Geographic records of Georgia. The largest lake in Georgia. State of the environment and nature protection

; also partially attributed to Eastern Europe.

The nature of Georgia is extremely diverse due to its geographical location, complex relief and altitudinal zoning. The Caucasus region, in which Georgia is located, belongs to the mobile alpine belt of the earth's crust, which causes its contrasting relief and diverse landscapes with many different types of climate, hydrological regime, soil cover, vegetation and wildlife. In addition, Georgia is located at the junction of the humid Mediterranean, the arid drainless Aral-Caspian depression and the continental Asiatic highlands, which also determines the diversity of its natural conditions.

The total area of ​​the country is 69.7 thousand km².

Relief

The northern part of the republic is occupied by the mountain system of the Greater Caucasus (gr. Kavkasioni) with altitudes up to 4500-5000 m above sea level. The highest point is Mount Shkhara (5068m.), and Kazbek (5033m). The Caucasus belongs to young folded systems (i.e., tectonic processes have not been completed here). Most of the coast of Georgia is slowly sinking. On average, the sinking of the land of the Colchis lowland is about 13 cm per century. There is a high seismicity of the territory (especially in the east, earthquakes up to 5-7 points). In the watershed part of the Central Caucasus there are well-known passes - Cross (2384 m) and Mamison (2829 m). The Georgian Military Road used to lead through the Caucasus Range to Georgia (closed in 2006). Two more routes to Georgia from the north: along the Black Sea coast and through the Roki tunnel along the Transcaucasian highway due to the unresolved Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts, are practically not used for through communication between Russia and Georgia.

The highlands of the Caucasus are characterized by glaciers, karst phenomena in the west, and young volcanic forms in the east.

In total, there are over 600 glaciers in Georgia with a total area of ​​520 km². The largest glaciers are located in Svaneti.

In the south of the country - the mid-mountain ranges of the Lesser Caucasus (heights up to 2850 m), between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus - Colchis lowland, having the shape of a triangle with a base facing the Black Sea, and in the east - the Iberian depression, where the river Kura flows.

The Colchis lowland is inclined to the west. In the coastal strip, it barely rises above sea level, and to the east it gradually rises to 150 m, until it rests on a granite ridge that connects the Greater and Lesser Caucasus and is a watershed between the basins of the Black and Caspian Seas. Colchis is described by Konstantin Paustovsky in his story of the same name. It was here, according to legend, that the Argonauts went for the Golden Fleece.

In political geography, the Pankisi Gorge is known - a region near the border with Chechnya, where Kist Chechens, related to the Chechens of the North Caucasus, live. Refugees from Chechnya also settled here, who left it during the second Chechen campaign (1999-2000).

In the extreme south of Georgia, there is the South Georgian (Javakheti) volcanic highland, which is characterized by lava plateaus, chains of volcanoes and canyon-like river gorges. The highest point of the highlands is Mount Didi Abuli, 3301 m.

The main minerals are manganese ores (Chiatura), coal (Tkibuli), small oil reserves. One of the main natural resources is numerous and. Up to 50 resorts have been created on the basis of mineral springs. The most popular are Borjomi and Tskhaltubo.

Sea

Hydrography

The river network is unevenly developed. It is most dense in Western Georgia.

The rivers of Georgia belong to two basins - the Black Sea (75% of the flow) and the Caspian. Almost the entire flow of the Caspian Basin is carried by the Kura River, on which the Mingechevir reservoir is located. The rivers of the Black Sea basin (Western Georgia) do not form a single system, flowing into the sea on their own. The main one is the Rioni, which flows in the lower section along the Colchis lowland. Inguri and others are also significant.

Most of the rivers originating in the mountains have a maximum flow (flood) in the spring, when the snow melts. The rivers, fed mainly from glaciers, carry most of the water in summer and at this time have a pronounced daily flow rate with a maximum in the evening hours and a minimum before dawn. With a fast current, mountain rivers rarely freeze. They flow into deep gorges, have a significant number of thresholds. In the limestone zone Greater Caucasus and volcanic rocks of the Javakheti highland, the underground runoff (underground water flows) exceeds the surface one. Georgia is rich in hydropower resources. On many mountain rivers cascades of hydroelectric power stations were built, reservoirs were built. The total length of irrigation systems exceeds 1000 km.

There are few lakes in Georgia, mainly in the Javakheti Highlands. The largest of them is Lake Paravani.

Climate

The climate of Georgia is transitional from subtropical to temperate.

Vegetable world

very rich vegetable world. According to botanists, the number of species of flowering plants is greater than in the entire European part of the former USSR. The relative stability of the climate in the past contributed to the preservation of ancient elements of flora, relict and endemic plants (rhododendrons, boxwood, laurel cherry, persimmon, etc.).

Forests cover over a third of the territory. Previously, the entire Colchis lowland was covered with forest and most of Iberian depression. Now the lowland forests of Colchis and the Alazani valley have almost everywhere been replaced by cultivated plantations. Among the trees, the most common are broad-leaved (oak, hornbeam, chestnut, beech) and coniferous (fir, spruce, pine). Alpine meadows are extensive, extending from the upper border of the forest to 2800-3500 m. The steppes are mainly replaced by cultivated plantations.

Among the specific landscape zones of Georgia, it is necessary to note the Colchis broad-leaved liana forests with evergreen trees and shrubs, as well as woodlands from the Pitsunda pine in Adzharia, the Caucasian pine in the Borjomi Gorge, the Eldar pine in Eastern Georgia. About 200 thousand hectares of the Colchis lowland are occupied by swamps.

Animal world

The fauna of Georgia is quite diverse. Over 11,000 species of invertebrates live on the territory of Georgia, including almost 9,150 arthropods (of which over 8,230 species are insects). 84 species of freshwater fish were recorded, as well as 6 introduced species. Amphibians are represented by 12 species. The 52 species belonging to the class of reptiles include 3 species of turtles, 27 species of lizards and 23 species of snakes (of which 3 species of snakes and 12 lizards are endemic to the Caucasus). 109 species of mammals inhabit the territory of Georgia.

Large mammals such as bear, wolf, fox, red deer, roe deer, wild boar are common in Georgia's ecosystems. On the verge of extinction is the leopard , which was considered a species that had disappeared in the Caucasus and was rediscovered by Georgian zoologists in 2001 . The striped hyena and goitered gazelle are also critically endangered. In the 20th century, the Black Sea monk seal and the Turanian tiger finally disappeared, but new species appeared (were introduced), such as the striped raccoon (North America) and the raccoon dog (Far East).

Protected areas

In Soviet times, 15 reserves were established to protect flora and fauna. Among them are Lagodekhi, Borjomi and Babaneur. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline passes through the Borjomi Reserve.

In 1996, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a law on nature protection zones, dividing them into six categories. In particular, Georgia has five national parks, three national monuments and one natural area(“protected landscape”, eng. protected landscape).

