement on 12 August 2008.Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as separate republics on 26 August.The Georgian government severed diplomatic relations with Russia.Russian forces left the buffer areas bordering Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 8 October and theEuropean Union Monitoring Mission in Georgiawas dispatched to the buffer areas.Since the war, Georgia has maintained that Abkhazia and South Ossetia areoccupied Georgian territories.
In preparation for the2012 parliamentary elections, Georgia implemented constitutional reforms to switch to aparliamentary democracy, moving executive powers from the President to the Prime Minister.The transition was set to start with the October 2012 parliamentary elections and to be completed with the2013 presidential elections.
Against the expectations of the ruling United National Movement (UNM) of president Mikheil Saakashvili, a 6-partycoalitioncentred around the newly foundedGeorgian Dreamparty won theparliamentary elections in October 2012, bringing an end to nine years of UNM rule and marking the first peaceful electoral transfer of power in Georgia. President Saakashvili acknowledged the defeat of his party on the following day.Georgian Dream was founded, led and financed by tycoonBidzina Ivanishvili, the country's richest man, who was subsequently elected by parliament as new Prime Minister.Due to the incomplete transition to parliamentary democracy, a year of uneasycohabitationbetween Ivanishvili and Saakashvili followed until thepresidential election in October 2013,which was won byGiorgi Margvelashvilifrom the Georgian Dream party.With the completed transfer of power, Prime Minister Ivanishvili stepped aside and named one of his close business associates,Irakli Garibashvili, as the next prime minister.Ivanishvili has since been called the informal leader of Georgia, arranging political reappointments from behind the scenes.Saakashvili left Georgia shortly after the election. In 2018, he was convicted in absentia on corruption charges and abuse of power, which he denied.
Georgian Dream won theparliamentary electionswith 48.61% of the vote while UNM received 27.04%.As result of the mixed proportional-majoritarian voting system, this translated into a parliamentarysupermajorityof 115 out of 150 seats (77%). This electoral imbalance became a key issue of political and civil society strife in the following years.In the2018 presidential election, the Georgian Dream party backedSalome Zurabishvili, who won in the second round, becoming the first woman in Georgia to hold the office in full capacity.This was the last direct election of a Georgian president, as additional constitutional reforms removed the popular vote.
After international mediation to overcome the deep political crisis in the run-up to the 2020 parliamentary elections, an amended electoral system was adopted, specifically for the2020 elections.Nine parties were elected to parliament. Georgian Dream secured over 48% of votes, which translated into 90 out of 150 seats. They were thus able to continue to govern alone. The opposition made accusations of fraud, which Georgian Dream denied. Thousands of people gathered outside the Central Election Commission to demand a new vote.This led to a new political crisis that was (temporarily) resolved by an EU brokered agreement,from which the Georgian Dream later withdrew.In February 2021, Prime MinisterGiorgi Gakhariaresigned and Irakli Garibashvili became Prime Minister once more.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Georgian provided diplomatic and humanitarian support for Ukraine but did not join other countries in imposing sanctions on Russia. Since the beginning of war Georgia has topped the list of countries to whichRussian exilesmoved; Russians have been allowed to stay in Georgia for at least one year without a visa since 2015, though many Georgians began to view the presence of more Russian citizens in Georgia as a security risk.
On 7 March 2023, theParliament of Georgia, led by the Georgian Dream coalition, attempted to pass theLaw on Transparency of Foreign Influencewhich requiresNon-Governmental Organizations(NGOs) to register as "agents of foreign influence", if upwards of 20% of their funding is from foreign support.The passing of the bill resulted in severe protests and criticism from theUS State Department,United NationsandEuropean Union, leading to the termination of further discussions of the bill.On 3 April 2024, the Georgian Parliament announced the draft of a similar law named theProposed Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence,leading tolarger protests, the bill has been described as "the Russian law" by the opposition and protestors, in reference to theRussian foreign agent law.At least 200,000 people have joinedthe protests against the law, which they describe as "Kremlin-style", and a threat todemocracyandfree speech.
Following the announcement of the results of the2024 Georgian parliamentary election,protests erupted in Georgia on 28 October, with the protestors citing alleged violations of electoral law, such as voter fraud. TheHigh Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policycalled on theCentral Election Commission of Georgia(CEC) to "swiftly, transparently and independently investigate and adjudicate electoral irregularities and allegations thereof".The Georgian opposition parties and thePresident of GeorgiaZurabishvili have stated their support for the protestors alleging the violation of the law by theGeorgian Dreamgovernment.Protests have gotten more intense since 28 November following the postponing ofGeorgia's integration into the European Unionuntil 2028.The protestors started usingpyrotechnicsandmolotov cocktails.The use of water cannon and tear gas by the police led to injuries described as torture by Georgia's rights ombudsman.On 2 December, opposition leaderZurab Japaridzewas arrested, and on 4 December another opposition leader,Nika Gvaramia, was arrested. Both opposition leaders have been set free since then.
Georgia is a mountainous country situated almost entirely in theSouth Caucasus, whilesome sliversof the country are situated north of theCaucasus Watershedin theNorth Caucasus.The country lies between latitudes41°and44° N, and longitudes40°and47° E, with an area of 67,900 km(26,216 sq mi). TheLikhi Rangedivides the country into eastern and western halves.Historically, the western portion of Georgia was known as Colchis while the eastern plateau was called Iberia.
TheGreater CaucasusMountain Range forms the northern border of Georgia.The main roads through the mountain range into Russian territory lead through the Roki Tunnel betweenShida Kartliand North Ossetia and theDarial Gorge(in the Georgian region ofKhevi). The southern portion of the country is bounded by theLesser CaucasusMountains.The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range is much higher in elevation than the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, with the highest peaks rising more than 5,000 metres (16,404 ft)above sea level.
