[citation needed] Three types of polyphony have developed in Georgia: a complex version in Svaneti, a dialogue over a bass background in the Kakheti region, and a three-part partially-improvised version in western Georgia. [253] 2015 calculations place Georgia's nominal GDP at US$13.98billion. Boeder; et al. [citation needed], Religious minorities of Georgia include Muslims (10.7 per cent), Armenian Christians (2.9 per cent) and Roman Catholics (0.5 per cent). Its economy is growing at 5 percent per year, and the country ranks ahead of the United States in economic . [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. The first exhibition of products made by STC Delta was in 1999. 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. According to the 1926 census there were 27,728 Jews in Georgia. The former communist countries of the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia needed to reform the financing of their healthcare systems and make efforts to strengthen the role of primary care while limiting the role of hospital care. Communist Party of Georgia ( Georgian: , Sakartvelos Komunisturi Partia) is a communist party in Georgia. [203], The government came under criticism for its alleged use of excessive force on 26 May 2011 when it dispersed protesters led by Nino Burjanadze, among others, with tear gas and rubber bullets after they refused to clear Rustaveli Avenue for an independence day parade despite the expiration of their demonstration permit and despite being offered to choose an alternative venue. [266] According to the government, there are 103 resorts in different climatic zones in Georgia. [166], Georgia is currently working to become a full member of NATO. Thereafter, the kingdom declined and eventually disintegrated under the hegemony of various regional powers, including the Mongols, the Turks, and various dynasties of Persia. [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. The opposition made accusations of fraud, which the Georgian Dream denied. [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. [289] The population of Georgia, including the breakaway regions, has declined by more than 1 million due to net emigration in the period 19902010. After obtaining independence for the state, the matter of church independence became the main problem. 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. [187] As of 2015[update], 31 Georgian servicemen have died in Afghanistan,[188] most during the Helmand campaign. This came under criticism from human rights activists[210] and led to protests. The medieval Georgian Chronicles present an eponymous ancestor of the Kartvelians, Kartlos, a great-grandson of Japheth. [225] Historically, the western portion of Georgia was known as Colchis while the eastern plateau was called Iberia.[226]. [345], Georgian cuisine and wine have evolved through the centuries, adapting traditions in each era. [47] The Golden age of Georgia left a legacy of great cathedrals, romantic poetry and literature, and the epic poem The Knight in the Panther's Skin, the latter which is considered a national epic. [270] Passenger services are operated by the state-owned Georgian Railway whilst freight operations are carried out by a number of licensed operators. [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. 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. "[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. The country then became embroiled in a bitter civil war, which lasted until nearly 1994. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains partially protect the region from the influence of dry and hot air masses from the south. [57] Eastern Georgia (Safavid Georgia), composed of the regions of Kartli and Kakheti, had been under Iranian suzerainty since 1555 following the Peace of Amasya signed with neighbouring rivalling Ottoman Turkey. [350] Among the best-known Georgian wine regions are Kakheti (further divided into the micro-regions of Telavi and Kvareli), Kartli, Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Adjara and Abkhazia. [12] [13] It is a developing country with a very high Human Development Index. [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). [308][309] The Church gained autocephaly during the early Middle Ages; it was abolished during the Russian domination of the country, restored in 1917 and fully recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1989. Georgia's Five Cross Flag. 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. [82] Eduard Shevardnadze (Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1985 to 1991) returned to Georgia in 1992. 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. One of the most famous late 19th/early 20th century Georgian artists was primitivist painter Niko Pirosmani. Government of Georgia. On 2 March 2005, the agreement was signed on the provision of the host nation support to and transit of NATO forces and NATO personnel. Salome Zurabishvili is the current President of Georgia after winning 59.52% of the vote in the 2018 Georgian presidential election. Access to higher education is given to students who have gained a secondary school certificate. 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. Other airports in the country are largely underdeveloped or lack scheduled traffic, although, as of late, efforts have been made to solve both these problems. 888 pp., Tbilisi, Academy of Science of the Georgian SSR, 1986, Kirk, P.M., Cannon, P.F., Minter, D.W. and Stalpers, J. [170], In September 2019, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that "NATO approaching our borders is a threat to Russia. 