[187] As of 2015[update], 31 Georgian servicemen have died in Afghanistan,[188] most during the Helmand campaign. [313], In addition to traditional religious organizations, Georgia retains secular and irreligious segments of society (0.5 per cent),[314] as well as a significant portion of religiously affiliated individuals who do not actively practice their faith. Alexander Mikaberidze wrote that these century-old explanations for the word Georgia/Georgians are rejected by the scholarly community, who point to the Persian word gur/gurn (, 'wolf'[17]) as the root of the word. Combined population of urban (23,433 in 1922) and rural (2,326 in 1917) communities. [231], Slightly more than 6,500 species of fungi, including lichen-forming species, have been recorded from Georgia,[232][233] but this number is far from complete. 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. Healthcare costs are a major financial burden for the transition economies, which have experienced rapidly increasing demand for healthcare services. Romans erected the statue of the Iberian King Pharsman after he demonstrated Georgian training methods during his visit to Rome; Georgia's secession from the Soviet Union, democratic and economic reforms aimed at integration, first countries in the world to legalize cannabis, Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Tensions between Georgia and Russia began escalating, ethnic cleansing against Georgians in South Ossetia, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Role of Georgia in the War in Afghanistan (20012021), Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, Administrative divisions of Georgia (country), International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2014 General Population Census Main Results, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, secular and irreligious segments of society, one of the oldest wine-producing countries, Index of Georgia (country)-related articles, " ", "2014 General Population Census Main Results General Information National Statistics Office of Georgia", "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2022", "GINI index (World Bank estimate) Georgia", "2014 General Population Census Main Results", "Consolidating Parliamentary Democracy in Georgia", "U.S. and Allies Blame Russia for Cyberattack on Republic of Georgia", "Now that's what you call a real vintage: professor unearths 8,000-year-old wine", "Evidence of ancient wine found in Georgia a vintage quaffed some 6,000 years BC", The Gold Mine of Sakdrisi and Earliest Mining and Metallurgy in the Transcausus and the Kura-Valley System, "UNESCO Ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making method", "Georgia iii. Iranian elements in Georgian art and archeology", Ethnic tensions: War in the Caucasus is Stalin's legacy, "Georgian World War II hero's remains return home". 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). Free shipping for many products! In politics, communist parties have absolute power over governance, and elections are single-party affairs. [287] On the basis of that back-projection, Geostat has corrected its data for these years. They never reached Georgia, however, and almost 700,000 Georgians fought in the Red Army to repel the invaders and advance towards Berlin. The Likhi Range divides the country into eastern and western halves. [248], Since coming to power the Saakashvili administration accomplished a series of reforms aimed at improving tax collection. Most countries consider the regions to be Georgian territory under Russian occupation. [194] The police introduced a 0-2-2 (currently, 1-1-2) emergency dispatch service in 2004. Towards 778, Leon II (r. 780828) won his full independence with the help of the Khazars and was crowned as the king of Abkhazia. Heraclius, who had risen to prominence through the Iranian ranks, was awarded the crown of Kakheti by Nader himself in 1744 for his loyal service to him. [351] The shipment of counterfeit wine has been primarily channelled through Russian managed customs checkpoints in Russian occupied Georgian territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where no inspection and regulation occurs. Lore-based theories were given by the traveller Jacques de Vitry, who explained the name's origin by the popularity of St. George amongst Georgians,[16] while traveller Jean Chardin thought that Georgia came from Greek ('tiller of the land'). 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. [200] Since 2016 the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index hovers around 56 out of 100 points. Total length of roads in Georgia, excluding the occupied territories, is 21,110 kilometres (13,120mi) and railways 1,576km (979mi). Georgian wine has been a contentious issue in recent relationships with Russia. [267] Other tourist attractions are Cave City, Ananuri Castle/Church, Sighnaghi and Mount Kazbek. The last Imeretian king and the last Georgian Bagrationi ruler, Solomon II, died in exile in 1815, after attempts to rally people against Russia and to enlist foreign support against the latter, had been in vain. [127], Different opinions exist regarding the degree of political freedom in Georgia. [151], Georgia maintains good relations with its direct neighbours Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, and is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Community of Democratic Choice, the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development[152] and the Asian Development Bank. Against the expectations of the then ruling United National Movement (UNM) of president Mikheil Saakashvili, the 6-party opposition coalition around newly found Georgian Dream won the parliamentary elections in October 2012, bringing an end to nine years of UNM rule and marking the first peaceful, electoral, transfer of power in Georgia. The Georgian language, the most pervasive of the Kartvelian languages, is not Indo-European, Turkic, or Semitic. Rugby is considered Georgia's national sport. [327], Georgian culture evolved over thousands of years from its foundations in the Iberian and Colchian civilizations. Its economy is growing at 5 percent per year, and the country ranks ahead of the United States in economic . 