The highest mountain in Georgia is MountShkharaat 5,203 metres (17,070 ft), and the second highest is MountJangaat 5,059 m (16,598 ft) above sea level. Other prominent peaks includeMount Kazbekat 5,047 m (16,558 ft),Shota Rustaveli Peak4,960 m (16,273 ft),Tetnuldi4,858 m (15,938 ft),Ushba4,700 m (15,420 ft), andAilama4,547 m (14,918 ft).Out of the abovementioned peaks, only Kazbek is ofvolcanicorigin. The region betweenKazbekand Shkhara (a distance of about 200 km (124 mi) along the Main Caucasus Range) is dominated by numerous glaciers.
The term Lesser Caucasus Mountains is often used to describe the mountainous (highland) areas of southern Georgia that are connected to the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range by the Likhi Range.The overall region can be characterized as being made up of various, interconnected mountain ranges (largely of volcanic origin) and plateaus that do not exceed 3,400 metres (11,155 ft) in elevation. Prominent features of the area include theJavakheti Volcanic Plateau, lakes, includingTabatskuriandParavani, as well as mineral water and hot springs. Two majorrivers in Georgiaare theRioniand theMtkvari.
The landscape within the nation's boundaries is quite varied. Western Georgia's landscape ranges from low-land marsh-forests, swamps, andtemperate rainforeststo eternal snows and glaciers, while the eastern part of the country even contains a small segment ofsemi-aridplains.
Much of the natural habitat in the low-lying areas of western Georgia has disappeared during the past 100 years because ofagricultural developmentand urbanization. A large majority of the forests that covered the Colchis plain are now virtually non-existent with the exception of the regions that are included in the national parks and reserves (e.g.Lake Paliastomiarea). At present, the forest cover generally remains outside of the low-lying areas and is mainly located along the foothills and the mountains. Western Georgia's forests consist mainly of deciduous trees below 600 metres (1,969 ft)above sea leveland contain species such asoak,hornbeam,beech,elm,ash, andchestnut. Evergreen species such asboxmay also be found in many areas. About 1,000 of the 4,000 higher plants of Georgia areendemic.
The west-central slopes of theMeskheti RangeinAjariaas well as several locations in Samegrelo and Abkhazia are covered bytemperate rain forests. Between 600–1,000 metres (1,969–3,281 ft) above sea level, the deciduous forest becomes mixed with both broad-leaf and coniferous species making up the plant life. The zone is made up mainly of beech,spruce, andfirforests. From 1,500–1,800 metres (4,921–5,906 ft), the forest becomes largely coniferous. The tree line generally ends at around 1,800 metres (5,906 ft) and the alpine zone takes over, which in most areas, extends up to an elevation of 3,000 metres (9,843 ft)above sea level.Eastern Georgia's landscape (referring to the territory east of theLikhi Range) is considerably different from that of the west, although, much like the Colchis plain in the west, nearly all of the low-lying areas of eastern Georgia including theMtkvariandAlazaniRiver plains have beendeforestedfor agricultural purposes.The general landscape of eastern Georgia comprises numerous valleys and gorges that are separated by mountains. In contrast with western Georgia, nearly 85 per cent of the forests of the region are deciduous. Coniferous forests only dominate in theBorjomi Gorgeand in the extreme western areas. Out of the deciduous species of trees,beech,oak, andhornbeamdominate. Other deciduous species include several varieties ofmaple,aspen, ash, andhazelnut.
At higher elevations above 1,000 metres (3,281 ft)above sea level(particularly in theTusheti,Khevsureti, andKheviregions),pineandbirchforests dominate. In general, the forests in eastern Georgia occur between 500–2,000 metres (1,640–6,562 ft) above sea level, with the alpine zone extending from 2,000–2,300 to 3,000–3,500 meters (6,562–7,546 to 9,843–11,483 ft). The only remaining large, low-land forests remain in theAlazaniValley of Kakheti.
The climate of Georgia is extremely diverse, considering the nation's small size. There are two main climatic zones, roughly corresponding to the eastern and western parts of the country. The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range plays an important role in moderating Georgia's climate and protects the nation from the penetration of colder air masses from the north. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains partially protect the region from the influence of dry and hot air masses from the south.
Much of western Georgia lies within the northern periphery of the humid subtropical zone with annual precipitation ranging from 1,000–2,500 mm (39–98 in), reaching a maximum during the Autumn months. The climate of the region varies significantly with elevation and while much of the lowland areas of western Georgia are relatively warm throughout the year, the foothills and mountainous areas (including both the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains) experience cool, wet summers and snowy winters (snow cover often exceeds 2 metres or 6 feet 7 inches in many regions).
Eastern Georgia has a transitional climate from humid subtropical to continental. The region's weather patterns are influenced both by dry Caspian air masses from the east and humid Black Sea air masses from the west. The penetration of humid air masses from the Black Sea is often blocked by mountain ranges (LikhiandMeskheti) that separate the eastern and western parts of the nation.The wettest periods generally occur during spring and autumn, while winter and summer months tend to be the driest. Much of eastern Georgia experiences hot summers (especially in the low-lying areas) and relatively cold winters. As in the western parts of the nation, elevation plays an important role in eastern Georgia where climatic conditions above 1,500 metres (4,921 ft) are considerably colder than in the low-lying areas.
Because of its high landscape diversity and low latitude, Georgia is home to about 5,601 species of animals, including 648 species ofvertebrates(more than 1% of the species found worldwide) and many of these species are endemics.A number of largecarnivoreslive in the forests, namelyBrown bears,wolves,lynxesandCaucasian Leopards. Thecommon pheasant(also known as the Colchian Pheasant) is an endemic bird of Georgia which has been widely introduced throughout the rest of the world as an importantgame bird. The species number ofinvertebratesis considered to be very high but data is distributed across a high number of publications. The spider checklist of Georgia, for example, includes 501 species.The Rioni River may contain a breeding population of the critically endangeredbastard sturgeon.