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. On 26 May 2012, Saakashvili inaugurated a new Parliament building in the western city of Kutaisi, in an effort to decentralize power and shift some political control closer to Abkhazia. "[171] He was quoted as saying that if NATO accepts Georgian membership with the article on collective defence covering only Tbilisi-administered territory (i.e., excluding the Georgian territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which are currently Russian-supported unrecognized breakaway republics), "we will not start a war, but such conduct will undermine our relations with NATO and with countries who are eager to enter the alliance. Zurabishvili was backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. [150], On 1 October 2021, former President Mikheil Saakashvili was arrested on his return from exile. [295][c], In the early 1990s, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, violent separatist conflicts broke out in the autonomous region of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region. [327], Georgian culture evolved over thousands of years from its foundations in the Iberian and Colchian civilizations. GCP, Unified Communist Party of Georgia . [267] Other tourist attractions are Cave City, Ananuri Castle/Church, Sighnaghi and Mount Kazbek. [226], The term Lesser Caucasus Mountains is often used to describe the mountainous (highland) areas of southern Georgia that are connected to the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range by the Likhi Range. [339][340], Georgia is known for its folklore, traditional music, dances, theatre, cinema, and art. The Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority Arms Control and International Security Arms Control and International Security Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation [241] Georgia's main imports are vehicles, ores, fossil fuels and farmaceuticals. 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. Towards 778, Leon II (r. 780828) won his full independence with the help of the Khazars and was crowned as the king of Abkhazia. [132] The transition was set to start with the October 2012 parliamentary elections and to be completed with the 2013 presidential elections. [18] Starting with the Persian word gur/gurn, the word was later adopted in numerous other languages, including Slavic and West European languages. [318][320] As of 2016[update], 75 higher education institutions are accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. Among other things a flat income tax was introduced in 2004. renovate or repair 4,400 homes in 14 countries. [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). New duties performed by the police include border security and customs functions and contracted security provision; the latter function is performed by the dedicated 'security police'. With the support of the UNFPA, the demographic data for the period 19942014 has been retro-projected. Rugby is considered Georgia's national sport. The penetration of humid air masses from the Black Sea is often blocked by mountain ranges (Likhi and Meskheti) that separate the eastern and western parts of the nation. [217] In addition, another territory not officially autonomous has also declared independence. Around 23,000 Georgians fled South Ossetia as well. [204][205][206][207] While human rights activists maintained that the protests were peaceful, the government pointed out that many protesters were masked and armed with heavy sticks and molotov cocktails. Communism is both a political system and an economic one. 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. Mingrelia, although a Russian protectorate since 1803, was not absorbed until 1867.[72]. The large cross is the cross of St George, the patron saint of Georgia. [318] The school system is divided into elementary (six years; ages 612), basic (three years; ages 1215), and secondary (three years; ages 1518), or alternatively vocational studies (two years). The civil war and military conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia aggravated the crisis. [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. Economic reforms since independence have led to higher levels of economic freedom, as well as reductions in corruption indicators, poverty, and unemployment. 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). p. 65. Those who disagreed were temporarily arrested. [citation needed], In 2005, President Mikheil Saakashvili fired the entire traffic police force (numbering around 30,000 police officers) of the Georgian National Police due to corruption. The country has sizeable hydropower resources. [334][335][336][337] This self-identity is stronger among the dominant ethnic Georgian population than in the country's minority groups. [12][13] It is a developing country with a very high Human Development Index. Ca. It was founded in June 1994 through the merger of the Stalin Society, the Georgian Workers Communist Party and the Union of Communists of Georgia. [185][186] Over 11,000 Georgian soldiers have been rotated through Afghanistan. [321] Gross primary enrolment ratio was 117 per cent for the period of 20122014, the 2nd highest in Europe after Sweden. Georgian territory under central control in dark green; The country's name likely derives from Persian, Largest cities or towns in Georgia (country). Based on this law, 300 medals were confiscated by the Georgian Customs. [153] Georgia also maintains political, economic, and military relations with France,[154] Germany,[155] Israel,[156] Japan,[157] South Korea,[158] Sri Lanka,[159] Turkey,[160] Ukraine,[161] the United States,[162] and many other countries. [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). In contrast with western Georgia, nearly 85 per cent of the forests of the region are deciduous. [284], Today 83.4 per cent of the population practices Eastern Orthodox Christianity, with the majority of these adhering to the national Georgian Orthodox Church. 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. 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. "[213] With this ruling, Georgia became one of the first countries in the world to legalize cannabis, although using the drug in the presence of children is still illegal and punishable by fines or imprisonment. The spider checklist of Georgia, for example, includes 501 species. [282][e] Most of them were deported during World War II.[285]. The 2010 Russian census recorded about 158,000 ethnic Georgians living in Russia,[293] with approximately 40,000 living in Moscow by 2014. One of the most unusual traditions of dining is supra, or Georgian table, which is also a way of socializing with friends and family. [31] In 2013, UNESCO added the ancient traditional Georgian winemaking method using the Kvevri clay jars to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.[31][32]. The biggest part, 72% of the military budget is allocated for maintaining defence forces readiness and potency development. Edn 10. [282][d] Georgia was also once home to significant ethnic German communities, numbering 11,394 according to the 1926 census. Its name stemmed from the term 'Gorn', which was a designation given by Persians to Georgian people. Georgia's moderate climate and moist air, influenced by the Black Sea, provide the best conditions for vine cultivation. [50], The 29-year reign of Tamar, the first female ruler of Georgia, is considered the most successful in Georgian history. Other popular sports in 19th century Georgia were polo, and Lelo, a traditional Georgian game very similar to rugby. Georgia's flag has an important meaning and symbolism. 