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An excerpt characterizing the Geography of Georgia

Natasha was calmer, but not more cheerful. She not only avoided all external conditions of joy: balls, skating, concerts, theater; but she never laughed so that her tears were not heard because of her laughter. She couldn't sing. As soon as she began to laugh or tried to sing alone with herself, tears choked her: tears of remorse, tears of memories of that irrevocable, pure time; tears of annoyance that so, for nothing, she ruined her young life, which could have been so happy. Laughter and singing especially seemed to her a blasphemy against her grief. She never thought of coquetry; she didn't even have to refrain. She said and felt that at that time all men were to her exactly the same as the jester Nastasya Ivanovna. The inner guard firmly forbade her any joy. And she did not have all the former interests of life from that girlish, carefree, hopeful way of life. More often and most painfully, she recalled the autumn months, the hunt, her uncle, and Christmas time spent with Nicolas in Otradnoe. What would she give to bring back even one day from that time! But it was over forever. The foreboding did not deceive her then that that state of freedom and openness to all joys would never return again. But I had to live.
It was comforting to her to think that she was not better, as she had thought before, but worse and much worse than everyone, everyone, who only exists in the world. But this was not enough. She knew this and asked herself: “What next? And then there was nothing. There was no joy in life, and life passed. Natasha, apparently, tried only not to be a burden to anyone and not to interfere with anyone, but for herself she did not need anything. She moved away from everyone at home, and only with her brother Petya was it easy for her. She liked to be with him more than with the others; and sometimes, when she was with him eye to eye, she laughed. She hardly left the house, and of those who came to see them, she was glad only for Pierre. It was impossible to treat her more tenderly, more carefully, and at the same time more seriously than Count Bezukhov treated her. Natasha Osss consciously felt this tenderness of treatment and therefore found great pleasure in his company. But she was not even grateful to him for his tenderness; nothing good on the part of Pierre seemed to her an effort. It seemed so natural for Pierre to be kind to everyone that there was no merit in his kindness. Sometimes Natasha noticed Pierre's embarrassment and awkwardness in her presence, especially when he wanted to do something pleasant for her or when he was afraid that something in the conversation would bring Natasha to painful memories. She noticed this and attributed it to his general kindness and shyness, which, according to her, the same as with her, should have been with everyone. After those inadvertent words that, if he were free, he would ask her hands and love on his knees, said at a moment of such strong excitement for her, Pierre never said anything about his feelings for Natasha; and it was obvious to her that those words, which then so comforted her, were spoken, as all sorts of meaningless words are spoken to comfort a crying child. Not because Pierre was a married man, but because Natasha felt between herself and him in the highest degree that force of moral barriers - the absence of which she felt with Kyragin - it never occurred to her that she could get out of her relationship with Pierre not only love on her part, or still less on his part, but even that kind of tender, self-confessing, poetic friendship between a man and a woman, of which she knew several examples.
At the end of the Petrovsky post, Agrafena Ivanovna Belova, the Rostovs' Otradnenskaya neighbor, came to Moscow to bow to the Moscow saints. She invited Natasha to go to bed, and Natasha seized on this idea with joy. Despite the doctor’s prohibition to go out early in the morning, Natasha insisted on fasting, and not fasting as usual in the Rostovs’ house, that is, listening to three services at home, but in order to fast as Agrafena Ivanovna used to, that is, all week without missing a single Vespers, Mass or Matins.
The countess liked Natasha's zeal; in her soul, after unsuccessful medical treatment, she hoped that prayer would help her with more medicines, and although with fear and hiding from the doctor, she agreed to Natasha's desire and entrusted her to Belova. Agrafena Ivanovna came at three o'clock in the morning to wake Natasha, and for the most part found her no longer asleep. Natasha was afraid to oversleep the time of matins. Hastily washing herself and humbly dressing in her worst dress and an old mantilla, shuddering with freshness, Natasha went out into the deserted streets, transparently lit by the morning dawn. On the advice of Agrafena Ivanovna, Natasha did not preach in her parish, but in the church, in which, according to the pious Belova, there was a priest of a very strict and high life. There were always few people in the church; Natasha and Belova took their usual place in front of the icon of the Mother of God, embedded in the back of the left choir, and Natasha’s new sense of humility in front of the great, incomprehensible, seized her when she, at this unusual hour in the morning, looking at the black face of the Mother of God, lit by candles burning in front of him, and the light of the morning falling from the window, she listened to the sounds of the service, which she tried to follow, understanding them. When she understood them, her personal feeling with its shades joined her prayer; when she did not understand, it was still sweeter for her to think that the desire to understand everything is pride, that it is impossible to understand everything, that one must only believe and surrender to God, who at that moment—she felt—ruled her soul. She crossed herself, bowed, and when she did not understand, she only, horrified by her abomination, asked God to forgive her for everything, for everything, and have mercy. The prayers to which she devoted herself most were the prayers of repentance. Returning home at the early hour of the morning, when there were only masons going to work, janitors sweeping the street, and everyone was still sleeping in the houses, Natasha experienced a new feeling for her of the possibility of correcting herself from her vices and the possibility of a new, pure life and happiness.
During the whole week in which she led this life, this feeling grew every day. And the happiness of communion or communication, as Agrafena Ivanovna said to her joyfully playing with this word, seemed to her so great that it seemed to her that she would not live to see this blessed Sunday.
But the happy day came, and when Natasha, on that memorable Sunday, in a white muslin dress, returned from communion, for the first time after many months she felt calm and unburdened by the life that lay ahead of her.
The doctor who came that day examined Natasha and ordered to continue the last powders that he prescribed two weeks ago.
“It is imperative to continue—in the morning and in the evening,” he said, evidently himself conscientiously pleased with his success. “Just please be careful. Be calm, countess, - said the doctor jokingly, deftly picking up the golden one in the flesh of his hand, - soon he will sing again and become frisky. Very, very much in favor of her last remedy. She brightened up a lot.
The countess looked at her nails and spat, returning to the living room with a cheerful face.

At the beginning of July, more and more disturbing rumors about the course of the war spread in Moscow: they talked about the sovereign's appeal to the people, about the arrival of the sovereign himself from the army to Moscow. And since the manifesto and appeal had not been received before July 11, exaggerated rumors circulated about them and about the situation in Russia. They said that the sovereign was leaving because the army was in danger, they said that Smolensk had been surrendered, that Napoleon had a million troops, and that only a miracle could save Russia.
July 11th, Saturday, the manifesto was received but not yet printed; and Pierre, who was with the Rostovs, promised the next day, on Sunday, to come to dinner and bring a manifesto and an appeal, which he would get from Count Rostopchin.
On this Sunday, the Rostovs, as usual, went to Mass at the house church of the Razumovskys. It was a hot July day. Already at ten o'clock, when the Rostovs got out of the carriage in front of the church, in the hot air, in the cries of peddlers, in the bright and light summer dresses of the crowd, in the dusty leaves of the trees of the boulevard, in the sounds of music and the white pantaloons of the battalion that passed for divorce, in the thunder of the pavement and In the bright glare of the hot sun there was that summer languor, contentment and dissatisfaction with the present, which is especially sharply felt on a clear hot day in the city. In the church of the Razumovskys there was all the nobility of Moscow, all the acquaintances of the Rostovs (this year, as if expecting something, a lot of wealthy families, usually moving around the villages, remained in the city). Passing behind the livery footman, who was parting the crowd near her mother, Natasha heard the voice of a young man speaking in a too loud whisper about her:
- This is Rostov, the same one ...
- How thin, but still good!
She heard, or it seemed to her, that the names of Kuragin and Bolkonsky were mentioned. However, it always seemed to her. It always seemed to her that everyone, looking at her, was only thinking about what had happened to her. Suffering and dying in her soul, as always in the crowd, Natasha walked in her purple silk dress with black lace the way women know how to walk - the calmer and more majestic, the more painful and ashamed she felt in her soul. She knew and was not mistaken that she was good, but this did not please her now, as before. On the contrary, it tormented her most of all lately, and especially on this bright, hot summer day in the city. “Another Sunday, another week,” she said to herself, remembering how she had been here that Sunday, “and still the same life without life, and all the same conditions in which it used to be so easy to live before. She is good, young, and I know that now I am good, before I was bad, but now I am good, I know, she thought, but the best years pass in vain, for no one. She stood beside her mother and exchanged relations with close acquaintances. Natasha, out of habit, looked at the ladies' toilets, condemned the tenue [demeanor] and the indecent way of crossing herself with the hand in the small space of one standing close by, again thought with annoyance that they were judging her, that she was judging, and suddenly, hearing the sounds of the service, she was horrified at her vileness, horrified at the fact that her former purity was again lost by her.

Georgia can boast not only this. It is amazingly beautiful, diverse nature, climate and topography.

Sputnik collected unique places in Georgia that break geographical records.

The highest peak in Georgia

The mountain peak Shkhara, located in the central part of the Main Caucasian Range, is the highest point in Georgia. Geographers and climbers call it the "Alps of Svaneti". The mountain is covered with glaciers and snow. According to the latest data, the height of the main peak of Shkhara is 5203 meters above sea level.