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. There are several architectural styles for castles, towers, fortifications and churches. The government of Georgia is carried out under a semi-presidential representative democracy. It borders Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Armenia and the Ottoman Empire to the south.. Edn 10. The Kartli line prevailed; in 888 Adarnase IV of Iberia (r. 888923) restored the indigenous royal authority dormant since 580. 9 min read. For example, the Khevsureti region of Georgia has three styles of wrestling. [135][136], In October 2013, Giorgi Margvelashvili, a candidate of the Georgian Dream party, won the presidential election. The extinction of the Iberian royal dynasties, such as Guaramids and the Chosroids,[42] and also the Abbasid preoccupation with their own civil wars and conflict with the Byzantine Empire, led to the Bagrationi family's growth in prominence. [118] In response to Russia's recognition, the Georgian government severed diplomatic relations with Russia. The region's weather patterns are influenced both by dry Caspian air masses from the east and humid Black Sea air masses from the west. Over. [173] The street leading to Tbilisi International Airport has since been dubbed George W. Bush Avenue. Country straddling Western Asia and Eastern Europe in the Caucusus, "Republic of Georgia" redirects here. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, Georgia emerged as an independent republic under German protection. [225] The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range is much higher in elevation than the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, with the highest peaks rising more than 5,000 metres (16,404ft) above sea level. Since the fall of the USSR in 1991, Georgia embarked on a major structural reform designed to transition to a free market economy. [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. Georgia currently has four international airports, the largest of which is by far Tbilisi International Airport, hub for Georgian Airways, which offers connections to many large European cities. [201], Human rights in Georgia are guaranteed by the country's constitution. The country has sizeable hydropower resources. [307] In the first half of the 4th century, Christianity was adopted as the state religion of Iberia (present-day Kartli, or eastern Georgia), following the missionary work of Saint Nino of Cappadocia. Christianity and the Georgian language are particularly important national identifiers. [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. [82], He was soon deposed in a bloody coup d'tat, from 22 December 1991 to 6 January 1992. Georgia: in the mountains of poetry 3rd rev. [298], The most widespread language group is the Kartvelian family, which includes Georgian, Svan, Mingrelian and Laz. However, subsequent Iranian and Ottoman invasions further weakened local kingdoms and regions. ", "NDI Poll: Economy Still Top Concern for Georgians; Support for NATO and EU Stable", "Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP)", "Lavrov: If Georgia Joins NATO, Relations Will Be Spoiled", "Russian FM Lavrov supports resumption of flights to Georgia as Georgians 'realised consequences' of June 20", "Europe | Bush praises Georgian democracy", "Visas: Council confirms agreement on visa liberalisation for Georgia", "Visas: Council adopts regulation on visa liberalisation for Georgians", "Georgia's PM Signs Application to Join the EU", "MoD Releases Details on Georgian Troops Wounded in May 13 Helmand Attack", "Georgia deploying 750 soldiers to Afghanistan", "Why Georgia sends troops to Afghanistan", "Georgian Soldier Succumbs to Injuries Suffered in Afghanistan", "Firing of traffic police force stands as a symbol of hope in Georgia | McClatchy", "Georgia's National Police Corruption Project", Building security in the Republic of Georgia, "Remarks by President Saakashvili at the CIS Summit in Tbilisi", "How Georgia Stamped Out Corruption on Campus", "Lessons from Georgia's fight against graft", "Georgia's Fight Against Corruption in Public Services Wins Praise", "Georgia's anti-corruption reforms stall amid political crisis and allegations of state capture", "Alternative report on the implementation by Georgia of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the region of Kvemo Kartli Tbilisi, 2008 p. 5859", "US, Britain, call for probe into May 26 events in Georgia", "Georgia: Police Used Excessive Force on Peaceful Protests | Human Rights Watch", "Tbilisi Mayor's Offers Protesters Alternative Venues for Rally", "Georgian Police Say 2 Killed in Protest Dispersal", "Audio, Video Recordings Implicate Protest Leaders to 'Plotting Violence', "Thousands gather for street protests against Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili", "PM Strongly Against of Marijuana Decriminalization", "Fighting back against Georgia's war on drugs", "Georgian Court Abolishes Fines For Marijuana Consumption", "Human Rights in the Occupied Territories of Georgia", "Abkhazia, S. Ossetia Formally Declared Occupied Territory", "The Law of Georgia on Occupied Territories (431-IIs)", 'Caucasus (region and mountains, Eurasia)', "Dramatic Double Sturgeon Discovery in Georgia", "Cybertruffle's Robigalia Observations of fungi and their associated organisms", "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm", "Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity Supplementary Material", "U.S. Energy Informationa Administration "World Hydroelectricity Installed Capacity", "World Integrates Trade Solution Country Snapshot Georgia", "Briefing note for countries on the 2020 Human Development Report", "Briefing note for countries on the 2020 Human Development Report": Figure 1: Trends in Georgia's HDI component indices 20002019, Flat taxes could be a flash in the pan, IMF research says, "Frequently Asked Questions: I. But the nonprofit organization was accused in Georgia courts of being a communist front, and King's inner circle considered it radical. Between 6001,000 metres (1,9693,281ft) above sea level, the deciduous forest becomes mixed with both broad-leaf and coniferous species making up the plant life. 