Slightly more than 6,500 species offungi, including lichen-forming species, have been recorded from Georgia,but this number is far from complete. The true total number of fungal species occurring in Georgia, including species not yet recorded, is likely to be far higher, given the generally accepted estimate that only about seven per cent of all fungi worldwide have so far been discovered.Although the amount of available information is still very small, a first effort has been made to estimate the number of fungal species endemic to Georgia, and 2,595 species have been tentatively identified as possible endemics of the country.1,729 species of plants have been recorded from Georgia in association with fungi.According to theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature, there are 4,300 species of vascular plants in Georgia.
Georgia is home to four ecoregions:Caucasus mixed forests,Euxine-Colchic deciduous forests,Eastern Anatolian montane steppe, andAzerbaijan shrub desert and steppe.It had a 2018Forest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 7.79/10, ranking it 31st globally out of 172 countries.
Georgia is arepresentative democraticparliamentaryrepublic; thePresidentserves as the largely ceremonial head of state,whereas the Prime Minister is head of government. Executive power is vested in theCabinet of Georgia, composed of ministers headed by thePrime Ministerand appointed by the Parliament. As of 2025, the Presidency isdisputedbetweenSalome Zourabichvili, who claims to be thede jurehead of state, andMikheil Kavelashvili, who was inaugurated by the ruling party following the widely disputed2024 Georgian presidential election. Since February 2024, the post of the Prime Minister has been occupied byIrakli Kobakhidze, whose legitimacy is also disputed.
Legislativeauthority is vested in theParliament of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, of whom 30 are elected by plurality to represent single-member districts, and 120 are chosen to represent parties by proportional representation. Members of parliament are elected for four-year terms.
Different opinions exist regarding the degree of political freedom in Georgia. Saakashvili believed in 2008 that the country is "on the road to becoming a European democracy."In their 2022 reportFreedom Houselists Georgia as "partly free", recognizing a trajectory of democratic improvement surrounding the 2012–13 transfer of power but observed a process of democratic backslide in later years of theGeorgian Dreamrule.In the 2023Democracy Index, theEconomist Intelligence Unitclassifies Georgia as a "hybrid regime", which denotes an incompletedemocratic transitionfromauthoritarianismtodemocracycharacterized by elements of both systems.
The explicit western orientation of Georgia, deepening political ties with the US and European Union, notably through its EU and NATO membership aspirations, the USTrain and Equipmilitary assistance programme, and the construction of theBaku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, increasingly strained Tbilisi's relations with Moscow in the early 2000s. Georgia's decision to boost its presence in the coalition forces in Iraq was an important initiative.The European Union has identified Georgia as a prospective member,and Georgia has sought membership.
Georgia is currently working to become a full member ofNATO. In August 2004, the Individual Partnership Action Plan of Georgia was submitted officially to NATO. On 29 October 2004, theNorth Atlantic Councilof NATO approved theIndividual Partnership Action Plan(IPAP) of Georgia, and Georgia moved on to the second stage of Euro-Atlantic Integration. In 2005, the agreement on the appointment ofPartnership for Peace(PfP) liaison officer between Georgia and NATO came into force, whereby a liaison officer for the South Caucasus was assigned to Georgia. On 2 March 2005, the agreement was signed on the provision of the host nation support to and transit of NATO forces and NATO personnel. On 6–9 March 2006, the IPAP implementation interim assessment team arrived in Tbilisi. On 13 April 2006, the discussion of the assessment report on implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan was held at NATO Headquarters, within 26+1 format.In 2009 the Georgia-NATO Interparliamentary Council was created within theNATO Parliamentary Assemblyto hold twice yearly meetings to discuss all aspects of Georgia-NATO cooperation. In 2017, a poll by the National Democratic Institute, an American NGO, revealed that the majority of Georgians and politicians in Georgia support the push for NATO membership.
In 2011, theNorth Atlantic Councildesignated Georgia as an "aspirant country".Since 2014, Georgia–NATO relations are guided by the Substantial NATO–Georgia Package (SNGP), which includes the NATO–Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre and facilitation of multi-national and regional military drills.
In September 2019, Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrovsaid that "NATO approaching our borders is a threat to Russia."He was quoted as saying that ifNATOaccepts Georgian membership with the article on collective defence covering only Tbilisi-administered territory—i.e., excluding the Georgian territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which are currently Russian-supportedunrecognized breakaway republics—"we will not start a war, but such conduct will undermine our relations with NATO and with countries who are eager to enter the alliance."
George W. Bushbecame the first sitting U.S. president to visit the country.The street leading toTbilisi International Airporthas since been dubbed George W. Bush Avenue.On 2 October 2006, Georgia and the European Union signed a joint statement on the agreed text of the Georgia–European Union Action Plan within theEuropean Neighbourhood Policy(ENP). The Action Plan was formally approved at the EU–Georgia Cooperation Council session on 14 November 2006, inBrussels.In June 2014, the EU and Georgia signed anAssociation Agreement, which entered into force on 1 July 2016.On 13 December 2016, EU and Georgia reached the agreement on visa liberalization for Georgian citizens.On 27 February 2017, the Council adopted a regulation on visa liberalization for Georgians travelling to the EU for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period.
Georgia applied for EU membership on 3 March 2022, soon after the beginning of theRussian invasion of Ukraine.In December 2023, Georgia was grantedEU Candidatestatus by theEuropean Council.In November 2024, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared the country's EU accession process would be paused until 2028, leading to protests.
