Healthcare costs are a major financial burden for the transition economies, which have experienced rapidly increasing demand for healthcare services. One of the most famous late 19th/early 20th century Georgian artists was primitivist painter Niko Pirosmani. 9 also warned of "color revolution." This term originated in the first decade of this century, when a series of antiauthoritarian popular uprisings in former Soviet states became known by colorful names, including Georgia's Rose Revolution (2003), Ukraine's Orange Revolution (2004), and Kyrgyzstan's Tulip Revolution (2005). [207][209], Since independence, Georgia maintained harsh policies against drugs, handing out lengthy sentences even for marijuana use. [87], 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. It was registered at the Ministry of Justice on 27 February 1998. In 19181919, Georgian general Giorgi Mazniashvili led an attack against the White Army led by Moiseev and Denikin in order to claim the Black Sea coastline from Tuapse to Sochi and Adler for the independent Georgia. Peter Lang. In politics, communist parties have absolute power over governance, and elections are single-party affairs. Ever since its turbulent founding in 1918, Georgia has been highly dependent on the German Empire, the primary nation guaranteeing Georgian independence. In preparation for the 2012 parliamentary elections, Georgia implemented constitutional reforms to switch to a parliamentary democracy, moving executive powers from the President to the Prime Minister. [281][c] The Georgian Jews are one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. [168], In 2011, the North Atlantic Council designated Georgia as an "aspirant country". COVID-19 Travel restrictions for Georgia As of June 15th 2022, Citizens of any foreign countries, traveling to Georgia via any route, are no longer obliged to present either Covid-vaccination certificate or PCR-examination negative result For more information, visit the Georgia official governmental site. Other notable basketball players are two times Euroleague champion Giorgi Shermadini and Euroleague players Manuchar Markoishvili and Viktor Sanikidze. [18] The name Sakartvelo () consists of two parts. renovate or repair 4,400 homes in 14 countries. Officially autonomous within Georgia,[216] the de facto independent region of Abkhazia declared independence in 1999. The federation consisted of three nations: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. [229] A number of large carnivores live in the forests, namely Brown bears, wolves, lynxes and Caucasian Leopards. On the other hand, Georgia, the country in the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia, is a sovereign state. "Dictionary of the Fungi". The country encompasses an area of 69,700 square km. [354], Within Georgia, one of the most popularized styles of wrestling is the Kakhetian style. This period during the reigns of David IV (r. 10891125) and his great-granddaughter Tamar (r. 11841213) has been widely termed as Georgia's Golden Age or the Georgian Renaissance. [50], The 29-year reign of Tamar, the first female ruler of Georgia, is considered the most successful in Georgian history. Other examples of Georgian ecclesiastic architecture can be found outside Georgia: Bachkovo Monastery in Bulgaria (built in 1083 by the Georgian military commander Grigorii Bakuriani), Iviron monastery in Greece (built by Georgians in the 10th century), and the Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem (built by Georgians in the 9th century). [93][96][97][98][99], On 7 August 2008, Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili announced a unilateral ceasefire and called for peace talks. Greene said that she became a member of Congress in January while "raging against this system, refusing to back down and calling out communism." The congresswoman urged Republicans to oppose the. [226], At higher elevations above 1,000 metres (3,281ft) above sea level (particularly in the Tusheti, Khevsureti, and Khevi regions), pine and birch forests dominate. The 2014 census, carried out in collaboration with the United 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. The zone is made up mainly of beech, spruce, and fir forests. A period of unrest ensued, which ended as Abkhazia and eastern Georgian states were unified under a single Georgian monarchy, ruled by King Bagrat III of Georgia (r. 9751014), due largely to the diplomacy and conquests of his energetic foster-father David III of Tao (r. 9661001). [270] Passenger services are operated by the state-owned Georgian Railway whilst freight operations are carried out by a number of licensed operators. Gold, silver, copper and iron have been mined in the Caucasus Mountains. An Arab incursion into western Georgia led by Marwan II, was repelled by Leon I (r. 720740) jointly with his Lazic and Iberian allies in 736. The Kingdom of Georgia reached its zenith in the 12th to early 13th centuries. According to United Nations data, this totalled 625,000 by 2000, declining to 450,000 by 2019. The incorporation of the Golden Fleece into the myth may have derived from the local practice of using fleeces to sift gold dust from rivers. The country plans to host 11 million visitors by 2025 with annual revenues reaching US$6.6 billion. [83], During the War in Abkhazia (19921993), roughly 230,000 to 250,000 Georgians[84] were expelled