The mountain is located in Svaneti. The name "shkhara" is also Svan and means "white stripe". At the foot of the southern slopes of Shkhara, at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level, there is the village of Ushguli in the Mestia region of Svaneti, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Shkhara not only main summit Georgia, it is also the third highest mountain in Russia. This is explained by the fact that the mountain is located on the border of both states and consists of several peaks.

The first successful ascent of the mountain was by Anglo-Swedish climbers in 1888. June, July, August, September are best for climbing to the top. To conquer such a peak as Shkhara, a serious approach is required. All routes have difficult sections, so you need special equipment and experience to successfully climb the mountain.

Thomas Vahe

Most low place in Georgia

The lowest point in Georgia is in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. These are swamps located between the port city of Poti and the village of Kulevi near Lake Paliastomi. The swamps are below sea level by 1.5 - 2.3 meters.

Wettest place

Mount Mtirala is located at an altitude of 1761 meters above sea level in Western Georgia between Chakvi and Kobuleti. Mtirala is translated as "weeping", and this is not surprising - after all, the mountain is in fog all year round and it almost always rains here.

The microclimate of the mountain is considered the wettest not only in Georgia, but also in Europe. It receives 4.5 thousand millimeters of precipitation per year.

And all due to the fact that Mtirala is located between the Black Sea and the Adjara Mountains. Moist air from the sea is intercepted by mountains and determines the very humid climate of Adjara.

Mount Mtirala hosts the National Park, which is considered the most beautiful place in the region. Here you can see incredibly beautiful waterfalls and Georgian nature.

Photo: Courtesy of Official Tourism Portal of Adjara

The driest place in Georgia

The pole of dryness of Georgia is located in the eastern part of the country and is called the Eldar lowland. The minimum amount of precipitation falls here - 250-300 millimeters per year.

The Eldar Lowland in Georgia is the only place where there is a semi-desert landscape. This is the driest region in the country.

In the Eldar lowland, there is a sharply negative moisture balance, which is equal to 0-2% - 0-3%.

Most big lake Georgia

Paravani is the most large lake Georgia. It is located in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region at an altitude of 2073 meters above sea level. The volume of Lake Paravani is 91 million cubic meters. Area - 37.5 sq. meters, and the maximum depth of the reservoir is 3.3 meters.

Lake Paravani is considered mysterious. The fact is that at the very bottom of the lake there is a strange structure. As a result of research at the bottom of the lake, archaeologists discovered a Bronze Age burial mound. From the bottom, various antique objects were raised to the surface, which are dated to the 4th century BC.

Under the muddy waters of Paravani, scientists expect to find many more interesting things. After all, the finds say that in ancient times people of a rather high culture lived here.

The largest reservoir in Georgia

The Tsalka reservoir is the largest reservoir in Georgia. It was created artificially for energy purposes, thanks to the waters of the fast-flowing Khrami River in the middle of the 20th century.

The reservoir is located at an altitude of more than 1500 meters above sea level. Its length is 12 meters, width - 4 meters, and the maximum depth reaches 26 meters.

During the functioning of the reservoir, several residential buildings and a church were flooded, which, presumably, was built in the 11th century.

In winter, the reservoir freezes and the water level drops. At this time, the church appears. Today, only three walls of the basilica have survived, and they are in a rather deplorable state.

The most long river Georgia

The mountain river Alazani is the longest river in Georgia. It feeds on groundwater, rain and snow. The length of the river is 390 kilometers, the basin area is more than 11.8 thousand square kilometers.

The Alazani flows through eastern Georgia and Azerbaijan and partially forms the borders of the two countries. The river starts from the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus and flows into the Mingachevir reservoir located in Azerbaijan. Before the Mingachevir reservoir was built, the Alazani River flowed directly into the Kura (Mtkvari in Georgian).

The oldest nature reserve in Georgia

The Lagodekhi Nature Reserve is the largest of the 15 protected areas in Georgia and, at the same time, the oldest in the Caucasus. The reserve was founded in 1912. It is located on the southern slopes of the eastern part of the Main Caucasian Range, near the city of Lagodekhi (Kakheti region).

The total area of ​​the Lagodekhi Protected Areas is 24,258 hectares. On the territory you can see almost 2/3 of the plants common in Georgia - more than 1,100 species.

Three rivers flow through the territory of the reserve: Shromishevi, Mitsimistskali and Lagodekhistskali. Here you can also find many waterfalls and several picturesque mountain lakes of glacial origin.

The reserve is included in the number of natural monuments of world importance by UNESCO.

The village of Ushguli, which is located in the highlands of Svaneti, is considered the highest settlement in Georgia. However, some experts argue that the village of Bochorna in the Dusheti region deserves this status, which is located 200 meters above Ushguli - at an altitude of 2,327 meters above sea level.

It is possible that soon the village of Bochorna will be given the status of not only the highest locality in Georgia, but also in Europe. To date, the leader is one of the villages in Switzerland, which is located at an altitude of 2,150 meters above sea level.

Georgia is a state located in the west of the Transcaucasian region. The country stretches along the Caucasus Mountains and borders Russia in the east and north, Turkey and Armenia in the south, and Azerbaijan in the southeast. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Black Sea.

Relief of Georgia

The northern territories of the state are occupied by the mountain system of the Greater Caucasus, where the height of the mountains reaches 4500-5000 meters above sea level. The highest point is at the level of 5068 meters and is called Shkhara. The east of the territory is seismically dangerous, earthquakes reach 5-7 points.

The south of the country is covered with mid-mountain ranges of the Lesser Caucasus (their height is up to 2800 m). Between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus is the Colchis lowland, which resembles a triangle.

The Kura River flows in the east. The Inverian depression is also located here.

Georgia is located mainly in the region And only in the east it becomes moderate. The Caucasus Mountains play a very important role in shaping the climate of Georgia. Thanks to them, even in the most remote parts of the country, the influence of the Black Sea air masses is noticeable. They are a powerful barrier to the northern cold masses. They mix with warm air currents coming from the Black Sea. The relief and climate of Georgia are very interconnected. The country is much warmer than in other regions located at the same latitude.

The climate of Georgia is so diverse that tourists can observe all four seasons in just 2-3 days. It combines evergreen palm trees on the Black Sea coast, young, fresh grass and spring flowers in the foothills, fog with rain and snow in the mountains, and, finally, the mountain peaks deeply covered with snow.

In winter, Georgia is quite warm, but the sun is very rare. The tourist season at sea is closed, only in the mountains there are many tourists who want to relax on the mountains. There are quite a lot of people, but there is no queue for the lifts.

If you decide to go to Georgia in winter, then choose a hotel very carefully, because there is no central heating here.

Spring is the most unpredictable, but at the same time beautiful time. In the first half, the temperature changes unpredictably. You can continue to walk in a winter down jacket, as in the mountains, or you can wear short-sleeved clothes. By the beginning of May, the air temperature rises to 25-27 degrees, and the number of cloudless days increases sharply.

Swimming season opens in summer. The peak is in the middle of summer. Most tourists relax on the beach because of the great heat. Often the air temperature rises to 30 degrees, and the water temperature - up to 25. Even in the mountains, the air temperature often overcomes the mark of 25 degrees. If you are a fan of outdoor activities, it is recommended to visit Georgia in early June.

Autumn in Georgia is the time of fruits and berries. The markets are filled with grapes, watermelons, melons, tangerines, hazelnuts, which are simply in abundance everywhere. by the most best months September and October are considered for a comfortable stay by the sea. At this time, the suffocating heat is not felt outside (temperature is about 25 degrees). Also hiking in the mountains is most popular during these months.

Holidays in Georgia

First of all, Georgia is a very hospitable country. Before you have time to look back, they are already pouring chacha and putting khachapuri on a plate, while saying a toast to your long health. Refusing food is not accepted here. The main wealth of Georgia is not mountains, not the sea, but people - sincere and open.

In some places it resembles Barcelona, ​​in some places it resembles Italy, and in some places it is very similar to the south of France. Amazing nature, mountains, good-natured and friendly people - all this makes Georgia attractive at any time of the year.

