Georgia (country)

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Georgia, known from 1990-1995 as the Republic of Georgia, is a country to the east of the Black Sea in the south Caucasus. A former republic of the Soviet Union, it shares borders with Russia in the north and Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan in the south.

საქართველო
Sak'artvelo

Flag of Georgia (the country in the Caucasus) Georgia Coat of Arms
In Detail) )

National motto:

Location of Georgia

Official language Georgian
Capital and
largest city Tbilisi
Capital's coordinates 41° 43' N, 44° 48' E
President Mikhail Saakashvili
Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania
Speaker of the Parliament Nino Burjanadze
Area
- Total
- % water Ranked 118th
69,700 kmÃÂÃÂ²
Negligible
Population
- Total (2003Estimation>E)
- Density Ranked 111th
4,934,413
71/kmÃÂÃÂ²
Independence
From Soviet Union
9 April 1991
Currency Lari (ISO 4217>GEL)
Time zone UTC +4 (DST +5)
National anthem Dideba zetsit kurtheuls
Internet TLD .ge
Calling Code 995

Table of contents

1 History
2 Politics
3 Subdivisions
4 Name Origin
5 Former Flag
6 Geography
7 Economy
8 Demographics
9 Culture
10 Miscellaneous topics
11 External links and references

History

Main article: History of Georgia

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 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

Main article: Politics of Georgia See also Foreign relations of Georgia

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 National Movement - Democrats (NMD) (former United National Movement) won the country's presidential election and was inaugurated on January 25. Fresh parliamentary elections are expected in March.

Subdivisions

Main article: Subdivisions of Georgia

Georgia is divided into 53 provinces, 11 cities and 2 autonomous republics.

Autonomous republics: Abkhazia, Ajaria.
Cities: Chiatura, Batumi, Gori, Kutaisi, Poti, Rustavi, Sokhumi, Tbilisi, Tkibuli, Tskaltubo, Tskhinvali
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

Name Origin

Georgians do not call themselves Georgians but Kartvelebi, their land Sakartvelo, and their language Kartuli. These names are derived from a pagan god called Kartlos, said to be the father of all Georgians. The foreign name Georgia, used throughout Western Europe, is mistakenly believed to come from the country's patron saint, St. George. Actually it is derived from the names Kurj or Gurj, by which they are known to the Arabs and modern Persians. Another theory purports that the name comes from the Greek geo (earth), because when the Greeks came to Georgia they saw the Georgians working the land. The Classical world knew the inhabitants of eastern Georgia as Iberians, thus confusing the geographers of antiquity who thought this name applied only to the inhabitants of Spain. [1]

Former Flag

In use from 1991 to January 25, 2004. Also previously used from 1918 to 1921.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Georgia

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 Krai, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Alania, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan.

Main cities:

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

Map of Georgia (the country in the Caucasus)

Economy

Main article: Economy of Georgia

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Georgia

Culture

Main article: Culture of Georgia See also Georgian language

Miscellaneous topics

External links and references

CIA World Factbook
Parliament of Georgia
Visit Georgia tourist agency country information
Tedsnet.de - Fotos, Geografie, Maps, Culture
Map of cities
http://www.marxist.com/Asia/georgia_letter.html - A student's report on the 2003 revolution

Southwest Asia

Commonwealth of Independent States