from Abkhazia by Abkhaz separatists and North Caucasian volunteers (including Chechens). Georgian Jews trace the history of their community to the 6th century BC;[citation needed] their numbers have dwindled in the last decades due to high levels of immigration to Israel. [12][13] It is a developing country with a very high Human Development Index. [215], Georgia contains two official autonomous regions, of which one has declared independence. Total length of roads in Georgia, excluding the occupied territories, is 21,110 kilometres (13,120mi) and railways 1,576km (979mi). [145], On 31 October 2020, the ruling Georgian Dream again led by Bidzina Ivanishvili secured over 48% of votes in the parliamentary election under a different electoral system. For example, in its 2017 report, Council of Europe observed that while most day-to-day corruption has been eliminated, there are some indications of a "clientelistic system" whereby the country's leadership may allocate resources in ways that generate the loyalty and support it needs to stay in power. During the classical era, several independent kingdoms became established in what is now Georgia, such as Colchis and Iberia. [271] 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. The political struggle for control over the public broadcaster have left it without a direction in 2014 too. 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 the 1 (S1), the main eastwest highway through the country. The southern portion of the country is bounded by the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. [253] 2015 calculations place Georgia's nominal GDP at US$13.98billion. The 1989 census recorded 341,000 ethnic Russians, or 6.3 per cent of the population,[288] 52,000 Ukrainians and 100,000 Greeks in Georgia. [119] Russian forces left the buffer areas bordering Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 8 October, and the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia was dispatched to the buffer areas. [264] In 2019, the number of international arrivals reached a record high of 9.3 million people[265] with foreign exchange income in the year's first three quarters amounting to over US$3 billion. A communist state, also known as a Marxist-Leninist state, is a one-party state that is administered and governed by a communist party guided by Marxism-Leninism. The alphabet probably was created soon afterward to . [35][36] From the first centuries AD, the cult of Mithras, pagan beliefs, and Zoroastrianism were commonly practised in Georgia. Following the bloodless Rose Revolution in 2003, Georgia strongly pursued a pro-Western foreign policy; it introduced a series of democratic and economic reforms aimed at integration into the European Union and NATO. Later, in 1936, the TSFSR was dissolved and Georgia emerged as a union republic: the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. By the 1980s, an independence movement emerged and grew quickly, leading to Georgia's secession from the Soviet Union in April 1991. The state of Georgia in the USA started as a royal colony of Great Britain in 1732. [294] 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%). Georgia was incorporated into the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, alongside Armenia and Azerbaijan, in 1921 which in 1922 would become a founding member of the Soviet Union. [25][26], The territory of modern-day Georgia was inhabited by Homo erectus since the Paleolithic Era. In 1121, he decisively defeated much larger Turkish armies during the Battle of Didgori and liberated Tbilisi. Since the fall of the USSR in 1991, Georgia embarked on a major structural reform designed to transition to a free market economy. He also conducts the highly philosophical toasts, and makes sure that everyone is enjoying themselves. [108] Tskhinvali was seized by the Russian military by 10 August. This made it easy for the remaining Georgian realms to fall victim to the early Muslim conquests in the 7th century. "It's a communist regime. For most of the subsequent decade, post-Soviet Georgia suffered from economic crisis, political instability, ethnic conflict, and secessionist wars in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. [79] Georgia was the first non-Baltic republic of the Soviet Union to officially declare independence. [217] In addition, another territory not officially autonomous has also declared independence. [310], The special status of the Georgian Orthodox Church is officially recognized in the Constitution of Georgia and the Concordat of 2002, although religious institutions are separate from the state. [31][347][348][349] Local traditions associated with wine are entwined with its national identity. [61] Despite a punitive campaign subsequently launched against Qajar Iran in 1796, this period culminated in the 1801 Russian violation of the Treaty of Georgievsk and annexation of eastern Georgia, followed by the abolition of the royal Bagrationi dynasty, as well as the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church. [256] 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. Despite these increasingly difficult relations, in May 2005 Georgia and Russia reached a bilateral agreement[90] by which Russian military bases (dating back to the Soviet era) in Batumi and Akhalkalaki were withdrawn. [311], Despite the long history of religious harmony in Georgia,[312] there