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| National motto: | |||||
| Official language | Georgian language | ||||
| Capital and largest city | Tbilisi | ||||
| Capital's coordinates | 41° 43' N, 44° 48' E | ||||
| President | Nino Burjanadze | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 118th 69,700 kmē Negligible | ||||
| Population - Total (2003E) - Density | Ranked 111th 4,934,413 71/kmē | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| Table of contents |
|
2 Politics 3 Subdivisions 4 Former Flag 5 Geography 6 Economy 7 Demographics 8 Culture 9 Miscellaneous topics 10 External links and references |
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.
The elections of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia of October 28, 1990 were the first democratic, multiparty parliamentary elections in the Caucasus. 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.
Following a crisis involving allegations of ballot fraud, Eduard Shevardnadze resigned as President on November 23, 2003. The interim president is 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 is due to be inaugurated on January 25. Fresh parliamentary elections are expected in March.
Georgia is divided into 53 provinces, 12 cities and two autonomous republics.
Autonomous republics: Abkhazia, Ajaria.
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:
History
Main article: History of GeorgiaPolitics
Main article: Politics of Georgia
See also Foreign relations of GeorgiaSubdivisions
Main article: Subdivisions of Georgia
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, ZugdidiFormer Flag
Geography
Main article: Geography of GeorgiaEconomy
Main article: Economy of GeorgiaDemographics
Main article: Demographics of GeorgiaCulture
Main article: Culture of Georgia
See also Georgian language
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
Miscellaneous topics
External links and references