Georgia's military is organized intolandandairforces collectively known as the Georgian Defense Forces (GDF); naval forces were merged into the Coast Guard in 2009, which falls under the Internal Affairs Minister. More than 20% of the GDF consists ofconscripts.The mission and functions of the GDF are based on theConstitution of Georgia, Georgia's Law on Defense and National Military Strategy, and international agreements to which Georgia is signatory.As of 2021, Georgia's military budget was 900₾($280) million, of which newly two-thirds is allocated for maintaining defence forces readiness and potency development.After its independence from the Soviet Union, Georgia began to develop its ownmilitary industry, namely through the state ownedSTC Delta.The country produces a range of indigenousmilitary equipment, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, aviation systems, personal protection equipment, and small arms.
Georgian military personnel have served in several international operations. During later periods of theIraq War, Georgia had up to 2,000 soldiers serving in the American-ledMulti-National Force.Georgia also participated in theNATO-ledInternational Security Assistance ForceinAfghanistan; with 1,560 troops in 2013, it was at that time the largest contributor among non-NATOcountriesand in per capita terms.Over 11,000 Georgian soldiers rotated through Afghanistan during the course of the war;32 were killed,mostly during theHelmand campaign, and 435 were wounded, including 35 amputees.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is charged with internal law enforcement. In recent years, the Patrol Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has undergone a radical transformation, with the police having now absorbed a great many duties previously performed by dedicated independent government agencies. New duties performed by the police include border security and customs functions and contracted security provision; the latter function is performed by the dedicated 'security police'.
In 2005, PresidentMikheil Saakashvilifired the entire traffic police force (numbering around 30,000 police officers) of the Georgian National Police due to corruption.A new force was then subsequently built around new recruits.TheU.S. State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law-Enforcement Affairs has provided assistance to the training efforts and continues to act in an advisory capacity.
The newPatruliforce was first introduced in the summer of 2005 to replace the traffic police, a force which was accused of widespread corruption.The police introduced a 0–2–2 (currently, 1–1–2)emergency dispatchservice in 2004.
Prior to theRose Revolution, Georgia was among the most corrupt countries in the world.However, following the reforms brought by the peaceful revolution, corruption in the country abated dramatically. In 2010,Transparency International(TI) named Georgia "the best corruption-buster in the world."In 2012, theWorld Bankcalled Georgia a "unique success" of the world in fighting corruption, noting "Georgia's experience shows that the vicious cycle of endemic corruption can be broken and, with appropriate and decisive reforms, can be turned into a virtuous cycle."
Although Georgia has been very successful in reducing blatant forms of corruption, other more subtle corrupt practices have been noted. For example, in its 2017 report,Council of Europeobserved that while most day-to-day corruption has been eliminated, there are some indications of a "clientelisticsystem" whereby the country's leadership may allocate resources in ways that generate the loyalty and support it needs to stay in power.Since 2012 stagnation in corruption fighting efforts can be observed, according to Transparency International.Since 2016 the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index hovers around 56 out of 100 points. In comparison, that places Georgia in the top 50 out of 180 countries, among Central European andMediterraneanEU member states.
Human rights in Georgia are guaranteed by thecountry's constitution. There is an independent human rightspublic defenderelected by theParliament of Georgiato ensure such rights are enforced.Georgia has ratified theFramework Convention for the Protection of National Minoritiesin 2005. NGO "Tolerance", in its alternative report about its implementation, speaks of a rapid decrease in the number of Azerbaijani schools and cases of appointing headmasters to Azerbaijani schools who do not speak theAzerbaijani language.
The government came under criticism for its alleged use of excessive force on 26 May 2011 when it dispersedprotestersled byNino Burjanadze, among others, with tear gas and rubber bullets after they refused to clearRustaveli Avenuefor an independence day parade despite the expiration of their demonstration permit and despite being offered to choose an alternative venue.While human rights activists maintained that the protests were peaceful, the government pointed out that many protesters were masked and armed with heavy sticks and Molotov cocktails.Georgian opposition leader Nino Burjanadze said the accusations of planning a coup were baseless, and that the protesters' actions were legitimate.
Since independence, Georgia maintained harsh policies against drugs, handing out lengthy sentences even formarijuanause. This came under criticism from human rights activistsand led to protests.In response to lawsuits from civil society organizations, in 2018 theConstitutional Court of Georgiaruled that "consumption of marijuana is an action protected by the right to free personality"and that "[Marijuana] can only harm the user's health, making that user him/herself responsible for the outcome. The responsibility for such actions does not cause dangerous consequences for the public."With this ruling, Georgia became one of thefirst countries in the world to legalize cannabis, although using the drug in the presence of children is still illegal and punishable by fines or imprisonment.Georgian prisons tend to be overcrowded with poor living conditions.
LGBT individuals in Georgiafrequently face harassment and violence.Minor protections exist against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Since 2008 transgender people are allowed to change their gender marker followingsex reassignment surgery. However,a bill passed in 2024seeks to remove many protections from LGBT people.TheEuropean Union, and various human rights organizations have condemned the legislation.In 2024, Georgian PresidentSalome Zourabichvilicondemned the high-profile murder ofKesaria Abramidze, a transgender woman, and subsequently attended her funeral to pay respects.
Georgia isadministratively dividedinto 9 regions, 1 capital region, and 2 autonomous republics. These in turn are subdivided into 67districtsand 5 self-governing cities.
Georgia contains two official autonomous regions, of which one has declared independence. Officially autonomous within Georgia,the de facto independent region of Abkhazia declared independence in 1999.In addition, another territory not officially autonomous has also declared independence. South Ossetia is officially known by Georgia as the Tskhinvali region, as it views "South Ossetia" as implying political bonds with RussianNorth Ossetia.It was calledSouth Ossetian Autonomous Oblastwhen Georgia was part of Soviet Union. Its autonomous status was revoked in 1990. De facto separate since Georgian independence, offers were made to give South Ossetia autonomy again, but in 2006 an unrecognized referendum in the area resulted in a vote for independence.