have been instances of religious discrimination and violence against "nontraditional faiths", such as Jehovah's Witnesses, by followers of the defrocked Orthodox priest Basil Mkalavishvili. [357], Basketball was always one of the notable sports in Georgia, and Georgia had a few very famous Soviet Union national team members, such as Otar Korkia, Mikheil Korkia, Zurab Sakandelidze and Levan Moseshvili. [290][289] Other factors in the population decline include birth-death deficits for the period 19952010 and the exclusion of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from the statistics. [169] Since 2014, GeorgiaNATO relations are guided by the Substantial NATOGeorgia Package (SNGP), which includes the NATOGeorgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre and facilitation of multi-national and regional military drills. 1. [65][66] The Bagrationi royal family was deported from the kingdom. Georgian territory under central control in dark green; The country's name likely derives from Persian, Largest cities or towns in Georgia (country). Temur Pipia (TP): Since 2011, a law under the title "Charter of Freedom" has been in force in Georgia. The Democratic Republic of Georgia and its territorial losses after the Soviet invasion After occupation of Georgia by Lenin Russia, Communists began to depress the rival forces and to. As result of the mixed proportional-majoritarian system, with a threshold of 5% for the proportional vote and redefined majoritarian districts, only four parties entered parliament, with the Georgian Dream party gaining a constitutional majority of 77% (+36 seats). [225] Historically, the western portion of Georgia was known as Colchis while the eastern plateau was called Iberia.[226]. In 1783, one of the Georgian kingdoms entered into an alliance with the Russian Empire, which proceeded to annex the territory of modern Georgia in a piecemeal fashion throughout the 19th century. Joseph Stalin, an ethnic Georgian born Iosif Vissarionovich Jugashvili ( ) in Gori, was prominent among the Bolsheviks. Despite the revitalization of the Iberian monarchy, remaining Georgian lands were divided among rival authorities, with Tbilisi remaining in Arab hands. [351], The most popular sports in Georgia are football, basketball, rugby union, wrestling, judo, and weightlifting. [266] According to the government, there are 103 resorts in different climatic zones in Georgia. Supported by a powerful military lite, Tamar was able to build on the successes of her predecessors to consolidate an empire which dominated the Caucasus, and extended over large parts of present-day Azerbaijan, Armenia, and eastern Turkey as well as parts of northern Iran,[53] until its collapse under the Mongol attacks within two decades after Tamar's death in 1213.[54]. [343], Georgia has an ancient musical tradition, which is primarily known for its early development of polyphony. Beginning in 2007, politicians here have been debating whether or not to change the governmental framework to a constitutional monarchy. For the U.S. state, see. [78] The Georgian uprising on Texel against the Germans was the last battle of the Second World War in Europe. The country covers an area of 69,700 square kilometres (26,900sqmi), and has a population of 3.7 million people. [citation needed] The general landscape of eastern Georgia comprises numerous valleys and gorges that are separated by mountains. The species number of invertebrates is considered to be very high but data is distributed across a high number of publications. [225] Out of the abovementioned peaks, only Kazbek is of volcanic origin. Qiushi 0001-01-01. Georgia, or officially called the Democratic Republic of Georgia, is a country in the Southern Caucasus. About 86.8% of the population of Georgia comprises of ethnic Georgians. The Kingdom of Georgia collapsed into anarchy by 1466 and fragmented into three independent kingdoms and five semi-independent principalities. The 2010 Russian census recorded about 158,000 ethnic Georgians living in Russia,[293] with approximately 40,000 living in Moscow by 2014. Georgia . A bitter civil war and feudal revolts which began under Demetrius III (r. 967975) led the kingdom into complete anarchy under the unfortunate king Theodosius III the Blind (r. 975978). Top 10 Georgia country facts. Meanwhile in Georgia, the communists terrorized dissidents, abolished democratic freedoms and persecuted the Church. [319], 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). [277], Like most native Caucasian peoples, the Georgians do not fit into any of the main ethnic categories of Europe or Asia. [346], Georgia is one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world. The Georgian envoy in Saint Petersburg reacted with a note of protest that was presented to the Russian vice-chancellor Prince Kurakin. [337], The Georgian language, and the Classical Georgian literature of the poet Shota Rustaveli, were revived in the 19th century after a long period of turmoil, laying the foundations of the romantics and novelists of the modern era such as Grigol Orbeliani, Nikoloz Baratashvili, Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, and Vazha-Pshavela. Those who disagreed were temporarily arrested. [225] The area can be split into two separate sub-regions; the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, which run parallel to the Greater Caucasus Range, and the Southern Georgia Volcanic Highland. [122][123] Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Georgia has topped the list of countries which Russian exiles departed to after the war began; Russians are allowed to stay in Georgia for at least one year without a visa, though many Georgians view the presence of more Russian citizens in Georgia as a security risk.