The content of the article

GEORGIA, The Republic of Georgia (Georgian Sakartvelo), a state in the Transcaucasus. Until 1991 it was part of the USSR, since 1991 - an independent state. It borders on Russia in the north, Azerbaijan in the east, and Armenia and Turkey in the south. The total area is 69.7 thousand square meters. km., including Abkhazia (area 8.6 thousand sq. km.) and South Ossetia (area 3.9 thousand sq. km.), which unilaterally proclaimed their separation from Georgia.

NATURE

Terrain relief.

Two thirds of Georgia's area is occupied by mountains. In the north, the mountain system of the Greater Caucasus stretches with altitudes up to 4500–5000 m above sea level. highest point Georgia - Mount Shkhara (5068 m). There are 786 glaciers in the upper parts of the ridges of the Greater Caucasus with total area 556 sq. km. The well-known mountain passes are confined to the axial watershed part of the mountains: Cross (2384 m), Mamisonsky (2829 m), Roksky (2996 m), along which tourist routes pass.

The echelon-shaped ridges of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus are separated by deep river valleys. Here, in a warm and humid climate, karst is widely developed in carbonate rocks. Only on low ridges (below 1000 m above sea level) there are more than 470 karst caves, including the largest New Athos cave (3.3 km long, with an area of ​​about 50 thousand square meters). On the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus there are large deposits of manganese, silver-lead and zinc ores, barite, coal, marble.

Between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus there is a sublatitudinal zone of intermountain basins, where the most fertile lands of Georgia are concentrated. In the west, the heavily swampy Colchis lowland stands out, in the east - the plains, on which the historical provinces of Imereti, Kartli and Kakheti have long been formed. From the east, the Colchis lowland is closed by the Likhi (Surami) ridge, which is a natural boundary separating the western regions of Georgia from the eastern ones. To the east of the Likhi Range, the Kartli Plain, the Iora and Shirak Plateaus (with heights up to 500–700 m) and the Alazani Valley (up to 500 m) stand out. Oil deposits have been explored within the Kakheti Plain, and oil and peat deposits have been explored in the Colchis Lowland.

The mountains of the Lesser Caucasus are separated from the zone of intermountain basins by the Meskheti and Trialeti ranges. The average heights of the mountains in the south of the country are 2000–3000 m above sea level. Within the boundaries of the South Georgian (Javakheti) Highlands, there are lava plateaus composed of volcanic tuffs and lakes of volcanic origin (Paravani, Khozapini, etc.).

In addition to the minerals mentioned above, deposits of copper, talc, diatomites, marl, limestone, and refractory clays are found on the territory of Georgia. In many regions of Georgia there are outlets of mineral springs that are used in balneology (Borjomi, Tskaltubo, Menji, Avadkhara, Sairme, etc.).

The territory of Georgia is characterized by increased seismicity, in some areas earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 5–7 points occur (especially in the eastern regions). Mountain areas in the modern era are experiencing a general upward trend (more than 10 mm per year), and lowlands - to lower. The Colchis lowland is characterized by a particularly high rate of subsidence (up to 1.3 mm per year). Many ancient coastal settlements are now flooded.

Climate.

In the western regions affected by the Black Sea, summers are humid and warm, with mean July temperatures of 22–24°C. Winters are mild, with January mean temperatures of 4–7°C. maximum in Adjara (up to 3200 mm). Most of the precipitation falls in the spring.

The Likhi Range intercepts the moisture of air masses moving from west to east. In the eastern regions of Georgia, the climate is formed under the influence of continental air masses. On the plains, summers are longer and hotter, with average July temperatures of 23–25°C. Winters are cool, with an average January temperature of +1 to –2°C. summer.

On the slopes of the mountains of Georgia, the average July temperatures drop to 4–6 ° C, in the highlands, the average January temperatures can reach –10–16 ° C. The average annual precipitation ranges from 1600–2800 mm in the west to 1000–1800 mm in the east of the Greater Caucasus and up to 600–700 mm in the South Georgian Highlands. The weather in the mountains changes quickly. Sudden cold snaps are accompanied by heavy snowfalls, downpours, hail and foehns (strong, warm winds blowing from the mountains to the valleys), causing significant damage to the economy.

Water resources.

In Georgia, ca. 25 thousand rivers, many of them are used for energy production and as sources of irrigation. They feed mainly on melted snow and glacial waters and atmospheric precipitation. In the foothill areas, composed of carbonate rocks, groundwater plays a significant role in feeding the rivers. The rivers of Western Georgia are full of water throughout the year, and in the east, in winter and summer, the river flow is reduced.

Most of the rivers (Rioni, Enguri, Bzyb, Keda, etc.) belong to the Black Sea drainage basin, the smaller part belongs to the Caspian Sea (Kura with tributaries of the Alazani, Iori, Aragvi, Liakhvi, Khrami). The longest and most abundant river in Western Georgia, the Rioni (327 km), originates in the Greater Caucasus and flows into the Black Sea near Poti. The Kura River (Mtkvari in Georgian) begins in the mountains in northern Turkey, crosses southern and eastern Georgia and flows into the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan.

There are few lakes in Georgia. The largest of them are Paravani (37.5 sq. km) and Tabatskuri (14.2 sq. km) on the Javakheti highlands and Paleostomi (18.2 sq. km) on the Black Sea coast, at the mouth of the Rioni river.

Soils.

There are three main soil-geographic regions in Georgia: western, eastern and southern. The lowlands of the western region (between the Likh Range and the Black Sea) are characterized by peaty soils suitable for growing corn; in the foothills, subtropical red and yellow soils are common, which are ideal for growing grapes, tea and tobacco; in the higher areas of Megrelia, Abkhazia and Svanetia - brown or carbonate forest and mountain soils. The eastern region is dominated by ancient alluvial soils. On the Lower Kartli Plain, chestnut soils are common, suitable for the cultivation of vegetables, fruit and grain crops. The chernozems and brown soils of the Kakheti Plain are mainly used for grain crops and vineyards, although in the Gardabani and Sagarejo regions (southeast of Tbilisi) these soils are infertile due to the arid climate. Southern region confined to the foothills and southern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus and the South Georgian Highlands. It is characterized by a combination of brown and mountain meadow soils used for the cultivation of crops, vegetables and, to a lesser extent, grapes.

Vegetable world.

The flora of Georgia is very diverse: there are more than 5,000 species of flowering plants alone. Depending on the climatic features and the absolute height of the area, several zones and vertical belts of vegetation (from steppe to alpine) are distinguished.

Forests are distributed mainly in the mountains and occupy about a third of the country's area. In the west of Georgia, they descend to the very sea, and in the east, their lower border is at altitudes from 600 to 800 m above sea level. The forests of Western Georgia are especially rich and diverse. Their lower zone (up to 1000–1200 m) is dominated by broad-leaved species (oak, hornbeam, chestnut, maple, beech, etc.) with evergreen undergrowth of Pontic rhododendron, laurel cherry, boxwood, Colchis holly, Colchis needle, Caucasian blueberry. This type of forest, called Colchis, is characterized by an abundance of lianas - ivy, clematis, and obitnik; in places it becomes impassable. In the swampy forests of the Colchis Lowland, alder predominates and there is almost no undergrowth. In some parts of the coast of Abkhazia, endemic species are found, for example, Pitsunda pine, a relic of the Tertiary Crimean-Caucasian flora. Over the past millennia, grapes and fruit crops have been cultivated in the valleys.

In Western Georgia, above the belt of Colchis forests and up to the upper forest line (1700–1800 m), mixed forests are common, which combine beech and spruce-fir, less often pine stands. At the upper border of the forest there are birch forests with an admixture of mountain ash and thickets of rhododendron.

The forests of Eastern Georgia are floristically less rich. In the upper belt of mountains (up to 2300–2400 m), spruce-fir forests are common, occurring to the west of the Ksani River, and in more eastern regions - only pine and pine-birch forests. Below, coniferous forests give way to beech, and then oak-hornbeam. In the extreme east of the country there are small areas of dry steppes (fescue-feather grass and fescue-bearded with forbs) and xerophytic light forests with species such as carcass, pistachio, pomegranate, hold-tree. Wormwood semi-deserts with cochia and saltwort have an even more limited distribution. In the valleys of the Kura, Alazani, Iori and other rivers, floodplain tugai forests of aspen, willow, silvery poplar, oak, dogwood have been preserved.