In both Abkhazia and South Ossetia large numbers of people had been given Russian passports, some through a process of forcedpassportizationby Russian authorities.This was used as a justification for Russian invasion of Georgia during the 2008 South Ossetia war after which Russia recognized the region's independence.Georgia considers the regions as occupied by Russia.The two self-declared republics gainedlimited international recognitionafter the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Most countries consider the regions to be Georgian territoryunder Russian occupation.
Archaeological research demonstrates that Georgia has been involved in commerce with many lands and empires since ancient times, largely due its location on the Black Sea and later on the historicalSilk Road. Gold, silver, copper andironhave been mined in theCaucasus Mountains.Georgian winemaking is a very old tradition and a key branch of the country's economy. The country has sizeablehydropowerresources.Throughout Georgia's modern history agriculture and tourism have been principal economic sectors, because of the country's climate and topography.
For much of the 20th century, Georgia's economy was within the Soviet model ofcommand economy. Since the fall of the USSR in 1991, Georgia embarked on a major structural reform designed to transition to afree marketeconomy. As with all otherpost-Soviet states, Georgia faced a severe economic collapse. The civil war and military conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia aggravated the crisis. The agriculture and industry output diminished. By 1994 the gross domestic product had shrunk to a quarter of that of 1989.
Since the early 21st century visible positive developments have been observed in the economy of Georgia. In 2007, Georgia'sreal GDPgrowth rate reached 12 per cent, making Georgia one of the fastest-growing economiesin Eastern Europe. Georgia has become moreintegratedinto the global trading network: its 2015 imports and exports account for 50% and 21% of GDP respectively.Georgia's main imports are vehicles, ores, fossil fuels and pharmaceuticals. Main exports are ores, ferro-alloys, vehicles, wines, mineral waters and fertilizers.The World Bank dubbed Georgia "the number one economic reformer in the world" because it has in one year improved from rank 112th to 18th in terms ofease of doing business,and by 2020 further improved its position to 6th in the world.As of 2021, it ranked 12th in the world foreconomic freedom. In 2019, Georgia ranked 61st on theHuman Development Index(HDI). Between 2000 and 2019, Georgia's HDI score improved by 17.7%.Of factors contributing to HDI, education had the most positive influenceas Georgiaranks in the top quintilein terms of education.
Georgia is developing into an international transport corridor throughBatumiandPotiports,Baku–Tbilisi–Kars Railway line, an oil pipeline fromBakuthrough Tbilisi toCeyhan, theBaku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline(BTC) and a parallel gas pipeline, theSouth Caucasus Pipeline.
Since coming to power the Saakashvili administration accomplished a series of reforms aimed at improving tax collection. Among other things aflat income taxwas introduced in 2004.As a result, budget revenues have increased fourfold and a once largebudget deficithas turned into asurplus.
As of 2001, 54 per cent of the population lived below the national poverty line but by 2006 poverty decreased to 34 per cent and by 2015 to 10.1 per cent.In 2015, the average monthly income of a household was 1,022.3₾(about$426).2015 calculations place Georgia'snominal GDPat US$13.98 billion.Georgia's economy is becoming more devoted toservices(as of 2016, representing 59.4 per cent of GDP), moving away from theagricultural sector(6.1 per cent).Since 2014, unemployment has been gradually decreasing each year but remained in double digits and worsened during theCOVID-19 pandemic.A perception of economic stagnation led to a 2019 survey of 1,500 residents finding unemployment was considered a significant problem by 73% of respondents, with 49% reporting their income had decreased over the prior year.
Georgia's telecommunications infrastructure is ranked the last among its bordering neighbors in the World Economic Forum'sNetwork Readiness Index(NRI) – an indicator for determining the development level of a country's information and communication technologies. Georgia ranked number 58 overall in the 2016 NRI ranking,up from 60 in 2015.Georgia was ranked 57th in theGlobal Innovation Indexin 2024.
Tourism is an increasingly significant part of the Georgian economy. In 2016, over 2.7 million tourists brought approximately US$2.16 billion to the country.In 2019, the number of international arrivals reached a record high of 9.3 million people.with foreign exchange income in the year's first three-quarters amounting to over US$3 billion. The country plans to host 11 million visitors by 2025 with annual revenues reaching US$6.6 billion.According to the government, there are 103 resorts in differentclimatic zonesin Georgia. Tourist attractions include more than 2,000mineral springs, over 12,000 historical and cultural monuments, four of which are recognized asUNESCOWorld Heritage Sites(Bagrati CathedralinKutaisiandGelati Monastery, historical monuments ofMtskheta, andUpper Svaneti).Other tourist attractions areCave City,AnanuriCastle/Church,SighnaghiandMount Kazbek. In 2018, more than 1.4 million tourists from Russia visited Georgia.
Today, transport in Georgia is provided byrail, road, ferry, and air. The total length ofroads in Georgia, excluding theoccupied territories, is 21,110 kilometres (13,120 mi) and railways – 1,576 km (979 mi).Positioned in the Caucasus and on the coast of the Black Sea, Georgia is a key country through which energy imports to the European Union from neighboring Azerbaijan pass.
In recent years, Georgia has invested large amounts of money in the modernization of its transport networks. The construction of new highways has been prioritized and, as such, major cities like Tbilisi have seen the quality of their roads improve dramatically; despite this, however, the quality of inter-city routes remains poor and to date only one motorway-standard road has been constructed – theს 1 (S1), the main east–west highway through the country.