[124]. [228], Much of western Georgia lies within the northern periphery of the humid subtropical zone with annual precipitation ranging from 1,0002,500mm (3998in), reaching a maximum during the Autumn months. The revival of the Kingdom of Georgia was set back after Tbilisi was captured and destroyed by the Khwarezmian leader Jalal ad-Din in 1226. S. Neil MacFarlane, Centre for International Relations, Queen's University, 1997, "Georgia/Abchasia: Violations of the laws of war and Russia's role in the conflict", "Russia The IngushOssetian conflict in the Prigorodnyi region", "EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight Georgia's Rose Revolution: Momentum and Consolidation", "Russia Hands Over Batumi Military Base to Georgia", Russia's retention of Gudauta base An unfulfilled CFE treaty commitment, "Countdown in the Caucasus: Seven days that brought Russia and Georgia to war", "Georgia calls on EU for independent inquiry into war", "Russia resurgent? Lake Paliastomi area). 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. It was not until around 2010 that parts of the system became reliable again. [239] Throughout Georgia's modern history agriculture and tourism have been principal economic sectors, because of the country's climate and topography. "[128] In their 2022 report[update] Freedom House lists Georgia as a partly free country, recognizing a trajectory of democratic improvement surrounding the 201213 transfer of power, yet observing a gradual backslide in later years. [14] At the early stage of its appearance in the Latin world, it was not always written in the same transliteration, and the first consonant was being spelt with J as Jorgia. Georgia was incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic after 25 February 1921 when the Red Army entered its capital Tbilisi and installed a communist government led by Georgian Bolshevik Filipp Makharadze. The party was led by Panteleimon Giorgadze. The head of supra is known as tamada. This came under criticism from human rights activists[210] and led to protests. [235] 1,729 species of plants have been recorded from Georgia in association with fungi. For much of the 20th century, Georgia's economy was within the Soviet model of command economy. Country straddling Western Asia and Eastern Europe in the Caucusus, "Republic of Georgia" redirects here. In Greek mythology, Colchis was the location of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts in Apollonius Rhodius' epic tale Argonautica. In 1992 Burkhard Herbote, a VP for the World Tourism . 888 pp., Tbilisi, Academy of Science of the Georgian SSR, 1986, Kirk, P.M., Cannon, P.F., Minter, D.W. and Stalpers, J. By the late 19th century, discontent with the Russian authorities grew into a national revival movement led by Ilia Chavchavadze. Georgia's decision to boost its presence in the coalition forces in Iraq was an important initiative. Scheduled and chartered passenger ferry services link Georgia with Bulgaria,[276] Romania, Turkey and Ukraine. 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. One of the most unusual traditions of dining is supra, or Georgian table, which is also a way of socializing with friends and family. In general, the forests in eastern Georgia occur between 5002,000 metres (1,6406,562ft) above sea level, with the alpine zone extending from 2,0002,300 to 3,0003,500 metres (6,5627,546 to 9,84311,483ft). 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. [117] Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as separate republics on 26 August. In 2010, Transparency International (TI) named Georgia "the best corruption-buster in the world. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has called on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to oppose a federal takeover of elections and support election law reforms. Among other things a flat income tax was introduced in 2004. Georgia has become more integrated into the global trading network: its 2015 imports and exports account for 50% and 21% of GDP respectively. [327], Georgian culture evolved over thousands of years from its foundations in the Iberian and Colchian civilizations. However, subsequent Iranian and Ottoman invasions further weakened local kingdoms and regions. [59], In 1783, Russia and the eastern Georgian Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti signed the Treaty of Georgievsk, by which Georgia abjured any dependence on Persia or another power, and made the kingdom a protectorate of Russia, which guaranteed Georgia's territorial integrity and the continuation of its reigning Bagrationi dynasty in return for prerogatives in the conduct of Georgian foreign affairs. Marxism-Leninism was the state ideology of the Soviet Union, the Comintern after Bolshevisation and the communist states within the Comecon, the Eastern Bloc, and the Warsaw Pact. ["Flora of Spore Producing Plants of Georgia (Summary)"]. Georgia's moderate climate and moist air, influenced by the Black Sea, provide the best conditions for vine cultivation. But the recognition proved to be of little value, as the Red Army led by Joseph Stalin invaded Georgia in 1921 and formally annexed it into the Soviet Union in 1922.