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). For example, the Khevsureti region of Georgia has three styles of wrestling. 1000 of all 4000 higher plants of Georgia are endemic to this country. The alphabet probably was created soon afterward to . The federation consisted of three nations: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. On 29 October 2004, the North Atlantic Council of NATO approved the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) of Georgia, and Georgia moved on to the second stage of Euro-Atlantic Integration. But the nonprofit organization was accused in Georgia courts of being a communist front, and King's inner circle considered it radical. In August 2004, the Individual Partnership Action Plan of Georgia was submitted officially to NATO. Members of parliament are elected for four-year terms. The Constitution of Georgia guarantees freedom of speech. The medals depict the famous statue "Motherland" Calls, which was . The party was founded on 23 February 1992 as the Socialist Labour Party. [335] These cultural, religious, and later political attributes are associated with a European and Western identity, based on a national perception of these attributes that contrasts with surrounding powers. Burkhard Herbote, tourism Hero. From 1,5001,800 metres (4,9215,906ft), the forest becomes largely coniferous. [237] It had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 7.79/10, ranking it 31st globally out of 172 countries.[238]. The party was led by Panteleimon Giorgadze. [226], Much of the natural habitat in the low-lying areas of western Georgia has disappeared during the past 100 years because of the agricultural development of the land and urbanization. [146] This led to a new political crisis that was (temporarily) resolved with an EU brokered agreement,[147] from which the Georgian Dream later withdrew. [272] Additional projects also include the construction of the economically important KarsTbilisiBaku railway, which was opened on 30 October 2017 and connects much of the Caucasus with Turkey by standard gauge railway. [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. [104] According to Georgian intelligence,[105] and several Russian media reports, parts of the regular (non-peacekeeping) Russian Army had already moved to South Ossetian territory through the Roki Tunnel before the Georgian military action. During much of this time (1927-1953), Joseph Stalin was the totalitarian leader. [297] Of the Meskhetian Turks who were forcibly relocated in 1944, only a tiny fraction returned to Georgia as of 2008[update]. Legislative authority is vested in the Parliament of Georgia. [109] Russian forces occupied Georgian cities beyond the disputed territories. CABI, 2008. Georgia: in the mountains of poetry 3rd rev. [1] The party is member of Union of Communist Parties Communist Party of the Soviet Union . 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. There are several architectural styles for castles, towers, fortifications and churches. The climate of the region varies significantly with elevation and while much of the lowland areas of western Georgia are relatively warm throughout the year, the foothills and mountainous areas (including both the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains) experience cool, wet summers and snowy winters (snow cover often exceeds 2 metres or 6feet 7inches in many regions). The native name is Sakartvelo (; 'land of Kartvelians'), derived from the core central Georgian region of Kartli, recorded from the 9th century, and in extended usage referring to the entire medieval Kingdom of Georgia by the 13th century. Christianity and the Georgian language are particularly important national identifiers. [140] Most of Georgian Dream's coalition parties had left the coalition and landed outside of parliament. As the largest faction, having secured 90 out of 150 seats, Georgian Dream formed the country's next government and continued to govern alone. 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. The population of the nation is about 3.718 million people. [68] The Georgian nobility did not accept the decree until 12 April 1802, when Knorring assembled the nobility at the Sioni Cathedral and forced them to take an oath on the Imperial Crown of Russia. Sport is regaining its popularity in the country in recent years. Officially autonomous within Georgia,[216] the de facto independent region of Abkhazia declared independence in 1999. [226], The landscape within the nation's boundaries is quite varied. [118] In response to Russia's recognition, the Georgian government severed diplomatic relations with Russia. There are two main climatic zones, roughly corresponding to the eastern and western parts of the country. Its root, kartvel-i (-), specifies an inhabitant of the core central-eastern Georgian region of Kartli, or Iberia as it is known in sources of the Eastern Roman Empire. Also, the population registration system from birth to death was non-functional. [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. [82] Supported by Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia achieved de facto independence from Georgia, with Georgia retaining control only in small areas of the disputed territories. [9] On March 31, 1991, a referendum was held on the restoration of Georgia's independence on the basis of the Independence Act of 26 May 1918. He also conducts the highly philosophical toasts, and makes sure that everyone is enjoying themselves. [citation needed] The military budget of Georgia for 2021 is 900 ($280) million. For much of the 20th century, Georgia's economy was within the Soviet model of command economy. [141][142][143] After international mediation to overcome the deep political crisis in the runup to the 2020 parliamentary elections an amended electoral system was adopted, specifically for the 2020 elections. [112] The war displaced 192,000 people,[113] and while many were able to return to their homes after the war, a year later around 30,000 ethnic Georgians remained displaced.
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