The Georgian railways represent an important transport artery for the Caucasus, as they make up the largest proportion of a route linking the Black andCaspian Seas. In turn, this has allowed them to benefit in recent years from increased energy exports from neighbouring Azerbaijan to the European Union, Ukraine, and Turkey.Passenger services are operated by the state-ownedGeorgian Railwaywhile freight operations are carried out by a number of licensed operators. Since 2004, the Georgian Railways have been undergoing a rolling programme of fleet-renewal and managerial restructuring which is aimed at making the service provided more efficient and comfortable for passengers.Infrastructural development has also been high on the agenda for the railways, with the key Tbilisi railway junction expected to undergo major reorganization in the near future.Additional projects also include the construction of the economically importantKars–Tbilisi–Baku railway, which was opened on 30 October 2017 and connects much of the Caucasus with Turkey bystandard gaugerailway.
Air and maritime transport is developing in Georgia, with the former mainly used by passengers and the latter for transport of freight. Georgia currently has four international airports, the largest of which is by farTbilisi International Airport, hub forGeorgian Airways, which offers connections to many large European cities. Other airports in the country are largely underdeveloped or lack scheduled traffic, although, as of late, efforts have been made to solve both these problems.There are a number of seaports along Georgia's Black Sea coast, the largest and most busy of which is the Port of Batumi; while the town is itself a seaside resort, the port is a major cargo terminal in the Caucasus and is often used by neighbouring Azerbaijan as a transit point for making energy deliveries to Europe. Scheduled and chartered passenger ferry services link Georgia with Bulgaria,Romania, Turkey and Ukraine.
Like most nativeCaucasian peoples, the Georgians do not fit into any of the main ethnic categories of Europe or Asia. The Georgian language, the most pervasive of theKartvelian languages, is notIndo-European,Turkic, orSemitic. The present-day Georgian or Kartvelian nation is thought to have resulted from the fusion ofindigenousinhabitants with various immigrants who moved intoSouth CaucasusfromAnatoliain remote antiquity.
The population of Georgia totaled 3,688,647 as of 2022,a decrease from 3,713,804 in the previous census in October 2014.The population declined by 40,000 in 2021, a reversal of the trend towards stabilization of the last decade and, for the first time since independence, the population was recorded to be below 3.7 million. According to the 2014 census,Ethnic Georgiansform about 86.8 percent of the population, while the remainder includes ethnic groups such asAbkhazians,Armenians,Assyrians,Azerbaijanis,Greeks,Jews,Kists,Ossetians,Russians,Ukrainians,Yezidisand others.TheGeorgian Jewsare one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. According to the 1926 census there were 27,728 Jews in Georgia.Georgia was also once home to significant ethnic German communities, numbering 11,394 according to the 1926 census.Most of themwere deportedduring World War II.
The 2014 census, carried out in collaboration with theUnited Nations Population Fund(UNFPA), found a population gap of approximately 700,000 compared to the 2014 data from the National Statistical Office of Georgia, Geostat, which was cumulatively built on the 2002 census. Consecutive research estimated the 2002 census to be inflated by 8 to 9 percent,which affected the annually updated population estimates in subsequent years. One explanation put forward by UNFPA is that families of emigrants continued to list them in 2002 as residents for fear of losing certain rights or benefits. Also, the population registration system from birth to death was non-functional. It was not until around 2010 that parts of the system became reliable again. With the support of the UNFPA, the demographic data for the period 1994–2014 has been retro-projected.On the basis of that back-projection, Geostat has corrected its data for these years.
The 1989 census recorded 341,000 ethnicRussians, or 6.3 percent of the population,52,000Ukrainiansand 100,000Greeks in Georgia.The population of Georgia, including the breakaway regions, has declined by more than 1 million due to net emigration in the period 1990–2010.Other factors in the population decline include birth-death deficits for the period 1995–2010 and the exclusion of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from the statistics. Russia received by far the most migrants from Georgia. According to United Nations data, this totaled 625,000 by 2000, declining to 450,000 by 2019.Initially, the out-migration was driven by non-Georgian ethnicities, but increasing numbers of Georgians emigrated as well,due to the war, the crisis-ridden 1990s, and the subsequent bad economic outlook. The 2010 Russian census recorded about 158,000 ethnic Georgians living in Russia,with approximately 40,000 living in Moscow by 2014.There were 184 thousand immigrants in Georgia in 2014 with most of them hailing from Russia (51.6%), Greece (8.3%), Ukraine (8.11%), Germany (4.3%), and Armenia (3.8%).
In the early 1990s, following thedissolution of the Soviet Union, violentseparatistconflicts broke out in the autonomous region of Abkhazia andTskhinvali Region. ManyOssetiansliving in Georgia left the country, mainly to Russia'sNorth Ossetia.On the other hand, at least 160,000 Georgians left Abkhazia after the breakout of hostilities in 1993.Of theMeskhetian Turkswho wereforcibly relocatedin 1944, only a tiny fraction returned to Georgia as of 2008.
In the 2024 Global Hunger Index, Georgia is one of 22 countries with a GHI score of less than 5. Differences between their scores are minimal. With a score under 5, Georgia has a level of hunger that is low.
The most widespread language group is theKartvelian family, which includes Georgian,Svan,MingrelianandLaz.The official language of Georgia isGeorgian, withAbkhazhaving official status within the autonomous region of Abkhazia. Georgian is the primary language of 87.7 per cent of the population, followed by 6.2 per cent speakingAzerbaijani, 3.9 per centArmenian, 1.2 per cent Russian, and 1 per cent other languages.Azerbaijani once served as alingua francafor communication among various nationalities inhabiting Eastern Caucasus.
Today, 83.4 percent of the population practicesEastern Orthodox Christianity, with the majority of these adhering to the nationalGeorgian Orthodox Church.TheGeorgian Orthodox Churchis one of the world's oldest Christian churches, and claims apostolic foundation bySaint Andrew.In the first half of the 4th century, Christianity was adopted as the state religion of Iberia (present-day eastern Georgia), following the missionary work ofSaint NinoofCappadocia.The Church gainedautocephalyduring the early Middle Ages; it was abolished during the Russian domination of the country, restored in 1917 and fully recognized by theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinoplein 1989.