[73]. [222], Georgia is a mountainous country situated almost entirely in the South Caucasus, while some slivers of the country are situated north of the Caucasus Watershed in the North Caucasus. [281][c] The population declined by 40,000 in 2021, a reversal of the trend towards stabilisation of the last decade and, for the first time since independence, the population was recorded to be below 3.7 million. Current Communist Countries: China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. 'Kartvelians'), first attested in the Umm Leisun inscription found in the Old City of Jerusalem. [316][317] Education in Georgia is mandatory for all children aged 614. [275] There are a number of seaports along Georgia's Black Sea coast, the largest and most busy of which is the Port of Batumi; whilst 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. The only remaining large, low-land forests remain in the Alazani Valley of Kakheti. 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. The large cross is the cross of St George, the patron saint of Georgia. In August 2004, the Individual Partnership Action Plan of Georgia was submitted officially to NATO. 120 parliamentary seats were elected through proportional vote while 30 seats were elected through single mandate majoritarian constituencies. Access to higher education is given to students who have gained a secondary school certificate. Brief on Georgia. The present day Georgian or Kartvelian nation is thought to have resulted from the fusion of aboriginal, autochthonous inhabitants with immigrants who moved into South Caucasus from the direction of Anatolia in remote antiquity. [254] Georgia's economy is becoming more devoted to services (as of 2016[update], representing 59.4 per cent of GDP), moving away from the agricultural sector (6.1 per cent). Between 2000 and 2019, Georgia's HDI score improved by 17.7%. [329] Georgian culture was influenced by Classical Greece, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the various Iranian empires (notably the Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanian, Safavid, and Qajar empires),[330][331][332][333] and later, since the 19th century, by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. The party was founded on 23 February 1992 as the Socialist Labour Party. [223][224] The country lies between latitudes 41 and 44 N, and longitudes 40 and 47 E, with an area of 67,900km2 (26,216sqmi). [234] 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. [289] The population of Georgia, including the breakaway regions, has declined by more than 1 million due to net emigration in the period 19902010. [96] South Ossetian separatists began shelling Georgian villages on 1 August. The country is a member of international organizations, such as the Council of Europe, the OSCE, Eurocontrol, the EBRD, the BSEC, the GUAM, the ADB, the WTO, and the Energy Community. The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Dec. 21, 2022. [291] Initially the out-migration was driven by non-Georgian ethnicities but increasing numbers of Georgians emigrated as well,[292] due to the war, the crisis-ridden 1990s, and the subsequent bad economic outlook. Over. Two major rivers in Georgia are the Rioni and the Mtkvari. [139], In October 2016, the ruling party Georgian Dream won the parliamentary elections with 48.61 percent of the vote while the opposition United National Movement (UNM) gained 27.04 percent of the vote. [193], The new Patruli force was first introduced in the summer of 2005 to replace the traffic police, a force which was accused of widespread corruption. [21] Ancient Greeks (Strabo, Herodotus, Plutarch, Homer, etc.) [306][c] 0.7 per cent of those recorded in the 2014 census declared themselves to be adherents of other religions, 1.2 per cent refused or did not state their religion and 0.5 per cent declared no religion at all. [149] Garibashvili, who had an earlier term as prime minister in 201315, is known as a political hardliner. [58] Heraclius nevertheless stabilized Eastern Georgia to a degree in the ensuing period and was able to guarantee its autonomy throughout the Iranian Zand period. Georgia's Five Cross Flag. Western Georgia's landscape ranges from low-land marsh-forests, swamps, and temperate rainforests to eternal snows and glaciers, while the eastern part of the country even contains a small segment of semi-arid plains. As the largest faction, having secured 90 out of 150 seats, Georgian Dream formed the country's next government and continued to govern alone. Political tensions with Russia have contributed to the 2006 Russian embargo of Georgian wine, Russia claimed Georgia produced counterfeit wine. [22] The Georgian circumfix sa-X-o is a standard geographic construction designating 'the area where X dwell', where X is an ethnonym. (2002). Based on this law, 300 medals were confiscated by the Georgian Customs. Georgia ranked number 58 overall in the 2016 NRI ranking,[258] up from 60 in 2015. [306], Islam is represented by both Azerbaijani Shia Muslims (in the south-east) ethnic Georgian Sunni Muslims in Adjara, and Laz-speaking Sunni Muslims as well as Sunni Meskhetian Turks along the border with Turkey.