Subalpine and alpine meadows in the west of Georgia rise to 2800–3000 m, in the east - up to 3600 m above sea level. The subalpine meadows of Western Georgia are characterized by lush tall grasses with a large proportion of Umbelliferae, Legumes and Labiaceae. Low grass alpine meadows are distributed in fragments, alternating with stone placers, rock outcrops and glaciers.

Animal world

Georgia is diverse. It is represented by more than 100 species of mammals, 330 species of birds and 160 species of fish. Many representatives of the fauna are endemic or semi-endemic, for example, the Artvinian lizard and the Kuban tur (whose horns are used in Georgia as vessels for wine).

The fauna of the steppes of Eastern Georgia is very peculiar. Until recently, there was a goitered gazelle, which was preserved only in certain areas of the Shirak steppe. The striped hyena is found in the Gardabani steppe and the Alazani valley. Of the other predators, we note the fox, jackal, reed cat. Wolves are common in livestock areas. Rodents are typical for the steppes: jerboas, voles, hamsters. Among the birds are common sparrow, gray partridge, quail, steppe eagle. The abundance of lizards and turtles, as well as snakes (already ordinary and water, western boa constrictor, yellow-bellied snake) is characteristic. Gyurza is found in the Eldar and Shirak steppes.

The animal world of forests is the richest. In many areas, the Caucasian deer, roe deer, wild boar, hare, squirrel are common, and predators include brown bear, wolf, jackal, lynx, forest cat and fox. The badger causes great harm to agriculture. The forests of Georgia are famous for the abundance and diversity of birds. Species such as chaffinch, black-headed tit, great tit, greenfinch, blackbird, etc. are common. Of the birds of prey listed in the Red Book of Georgia, there are (mainly in reserves) bearded vulture, golden eagle, griffon vulture, black vulture, etc. In In some areas of Colchis and Kakheti, you can still see a pheasant. Of the reptiles in the forests of Georgia, the most numerous are lizards, marsh turtles and snakes (snake, copperhead, Caucasian viper).

The alpine fauna is better preserved within the Main Caucasian Range. In its western part there is a Kuban tur, in the eastern part - a Dagestan one. Both species descend into the forest belt for the winter. The chamois is almost ubiquitous, and the bezoar goat is found in the east. Of the characteristic birds of the highlands, one can note the Caucasian black grouse, keklik, bearded vulture.

Trout, barbel, carp, etc. are found in mountain rivers and lakes.

The state of the environment and nature conservation.

One of the main environmental issues is air pollution in industrial cities, especially in the center of metallurgy - Rustavi. Increased deforestation, soil erosion and pollution of the Black Sea are of serious concern. There is concern about the uncontrolled use of pesticides and some toxic chemical fertilizers.

On the territory of Georgia, in order to protect natural complexes and preserve biodiversity, the Tbilisi National Park, 17 reserves and 6 sanctuaries have been created. Particular attention is paid to the protection of natural plantations of relic species: Imeretian oak, Gartvis oak, zelkova in the Ajametsky reserve within the Colchis lowland, hornbeam zelkova and yew berry in the Akhmeta reserve in Eastern Georgia, Pitsunda pine groves in the Pitsundsko-Mussersky reserve on the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia.

Georgia is a party to many international agreements on environmental protection. In April 1992, the heads of governments of Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey signed the Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea from Pollution. In April 1993, an intergovernmental declaration on the protection of the Black Sea was adopted in Odessa. It notes the need to create a system of joint management of the coastal zone and states that the Black Sea countries should develop and implement national policies within the framework of this system. The operation of this system in Georgia is supported by international organizations, in particular the Black Sea Environmental Protection Program funded by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

POPULATION

According to the 1989 census, 5.4 million people lived in Georgia. Over the previous 10-year period, the population increased by 8.7%, and urban - by 16.7%, rural - by 0.3%. Approximately 56% of the population lived in cities (23% in Tbilisi) and approx. 44% - in rural areas. In the post-Soviet period, there is a decrease in the population.

According to the preliminary census data, in July 2003 approximately 4.9 million people lived in Georgia (excluding Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which did not take part in the census). The age group under 15 years old made up 18.6% of the population, the group from 15 to 65 years old - 68.4%, over 65 years old - 13%. The birth rate in 2003 was estimated at 11.79 per 1000 people, the death rate - 14.71 per 1000, emigration - 2.48 per 1000 and natural decline - 0.59%. Infant mortality was estimated at 51.24 per 1,000 births. Life expectancy is 64.76 years (61.33 for men and 68.36 for women).

According to an estimate in 2013 (July), 4 million 556 thousand people lived in the country. The age group under 15 years old made up 15.4% of the population, the group from 15 to 65 years old - 68.4%, over 65 years old - 16.2%.

Birth rate in 2013 was estimated at 10.72 per 1000 people, mortality - 10.17 per 1000, emigration - 3.86 per 1000. Infant mortality was estimated at 14.21 per 1000 newborns. Life expectancy is 77.51 years (74.16 for men and 81.17 for women).

Ethnic composition.

Georgia is a multinational society. In 1989 Georgians made up 70.1% of the population (in 1979 - 68.8%). Among ethnic Georgians, there are distinctly different regional groups - Mingrelians and Svans. Of the national minorities, Armenians (8.1%), Russians (6.3%), Azerbaijanis (5.7%), Ossetians (3.0%), Greeks (1.9%) and Abkhazians (1.8%) stood out ). In the period 1979-1989, as a result of assimilation and departure from Georgia, there was a decrease in the share of almost all of the listed groups, with the exception of the Abkhazians and Azerbaijanis.

In 2002, Georgians made up 83.8% of the population, Armenians - 5.7%, Russians - 1.5%, Azerbaijanis - 6.5%, the rest - Ossetians, Greeks and Abkhazians - 2.5% of the population.

Abkhazians are a special ethnic group that has its own autonomy. Ossetians (the Iranian-speaking people of the Greater Caucasus) are concentrated mainly within the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region, where in 1989 they accounted for 66.2% of the population. Outside of its borders, most Ossetians lived dispersed throughout eastern Georgia. Adjarians (Georgians who converted to Islam) have their own autonomous republic, where in 1989 they made up 82.8% of the population. The smallest national minorities include Jews, Assyrians, Kurds and Tatars.

Language.

The official language is Georgian, on the territory of Abkhazia it is also Abkhazian. The Georgian language belongs to the Kartvelian group of Caucasian (Iberian-Caucasian) languages, which includes Megrelian, Svan and Laz (Chan) languages. The Georgian language is the only one among the Iberian-Caucasian languages ​​that has an ancient alphabetic script, although it underwent significant changes in the 11th and 17th centuries. The unique spelling of letters is incomparable with any other alphabet in the world. Over 98% of ethnic Georgians consider Georgian as their mother tongue. The Abkhazian language belongs to the Abkhaz-Adyghe group of Caucasian languages ​​and has been using the Cyrillic alphabet since 1954 (in 1928 a script based on the Latin alphabet was developed, which was replaced by the Georgian graphic system in 1938).

Religion.

The majority of ethnic Georgian believers belong to the Georgian Orthodox Church (65% of believers), a branch of Orthodox Christianity. Eastern Georgia in 326 AD was converted to Christianity thanks to the preaching of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina from Jerusalem and became the second (after Armenia) state to adopt Christianity as the official religion. Georgian Orthodox Church in the 5th c. received autocephaly and remained independent for a long time. From the 11th century its primate has the title of catholicos-patriarch. In 1811 the Georgian Orthodox Church was incorporated into the Russian Orthodox Church and lost the status of autocephaly. The Georgian Exarchate was formed, which was ruled by an exarch in the rank of metropolitan, and later in the rank of archbishop. The Georgian Orthodox Church returned the status of autocephaly in 1917, at the same time there was a complete break in relations with the Russian Orthodox Church. Their connections were restored only in 1943. In Soviet times, the Georgian Church lost its former influence. The number of church parishes decreased from about 2000 (in 1917) to 80 (1960s). The influence of the church began to recover only from the late 1980s.

