Georgia

National name: Sak’art’velo

Government Republic.

Geography
Georgia is bordered by the Black Sea in the west, by Turkey and Armenia in the south, by Azerbaijan in the east, and Russia in the north. The republic also includes the Abkhazia and Ajara autonomous republics and South Ossetia.

Historical Background
The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli- Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th- 13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement Party. Two civil conflicts resulted in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These two territories remain outside the control of the central government and are ruled by de facto, unrecognized governments, supported by Russia. In 2008, Saakashvili won the election, taking 52.8% of the vote, enough to avoid a runoff. Voters also voted in a referendum in favor of joining NATO.

Facts & Figures

Name 

Georgia

Capital 

Tbilisi

Government

Unitary semi-presidential republic

Language

Georgian

Race/Ethnicity

83.8% Georgian, 6.5% Azeri, 5.7% Armenian, 1.5% Russian, 2.5% others

Religion

(83.9%) Christian

Area

69,700 km2

Population

4,636,400

Currency

Lari (GEL)