Georgia (country)

საქართველო
Sakartvelo

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto:
Official language	Georgian
Capital and largest city	Tbilisi
Capital's coordinates	41° 43' N, 44° 48' E
President	Mikhail Saakashvili
Prime Minister	Zurab Zhvania
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 118th 69,700 km² Negligible
Population - Total (2003E) - Density	Ranked 111th 4,934,413 71/km²
Independence	From Soviet Union 9 April 1991
Currency	Lari (GEL)
Time zone	UTC +4 (DST +5)
National anthem	Dideba zetsit kurtheuls
Internet TLD	.ge
Calling Code	995

History

Georgia was taken over by the Russian Tsarist Empire on September 12, 1801. After the Russian Revolution it declared independence on May 26, 1918 during the Russian Civil War. In February 25, 1921 the Democratic Republic of Georgia was occupied by Soviet Russia and was incorporated into a Transcaucasian Federative Soviet Socialist Republic uniting Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The TFSSR was disaggregated into its component elements in 1936 and Georgia became the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.

During the perestroika reforms of the late 1980s, Georgia developed a vigorous multiparty system that strongly favoured independence. The country staged the first democratic multiparty elections in the Soviet Union on October 28, 1990. Shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union on April 9, 1991, Georgia declared independence again. Several areas, including Abkhazia, Ajaria and South Ossetia, quickly became embroiled in separatist disputes that led to civil wars and widespread inter-ethnic violence. The Georgian government still does not control large parts of its territory and an uneasy ceasefire prevails in Abkhazia.

Politics

Following a crisis involving allegations of ballot fraud, Eduard Shevardnadze resigned as President on November 23, 2003. The interim president was the speaker of the outgoing parliament (whose replacement was annulled), Nino Burjanadze. On January 4, 2004 Mikhail Saakashvili, leader of the United National Movement (UNM) won the country's presidential election and was inaugurated on January 25. Fresh parliamentary elections are expected in March.

Subdivisions

Georgia is divided into 53 provinces, 12 cities and three autonomous republics.

Autonomous republics: Abkhazia, Ajaria, South Ossetia.
Cities: Chiatura, Batumi, Gori, Kutaisi, Poti, Rustavi, Sokhumi, Tbilisi, Tkibuli, Tskaltubo, Tskhinvali, Zugdidi
Provinces: Districts of Abasha, Adigeni, Akhalgora, Akhaltsikhe, Akhmeta, Ambrolauri, Aspindza, Baghdati, Bolnisi, Borjomi, Chkhorotsku, Chokhatauri, Dedoplistskaro, Dmanisi, Dusheti, Gardabani, Gurjaani, Java, Kareli, Kaspi, Kharagauli, Khashuri, Khobi, Khoni, Lagodekhi, Lanchkhuti, Lentekhi, Marneuli, Martvili, Mestia, Mtskheta, Ninotsminda, Oni, Ozurgeti, Kazbegi, Kvareli, Sachkhere, Sagarejo, Samtredia, Senaki, Sighnagi,Telavi, Terjola, Tetritskaro, Tianeti, Tsageri, Tsalenjikha, Tsalka, Vani, Zestaponi, Zugdidi

• ISO 3166-2 codes for regions and autonomous republics of Georgia

Former Flag

Geography

In the north, Georgia has a 723km common border with Russia, specifically with the Northern Caucasus federal district. The following Russian republics/subdivisions - from west to east - border Georgia: Krasnodar Region, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Alania, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan.

Main cities:

• Tbilisi (1,200,000, metro area 1,400,000)
• Kutaisi (270,000)

Economy

Demographics

• Religion and religious freedom in Georgia
• South Ossetia

Culture

Holidays

Date	English Name	Local Name	Remarks

Miscellaneous topics

• Georgian people
• Communications in Georgia
• Transportation in Georgia
• Military of Georgia
• List of Georgians
• Georgian Academy of Sciences
• Tbilisi State University
• Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church
• Georgian National Section of EUROSCIENCE

External links and references

• CIA World Factbook 2000
• Parliament of Georgia
• Visit Georgia tourist agency country information
• Map of cities

Referenced By