In Georgia there is a small number of Catholics, in Adjara and in the southern border regions there are many Muslims. Abkhazians are mostly Sunni Muslims, but there are also Orthodox Christians among them. Azerbaijanis, Assyrians and Kurds are Muslims. In total, among believers, there are approx. 11% Muslim. Most Ossetians profess Orthodoxy. Armenians, Greeks and Russians have their own Orthodox churches, with approximately 8% of believers belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Cities.

Tbilisi, founded in the 5th c. AD King Vakhtang I Gorgasali, is located in the very center of Georgian lands, at the junction of several historical areas– Inner and Lower Kartlines (Kartli), Kakheti and Javakheti. From 1801 to 1917 Tiflis (as Tbilisi was called until 1936) was the main administrative and commercial center of the Caucasus region. In 1845 it became the residence of the governor of the Russian Empire, who ruled the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia.

1115 thousand people live in modern Tbilisi (2009). The city is constantly growing, mainly due to the influx of people from rural areas. As a result of the Georgian-Abkhazian ethnic conflict of 1993–1994, approx. 80 thousand refugees from Abkhazia.

According to the 1989 census, ethnic Georgians made up 66% of its population, Armenians 12%, Russians 10%, Ossetians 3%, Kurds 2% and Greeks 2%. The city's architecture reflects a rich mixture of Eastern and Western cultures. The old part of the city is characterized by winding streets, bazaars and low houses with flat roofs and carved balconies. Modern quarters have a European look: beautiful high-rise buildings face wide boulevards and avenues lined with shady trees. Large areas around Tbilisi are occupied by forest parks, orchards and vineyards.

Other large cities include Kutaisi (267.3 thousand inhabitants in 2002), the oldest city in the country and the regional center of Western Georgia; Rustavi (180.5 thousand), the main center of metallurgy; Batumi (144.6 thousand), the capital of Adjara, the main port and oil terminal of Georgia; Gori (70 thousand), ancient city(7th century), railway junction; Chiatura (68.4 thousand) and Tkibuli (36.9 thousand) are the centers of manganese and coal mining; Sukhumi (60.9 thousand, in 1989 - 121.4 thousand), the capital of Abkhazia and in the recent past the main resort; Poti (51.7 thousand) - a port city; Zugdidi (50.6 thousand), industrial centre; Tskhinvali (42 thousand) is the center of South Ossetia.

GOVERNMENT

Central authorities.

According to the Constitution adopted on August 24, 1995, the highest Legislature- Parliament - consists of two chambers - the Council of the Republic and the Senate. The Senate consists of deputies from Abkhazia, Adzharia and other territorial units of Georgia, as well as five senators appointed by the president. At present, the construction of the state apparatus has not been completed, and due to the unstable political position there is a unicameral parliament, which is elected for a term of four years on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage. 150 deputies are elected according to the proportional system, 85 - according to the majoritarian system. Citizens of the republic who have reached the age of 18 are endowed with the right to vote.

The head of the Republic of Georgia and the head of the executive branch is the President, who is elected by popular vote for a term of five years. The position of president was established in April 1991. The president can only be elected for two consecutive terms. Executive power belongs to the government. Ministers are appointed by the President with the consent of Parliament. The government has a state minister who acts as prime minister.

Local government.

In accordance with the administrative-territorial division adopted in 1995, the Republic of Georgia consists of 9 regions (Samegrelo - Upper Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi - Lower Svaneti, Guria, Imereti, Meskhet-Javakhetia, Shida Kartli / Lower Kartliniya /, Kvemo Kartli /Upper Kartliniya/, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kakheti), two cities as territories (Tbilisi and Poti) and two autonomous republics (Adzharia and Abkhazia). Abkhazia is currently pursuing an independent policy. In addition, de facto there is South Ossetia (the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region, abolished by the Supreme Council of Georgia in 1990), which is not subordinate to the central authorities.

Elections to local authorities - rural, district, city municipalities (sakrebulo) - are held according to mixed proportional and majoritarian systems. Mayors of cities are appointed by the president of the country. The 2002 elections to local authorities revealed a sharp decline in the authority of the political coalition, the Union of Citizens of Georgia (CUG), which has a majority in the current parliament and government. She did not receive a single seat in the Tbilisi Sakrebulo, which included representatives of the Labor Party of Georgia (25.5% of the seats), the National Movement - Democratic Front bloc (23.75%), the New Rights (11.36%), The Christian Conservative Party (7.27%), the bloc "Industry will save Georgia" (7.13%). The majority of votes in elections to local councils in other regions of Georgia were received by the New Rights. The CUG party won local elections only in Telavi (Eastern Georgia).

Judicial system.

The system of general courts of first instance includes city courts, district city courts, and regional courts. The courts of second instance are the Tbilisi and Kutaisi Courts of Appeal, as well as the Supreme Courts of Abkhazia and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. The highest court of general courts is the Supreme Court of Georgia, which supervises the execution of legal proceedings in these courts, acts as a cassation instance, and also considers cases of first instance defined by law. The structure of the Supreme Court includes the Judicial Collegium for Criminal Cases; chamber for civil cases, cases of entrepreneurship and bankruptcy; Chamber of Administrative Affairs; chamber for criminal cases; supervisory board; plenum. The Chairman and Judges of the Supreme Court of Georgia are elected by the Parliament on the proposal of the President.

The management of the judicial system and the competitive selection of judges is carried out by the Council of Justice, which consists of 12 members (4 representatives of the legislative, executive and judicial branches each). Judges of city courts, district city courts, regional courts are appointed by the President of Georgia for a period of 10 years, judges of the Supreme Courts of Adjara and Abkhazia are elected by the highest representative bodies of these autonomous entities.

Since 1996, constitutional control has been carried out by the Constitutional Court, which consists of 9 judges (three are appointed by the President of Georgia, three are elected by the Parliament, and three are appointed by the Supreme Court). The term of office of the court is 10 years. Every 5 years there is a change of the chairman of the Constitutional Court through the election of one of its members.

Political parties.

Until 1990, the Communist Party was in power in Georgia. Since 1990, the country has had a multi-party system. The first president of the independent republic, Zviad Gamsakhurdia (1991-1992), relied on the Round Table - Free Georgia bloc, and Eduard Shevardnadze, who was in power in 1992-2003, relied on the Union of Georgian Citizens, which collapsed after his overthrow. Currently, the main parties of the country are:

national movement–Democrats- the ruling political organization, created in 2004 as a result of the merger of the National Movement, the United Democrats (break away from the Union of Citizens), etc. The center-right party advocates a market economy and close cooperation with the West. In the 2004 parliamentary elections, the party received 67% of the vote. The leader is President Mikheil Saakashvili.

"New Right"- the right party, enjoys support in business and youth circles. In the 2004 parliamentary elections, in a bloc with the Industry Will Save Georgia organization, she received 7.6% of the vote. Leaders - Livan Gochechiladze, David Gamkrelidze.

"Industry will save Georgia" is a conservative organization founded in 1999. It relies on business circles and advocates a free market economy. Leader - Georgy Topadze.

Democratic Revival Union– centrist, formed in the 1990s. It was headed by Aslan Abashidze, leader of autonomous Adjara. In the 2004 elections, he received 6% of the vote. After the removal of Abashidze from power in Adjara in May 2004, it actually disintegrated.

Labor Party of Georgia- Social Democratic, formed in 1995. Initially, it sought to pursue a foreign policy of neutrality, later it began to support Georgia's entry into NATO. In the 2004 elections, she received 5.8% of the vote. Leader - Shalva Natelashvili.

freedom movement(“Tavisupleba”) is a conservative-nationalist group of followers of the first president of Georgia, Z. Gamsakhurdia. In the 2004 elections, she received 4.2% of the vote.