The special status of the Georgian Orthodox Church is officially recognized in the Constitution of Georgia and theConcordat of 2002, although religious institutions are separate from the state.
Religious minorities of Georgia include Muslims (10.7 percent),Armenian Christians(2.9 percent) and Roman Catholics (0.5 percent).0.7 percent of those recorded in the 2014 census declared themselves to be adherents of other religions, 1.2 percent refused or did not state their religion and 0.5 percent declared no religion at all.
Islamis represented by both AzerbaijaniShiaMuslims (in the south-east), ethnic GeorgianSunniMuslims in Adjara, Chechen sub-ethnic group of SunniKistsin the Pankisi Gorge, andLaz-speaking Sunni Muslims as well as SunniMeskhetian Turksalong the border with Turkey. In Abkhazia, a minority of the Abkhaz population is also Sunni Muslim. There are also smaller communities ofGreek Muslims(ofPontic Greekorigin) andArmenian Muslims, both of whom are descended from Ottoman-era converts to Turkish Islam fromEastern Anatoliawho settled in Georgia following theLala Mustafa Pasha's Caucasian campaignthat led to the Ottoman conquest of the country in 1578. Georgian Jews trace the history of their community to the 6th century BCbut due to immigration to Israel, by early 2000s their numbers had dwindled to several thousand.
Despite the long history of religious harmony in Georgia,there have been instances of religious discrimination and violence against "nontraditional faiths", such asJehovah's Witnesses, by followers of thedefrockedOrthodox priestBasil Mkalavishvili.
In addition to traditional religious organizations, Georgia retainssecular and irreligious segments of society(0.5 percent),as well as a significant portion of religiously affiliated individuals who do not actively practice their faith.
The education system of Georgia has undergone sweeping, though controversial, modernization since 2004.Education in Georgiais mandatory for all children aged 6–14.The school system is divided into elementary (six years; ages 6–12), basic (three years; ages 12–15), and secondary (three years; ages 15–18), or alternatively vocational studies (two years). Access to higher education is given to students who have gained a secondary school certificate. Only those students who have passed the Unified National Examinations may enroll in a state-accredited higher education institution, based on ranking of the scores received at the exams.
Most of these institutions offer three levels of study: a bachelor's programme (three to four years); a master's programme (two years), and a doctoral programme (three years). There is also a certified specialist's programme that represents a single-level higher education programme lasting from three to six years.As of 2016, 75 higher education institutions are accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia.Gross primary enrolment ratiowas 117 percent for the period of 2012–2014, the 2nd highest in Europe after Sweden.
Tbilisi has become the main artery of the Georgian educational system, particularly since the creation of theFirst Georgian Republicin 1918 permitted the establishment of modern, Georgian-language educational institutions. Tbilisi is home to several major institutions of higher education in Georgia, notably theTbilisi State Medical University, which was founded as Tbilisi Medical Institute in 1918, and theTbilisi State University(TSU), which was established in 1918 and remains the oldest university in the entire Caucasus region.The number of faculty and staff (collaborators) at TSU is approximately 5,000, with over 35,000 students enrolled. The following four universities are also located in Tbilisi:Georgian Technical University,which is Georgia's main and largest technical university,The University of Georgia (Tbilisi),as well asCaucasus UniversityandFree University of Tbilisi.
Georgian culture evolved over thousands of years from its foundations in theIberianand Colchian civilizations.Georgian culture enjoyed arenaissance and golden ageofclassical literature, arts, philosophy, architecture and science in the 11th century.Georgian culture was influenced byClassical Greece, theRoman Empire, theByzantine Empire, the variousIranian empires(notably theAchaemenid,Parthian,Sassanian,Safavid, andQajarempires),and later, since the 19th century, by theRussian Empireand theSoviet Union.
This long history has provided a national narrative which encompasses the successful preservation of unique culture and identity in a consistent territory, despite external pressures. Christianity and the Georgian language are particularly important national identifiers.These cultural, religious, and later political attributes are associated with a European and Western identity, based on a national perception of these attributes that contrasts with surrounding powers.This self-identity is stronger among the dominant ethnic Georgian population than in the country's minority groups.
Georgia is known for itsfolklore, traditional music, dances, theatre, cinema, and art. Notable painters from the 20th century includeNiko Pirosmani,Lado Gudiashvili,Elene Akhvlediani; notable ballet choreographers includeGeorge Balanchine,Vakhtang Chabukiani, andNino Ananiashvili; notable poets includeGalaktion Tabidze,Lado Asatiani, andMukhran Machavariani; and notable theatre and film directors includeRobert Sturua,Tengiz Abuladze,Giorgi Danelia, andOtar Ioseliani.
Georgian architecturehas been influenced by many civilizations. There are severalarchitectural stylesforcastles,towers,fortificationsand churches. TheUpper Svanetifortifications, and the castle town ofShatiliinKhevsureti, are some of the finest examples of medieval Georgiancastle architecture. Other architectural features of Georgia includeRustaveliAvenue in Tbilisi and theOld Town District.
Georgianecclesiasticart is one of the most notable aspects of GeorgianChristian architecture, which combines the classicaldomestyle with the originalbasilicastyle, forming what is known as the Georgian cross-dome style. Cross-dome architecture developed in Georgia during the 9th century; before that, most Georgian churches were basilicas. Other examples of Georgianecclesiasticarchitecture can be found outside Georgia:Bachkovo Monasteryin Bulgaria (built in 1083 by the Georgian military commander Grigorii Bakuriani),Iviron monasteryin Greece (built by Georgians in the 10th century), and theMonastery of the Crossin Jerusalem (built by Georgians in the 9th century). One of the most famous late 19th/early 20th century Georgian artists wasprimitivistpainterNiko Pirosmani.