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. [315], The education system of Georgia has undergone sweeping, though controversial, modernisation since 2004. Gamsakhurdia stoked Georgian nationalism and vowed to assert Tbilisi's authority over regions such as Abkhazia and South Ossetia that had been classified as autonomous within the Georgian SSR. Also, the population registration system from birth to death was non-functional. [82] Eduard Shevardnadze (Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1985 to 1991) returned to Georgia in 1992. [220] Georgia considers the regions as occupied by Russia. Additionally, Eastern European countries, especially former communist countries, have become the target of state-sponsored disinformation and propaganda, seeking to exploit societal and cultural wedge issues and strengthen extremist groups. [15] Georgia probably stems from the Persian designation of the Georgians gurn, in the 11th and 12th centuries adapted via Syriac gurz-n/gurz-iyn and Arabic uran/urzan. [260][261][262][263], Tourism is an increasingly significant part of the Georgian economy. 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. It was not until around 2010 that parts of the system became reliable again. 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). Georgia adopted Christianity in 334, when King Mirian III of Kartli-Iberia, following the instructions of Saint Nino of Cappadocia, declared it the state religion. [76] Georgia would remain an unindustrialized periphery of the USSR until the first five-year plan when it became a major centre for textile goods. Georgia is the official host country at ITB Berlin 2023. [132] The transition was set to start with the October 2012 parliamentary elections and to be completed with the 2013 presidential elections. [77] Stalin was to rise to the highest position, leading the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death on 5 March 1953. [341], Television, magazines, and newspapers in Georgia are all operated by both state-owned and for-profit corporations which depend on advertising, subscription, and other sales-related revenues. and Romans (Titus Livius, Tacitus, etc.) [321] Gross primary enrolment ratio was 117 per cent for the period of 20122014, the 2nd highest in Europe after Sweden. In 2005, the agreement on the appointment of Partnership for Peace (PfP) liaison officer between Georgia and NATO came into force, whereby a liaison officer for the South Caucasus was assigned to Georgia. Georgian is the primary language of 87.7 per cent of the population, followed by 6.2 per cent speaking Azerbaijani, 3.9 per cent Armenian, 1.2 per cent Russian, and 1 per cent other languages. George V was the last great king of the unified Georgian state. [167] The majority of Georgians and politicians in Georgia support the push for NATO membership. [191][192] A new force was then subsequently built around new recruits. [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. In 2016, 2,714,773 tourists brought approximately US$2.16billion to the country. 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? 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. [34], After the Roman Republic completed its brief conquest of what is now Georgia in 66 BC, the area became a primary objective of what would eventually turn out to be over 700 years of protracted Irano-Roman geo-political rivalry and warfare. [344] The Georgian folk song "Chakrulo" was one of 27 musical compositions included on the Voyager Golden Records that were sent into space on Voyager 2 on 20 August 1977. On the other hand, Georgia, the country in the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia, is a sovereign state. 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). [174] On 2 October 2006, Georgia and the European Union signed a joint statement on the agreed text of the GeorgiaEuropean Union Action Plan within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). 1955 - Warsaw Treaty Organisation, or Warsaw Pact, set up. Ca. This country held its first democratic republic elections in 1990. [235] 1,729 species of plants have been recorded from Georgia in association with fungi. According to United Nations data, this totalled 625,000 by 2000, declining to 450,000 by 2019. As a result of incessant OttomanPersian Wars and deportations, the population of Georgia dwindled to 784,700 inhabitants at the end of the 18th century. Georgia's decision to boost its presence in the coalition forces in Iraq was an important initiative. According to the 1926 census there were 27,728 Jews in Georgia. [252] In 2015, the average monthly income of a household was 1,022.3 (about $426). [226] The wettest periods generally occur during spring and autumn, while winter and summer months tend to be the driest. [138] Ivanishvili has since been called the informal leader of Georgia, arranging political reappointments from behind the scenes. Georgia's Five Cross Flag. GCP 0001-01-01. With the death of Nader Shah in 1747, both kingdoms broke free of Iranian control and were reunified through a personal union under the energetic king Heraclius II in 1762. One of the most famous late 19th/early 20th century Georgian artists was primitivist painter Niko Pirosmani. After obtaining independence for the state, the matter of church independence became the main problem. Other popular sports in 19th century Georgia were polo, and Lelo, a traditional Georgian game very similar to rugby. Mingrelia, although a Russian protectorate since 1803, was not absorbed until 1867.[72]. It was an "official" reason, but instability of economic relations with Russia is well known, as they use the economic ties for political purposes. Phoenix: The Peoples of the Hills: Ancient Ararat and Caucasus by Charles Burney, David Marshall Lang, Phoenix Press; New edition (31 December 2001), Thomas Stllner, Irina Gambaschidze (2014). After his death, local rulers fought for their independence from central Georgian rule, until the total disintegration of the Kingdom in the 15th century.