National Democratic Party- center-right, created in the 1980s, close to Christian-democratic positions. In 2003, she supported the Shevardnadze administration. In 2004, she headed the National Democratic Alliance - the Third Way, which collected 2.5% of the vote. Leader - Irina Sarishvili.

Union of Georgian Traditionalists- the monarchist party, founded in 1990. In 2004, it joined the National Democratic Alliance - the Third Way. Leader - Akaki Asatiani.

"Unity"- centre-left bloc. In the 2004 elections, together with the Intellectual League, he collected 2.4% of the vote. Leader - Jumber Patiashvili.

Armed forces.

After the annexation of Georgia to Russia in the 19th century. Georgian troops were included in the Russian army, and in the 20th century. - in the Soviet armed forces. In 1991, the country hosted approx. 200 thousand Soviet troops. By 1994, as a result of the withdrawal of the main military contingent and the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with Russia, the number of Russian troops in Georgia was reduced to 20 thousand people. By 2002, military bases remained on the territory of Georgia only in Batumi and Akhalkalaki. The Georgian side insists on the speedy withdrawal of Russian military units. The Russian contingent of the CIS Collective Peacekeeping Forces in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict is stationed at the former Russian military base in Gudauta.

In November 1990, the Georgian National Guard was formed. Subsequently, it was included in the regular army, created in the spring of 1992. The Mkhedrioni paramilitary organization actually had an autonomous status within the army, although it was transformed into the official state structure of the Georgian Rescue Corps. In the summer of 1994, the Minister of Defense reorganized the 20,000-strong army.

The legislative base for the armed forces of Georgia is the Constitution of 1995, as well as the laws "On Conscription and Military Service", "On Defense", "On Martial Law". In 1995, the parliament approved the country's military doctrine. The armed forces of Georgia include the army (ground forces, navy - coast guard, air force) and the national guard, which are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense; border troops (subordinate to the State Department of Border Protection); internal troops, an independent brigade and police special forces (led by the Ministry of the Interior); special service of the state guard (subordinate to the presidential apparatus). The size of the armed forces and defense spending is approved by the Parliament of Georgia, the structure of the armed forces is approved by the president. The commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the President of Georgia. The draft age for compulsory military service is 18 years.

At present, the United States and Turkey are actively involved in the reform of the armed forces of Georgia (the latter allocated about $30 million for the modernization of the Georgian army).

Foreign policy.

After the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and Georgia's secession from the Soviet Union, many transformations took place in the country, such as: a change of elites, a change in the geopolitical course, a change in priorities and values, etc. In many respects, this situation has developed due to difficult internal political processes, social problems and unresolved Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts.

In the 1990s, the world was also undergoing changes - there was a process of globalization, a reorganization of the world order and competition for spheres of influence. Against this background, the importance of Transcaucasia and specifically Georgia increased, because. this region was a transit transport area to the hydrocarbon resources of the Caspian region and Central Asia. a transport route was created, called the "Silk Road Strategy": Europe - the Black Sea - Transcaucasia - the Caspian Sea - Central Asia.

While the West had developed a clear strategy, Russia did not have a clear foreign policy program of action regarding the South Caucasus.

Independent Georgia has signed friendship treaties with Russia, Turkey, Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan and has established diplomatic relations with most Western countries. She is a member of the UN since 1992, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, the International Monetary Fund and has the status of an invited state in the Council of Europe, since 1999 Georgia is a member of the WTO.

On October 22, 1993, it was decided that Georgia would join the CIS. In addition, Georgia agreed to conduct a peacekeeping operation on the territory of Abkhazia.

In the 1990s, relations with Russia ceased to be a priority for the new Georgian elites, and since 2004, when M. Saakashvili came to power, the country's orientation has become exclusively pro-Western. Relations with Russia began to deteriorate. The peak was the war in August 2008, there was a break in diplomatic relations and Georgia's withdrawal from the CIS. Although the presence of Georgia in the CIS can be characterized more as a formality. The foreign policy of the country was a course towards Western international structures like NATO and the European Union. The main strategic partner is the United States as a counterbalance to Russian influence in the South Caucasus.

ECONOMY

Traditional occupations in Georgia were the cultivation of tea and citrus fruits, viticulture and winemaking. The infrastructure of the sanatorium and resort economy was developed on the Black Sea coast. By the end of the 1980s, such industries as hydropower, coal, manganese and copper mining, ferrous metallurgy (production of ferroalloys, cast iron and steel), mechanical engineering (machine tool building, instrument making, production of trucks, electric locomotives, marine vessels) had developed and successfully operated in Georgia. ), oil refining, production of building materials (cement, slate, blocks), chemical (production of mineral fertilizers and chemical fiber) and textile (silk, wool, cotton). The food industry (tea production, bottling of mineral water, including carbonated water, etc.) and the textile industry (production of silk, cotton and woolen fabrics) developed. The volume of foreign trade was insignificant, although two-thirds of the food produced in Georgia was exported to other republics of the USSR. In 1990, over 40% of the able-bodied population was employed in the service sector, and 27% in industry. Until 1992, almost all means of production belonged to the state, and the economy was managed by the union and local planning authorities.

Almost all industrial production was concentrated in the flat regions of the country. More than half of the enterprises are located in the cities of Tbilisi, Rustavi (Eastern Georgia) and Kutaisi (Western Georgia). The most industrialized region of Tbilisi is Rustavi, then Kutaisi - Zestaponi, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the southern regions follow in terms of industrial development. The industrial growth rates in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are lower than in Georgia. More than 70% of all employed in industry are concentrated in Central Georgia.

The government of independent Georgia faced a catastrophic downturn in the economy. In 1992, production as a whole fell by 40% (in industry by 48%, in agriculture by 32%). Rapid inflation began. In April 1993, Georgia introduced a temporary currency - the coupon. By the middle of 1994, many sectors of the economy, such as forestry and construction, had practically ceased to exist, while the rest had sharply reduced production volumes. Inflation for the year amounted to 8500%, and unemployment reached 20%.

In 1995, the government began to bring the economy out of the crisis, bringing down inflation, directing almost all IMF loans to stabilize the financial sector and bringing the structure of the economy in line with the conditions for granting loans. Prices for grain and grain products were released, agreements were signed on the construction of a pipeline through the territory of Georgia, laws on commercial banks, land and tax reforms were adopted. Introduction in October 1995 new monetary unit– lari and a relatively balanced state budget have had a beneficial effect on the economy. There has been an increase in GDP, which in 1996 reached 14% (in 1995 - 2.4%). More than 30 thousand private enterprises were registered. The total number of employed in 1996 was estimated at 2.2 million people (31% in industry and construction, 25% in agriculture and forestry, and 44% in other sectors). The liberalization of bread prices from June 1, 1996 contributed to the formation of the grain market and the reduction in food aid to 138 thousand tons (in 1995 - 540 thousand tons).

In 1997, economic growth was stimulated by the development of small and medium-sized private enterprises that were active in the service sector, transport, construction and the food industry. The private sector provided over 50% of GDP. In its structure, 38.8% was the share of agriculture, 12% - industry, 39.1% - services. The pace of privatization has accelerated. Most small enterprises were privatized, as well as several large enterprises (9,630 objects in total) and housing.

In 1994-1996, Georgia received large financial and humanitarian assistance from international organizations and donor countries.

Currently, together with American companies, the country's energy complex is being restored and electricity production is growing, as well as the development of promising oil fields in Eastern Georgia. The Baku-Supsa oil pipeline is in operation. New gas pipeline networks are being built in Kutaisi, Gori, Kaspi, Rustavi, etc. Many enterprises are starting to operate, although as of the beginning of 2000, approximately 27% of enterprises (more than 800) have not resumed production.

In independent Georgia, the Soviet system of agriculture was dismantled, collective farms and state farms were liquidated. To carry out agrarian reform in 1996, two laws were adopted: "On the ownership of agricultural land" and "On the lease of agricultural land." More than 1 million families received 918 thousand hectares of land (arable land, perennial plantations, hayfields, pastures) in private ownership, 825 thousand hectares were leased to 46 thousand enterprises.