TheGeorgian language, and the Classical Georgian literature of the poetShota Rustaveli, were revived in the 19th century after a long period of turmoil, laying the foundations of theromanticsand novelists of the modern era such asGrigol Orbeliani,Nikoloz Baratashvili,Ilia Chavchavadze,Akaki Tsereteli, andVazha-Pshavela.The Georgian language is written in three uniquescriptswhich, according to traditional accounts, were invented by KingPharnavaz I of Iberiain the 3rd century BC.
Television, magazines, and newspapers in Georgia are all operated by both state-owned and for-profit corporations which depend on advertising,subscription, and other sales-related revenues. TheConstitution of Georgiaguarantees freedom of speech.The media environment of Georgia remains the freest and most diverse in theSouth Caucasus,despite the long-term politicization and polarization affecting the sector. The political struggle for control over the public broadcaster has left it without a direction in 2014 too.
Georgia has an ancient musical tradition, which is primarily known for its early development ofpolyphony. Georgian polyphony is based on three vocal parts, a unique tuning system based on perfect fifths, and a harmonic structure rich in parallel fifths and dissonances.Three types of polyphony have developed in Georgia: a complex version in Svaneti, a dialogue over a bass background in the Kakheti region, and a three-part partially improvised version in western Georgia.The Georgian folk song "Chakrulo" was one of 27 musical compositions included on theVoyager Golden Recordsthat were sent into space onVoyager 2on 20 August 1977.
Georgian cuisineandwinehave evolved through the centuries, adapting traditions in each era. One of the most unusual traditions of dining issupra, orGeorgian table, which is also a way of socializing with friends and family. The head ofsuprais known astamada. He also conducts the highly philosophical toasts, and makes sure that everyone is enjoying themselves. Various historical regions of Georgia are known for their particular dishes: for example,khinkali(meat dumplings), from eastern mountainous Georgia, andkhachapuri, mainly fromImereti,Samegreloand Adjara.
Georgia isone of the oldest wine-producing countriesin the world. Archaeology indicates that fertile valleys and slopes in and around Georgia have been home tograpevinecultivation andneolithicwine production (Georgian:ღვინო,ɣvino) for millennia.Local traditions associated with wine are entwined with its national identity.In 2013,UNESCOadded the ancient traditional Georgian winemaking method using theKvevriclay jars to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
Georgia's moderate climate and moist air, influenced by theBlack Sea, provide the best conditions for vine cultivation. The soil in vineyards is so intensively cultivated that the grapevines grow up the trunks of fruit trees, eventually hanging down along the fruit when they ripen. This method of cultivation is calledmaglari.Among the best-known Georgian wine regions areKakheti(further divided into the micro-regions ofTelaviandKvareli),Kartli,Imereti,Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti,Adjaraand Abkhazia.
Georgian wine has been a contentious issue in recent relationships with Russia.Political tensions with Russiahave contributed to the 2006Russian embargoof Georgian wine, Russia claimed Georgia producedcounterfeitwine. It was an "official" reason, but the instability of economic relations with Russia is well known, as they use the economic ties for political purposes.Counterfeiting problems stem from mislabelling by foreign producers and falsified "Georgian Wine" labels on wines produced outside of Georgia and imported into Russia under the auspices of being Georgian produced.The shipment of counterfeit wine has been primarily channelled throughRussianmanaged customs checkpoints in Russian-occupied Georgian territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where no inspection and regulation occurs.
The most popular sports in Georgia arefootball, basketball,rugby union,wrestling, judo, andweightlifting. Rugby is considered Georgia's national sport.Historically, Georgia has been famous for its physical education; theRomanswere fascinated with Georgians' physical qualities after seeing the training techniques of ancientIberia.Wrestling remains a historically important sport of Georgia, and some historians think that theGreco-Roman style of wrestlingincorporates many Georgian elements.
Within Georgia, one of the most popularized styles of wrestling is the Kakhetian style. There were a number of other styles in the past that are not as widely used today. For example, theKhevsuretiregion of Georgia has three styles of wrestling. Other popular sports in 19th century Georgia werepolo, andLelo, a traditional Georgian game very similar torugby.
The first and only race circuit in the Caucasian region is located in Georgia.Rustavi International Motorparkoriginally built in 1978, was re-opened in 2012 after total reconstructioncosting $20 million. The track satisfies theFIAGrade 2 requirements and currently hosts theLegends car racingseries and Formula Alfa competitions.
Basketball was always one of the notable sports in Georgia, and Georgia had a few very famousSoviet Union national teammembers, such asOtar Korkia,Mikheil Korkia,Zurab SakandelidzeandLevan Moseshvili.Dinamo Tbilisiwon the prestigiousEuroLeaguecompetition in1962. Georgia has had five players in theNBA:Vladimir Stepania,Jake Tsakalidis,Nikoloz Tskitishvili,Tornike Shengeliaand formerGolden State WarriorscentreZaza Pachulia. Other notable basketball players include the two time EuroLeague championGiorgi Shermadiniand EuroLeague playersManuchar MarkoishviliandViktor Sanikidze. The sport is regaining its popularity in the country recently, and theGeorgia national basketball teamhas qualified for theEuroBaskettournament five consecutive times since its first appearance in 2011.
There are a number of world-class Georgian MMA fighters.Ilia Topuria,Merab Dvalishvili,Giga ChikadzeandRoman Dolidzeare highly ranked fighters currently signed with theUFC.
Georgian athletes have won a total of 40 Olympic medals, mostly in wrestling, judo and weightlifting.Competitive bodybuilding sanctioned by the EuropeanIFBBis also popular in the country.
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