Since 1995, there has been a curtailment of humanitarian food aid and the expansion of local agricultural production in cooperation with international organizations (the World Bank, the International Development Association - IDA, the International Fund for Agricultural Development - IFAD, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization - FAO). The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is funding a project called the Wholesale Market. Its goal is to increase the role of small enterprises in new system distribution and sale of fruits and vegetables based on the principles of a market economy. The project envisages the opening of a central wholesale market in Tbilisi and three regional markets in Akhaltsikhe, Gurjaani and Marneuli.

Due to its geographical position between European Russia and Asia, the territory of Georgia is of great transit importance, especially for the access of neighboring Azerbaijan and Armenia to the Black Sea. During the Soviet period, Tbilisi became a major junction of railways and highways in the Caucasus region. Railways account for about a third of domestic freight traffic. Their length is 1583 km, they are all electrified. The main railway line of Transcaucasia connects Baku with Poti and Batumi. Branches depart from it to Tkibuli, Borjomi, Chiatura, the Kakheti road and the line to Yerevan. Communication with Russia was maintained in the east - through Baku and in the west - along the Black Sea coast (at present, the railway communication through Abkhazia is interrupted). For the development of the peripheral regions of the republic, the railway lines Natanebi - Makharadze, Ochamchire - Tkvarcheli, Brotseula - Tskhaltubo, Gori - Tskhinvali, Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe - Vale, Grakali - Tedzami, Kachreti - Tsiteli-Tskaro and others were built. railway transport difficult due to the dilapidation of the rolling stock, damage to many sections of the tracks, the lack of a modern system of automatic blocking and single-track traffic in some sections. For railways, the main priorities are the reconstruction of existing lines and the modernization of their servicing devices in order to increase the traffic load, as well as the renewal of the rolling stock. It is planned to extend the southern (Meskhetian) branch of the railway in two directions - to the south to Turkey through Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki and to the west to Ozurgeti and the ports of Poti and Batumi.

Road transport accounts for 63% of freight traffic. The length of roads with a hard surface (mainly gravel and pebble) is more than 20 thousand km (only a tenth of them is asphalted). Among the most picturesque is the famous Georgian Military Road through the Cross Pass (one of the four routes crossing the highland zone of the Greater Caucasus). Only the two main highways connecting Tbilisi with the western part of the country are suitable for heavy traffic flows, but even they will not be able to handle large cargo flows if a freight transit system is established. The rest of the roads are in very poor condition, and about 8,000 km of roads are in urgent need of repair.

The World Bank allocated a target loan of $12 million for the reconstruction of Georgia's rail and road transport. In 2001, Japan provided a $3 million grant to purchase 30 road repair equipment from Japan.

Georgia has a number of ports on the Black Sea. Notable among them are Batumi, the main oil terminal and container port, and Poti, where the Georgian naval base is located. Sukhumi played the role of the main tourist and resort port for a long time. Most of the cargo transported through Georgian ports is crude oil. Despite the international status of the port of Batumi, a significant part of the trade is limited to the Black Sea region.

The country's main airport in the vicinity of Tbilisi is connected by international airlines with most of the capitals of the CIS and Europe. Due to an acute shortage of fuel in 1991–1993, air communication with almost all regional centers of the former USSR was interrupted, which complicated the development of foreign and domestic trade. In 1994 some air services were restored by private airlines. Airports are in need of reconstruction, while the existing Georgian airlines are experiencing an acute shortage of working capital, modern aircraft, spare parts and equipment.

The reconstruction and use for commercial purposes of military airfields (eg Senaki) and naval ports open up new opportunities for the development of air and sea transport.

A stable negative trend is developing in Georgia trade balance. It is an importer of food, energy, cars, machinery and transport equipment. Georgia exports mineral waters, wines, tea, citrus fruits, pipes, ferrous and non-ferrous metal alloys, textiles. In addition, it is engaged in the re-export of crude oil. The volume of imports in 2000 was estimated at 898 million dollars, exports - 372 million dollars. The largest partners for imports are the EU countries, Russia, Turkey, the USA, for exports - Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia.

In 1995 decisive measures were taken to regulate the banking system. One of the main goals of the reform of banking and finance is the restructuring of the accounting system in accordance with international standards. In 1995, banks from several regions of Georgia entered the unified electronic settlement system. In 1996, a regional intra-bank network of cashless payments was formed and the existing one was modernized. electronic system cashless payments. In 1995, Georgian commercial banks connected to the international telecommunications network of SWIFT bank accounts.

Georgia's economy acquired a steady GDP growth (over 10%) in 2006–2007 based on a large inflow of foreign investment and stabilization of government spending. However, GDP growth slowed after the conflict with Russia in August 2008 and dropped to negative 4% in 2009 as FDI and labor migrant remittances declined as a result of the global financial crisis. The economy began to recover in 2010–2012, but this process was accompanied by price increases above 6% per year. Foreign direct investment, the engine of Georgian economic growth prior to the 2008 conflict, has never fully recovered.

GDP (purchasing power parity) in 2012 was $27.11 billion. GDP per capita amounted to 6 thousand dollars.

The structure of GDP by sectors of the economy in 2012 was as follows: agriculture - 7.8%; industry - 23%; services - 69.2%. The real GDP growth rate is 6.5% (2012).

The economy remains precarious due to complex structural problems, including tax and energy collection difficulties, shadow economic activity (according to unofficial estimates, in 2001 - 68% of trade income, 63% of the hotel and restaurant business, 50% of construction and 40% industry), corruption of officials, etc. Unemployment in the country also remains high - above 15%.

CULTURE

The culture of Georgia is a synthesis of Middle Eastern, European and local traditions. Already in the Middle Ages, philosophy and historiography, theology and law, poetry and art, in particular applied art, national architecture, astronomy, geography and other branches of knowledge flourished in Georgia. Despite the territorial proximity and cultural influence of Persia and Turkey, the Georgians gravitated towards Europe to a greater extent. The 19th century was marked by a cultural upsurge and the creation of a rich national literature.

Education system.

Education in Georgia has a long tradition. Medieval monasteries and academies were important centers of education and preserved the national heritage even in times of foreign oppression.

After gaining independence, Georgia faced problems in financing the education system. Pre-school education has suffered the most from the crisis. In many areas, especially in rural areas, local budgets are not able to support kindergartens, so the fee for the stay of children in them is increased. In order to raise funds for the wages of educators and attendants, it is widely practiced to rent part of the premises of kindergartens.

The majority of children between the ages of 6 and 17 attend schools, with 3/4 of the schools teaching in Georgian. Education in Russian is conducted in more than 200 schools in Georgia (excluding Abkhazia and South Ossetia), and they use Russian programs, textbooks and teaching aids. In Abkhazia, the number of schools teaching in Georgian is decreasing. Since 1995, children enrolled in the first grades of schools in the Gali district of Abkhazia have been taught only in Russian. As a result, classes 1–3 were taught mainly in Russian. In the Georgian language, high school students studied in only nine schools in this region.

In 1997 a new law on education was passed. Education in elementary school lasts 6 years - from 6 to 12 years. After that, children move on to a two-year basic school or a vocational school (students aged 12-14). The secondary three-year school is divided into general education, vocational and special education (students aged 14–17). Certificates of completion of secondary school give the right to competitive admission to all higher educational institutions in the country.

The higher education system in Georgia includes universities, academies and institutes. The country has 26 public universities (of which 8 are universities) and 209 private institutions of higher education. Education is conducted mainly in the Georgian language, but in a number of universities there are departments where students study in Abkhaz, Azerbaijani, Armenian, Russian, English, German. Training in state universities both free and paid. There is a system of scholarships and grants for material support of students. At the end of a 4-year course of study, graduates receive a bachelor's degree, at the end of a 6-year course - a master's degree. After the master's degree, you can enter full-time or part-time graduate school, defend a dissertation and get a Ph.D.

The oldest educational institution in the country is Tbilisi State University. I. Javakhishvili (founded in 1918) with 5 regional branches, 4 research institutes, 20 faculties, 140 departments, 57 research and problem laboratories, 9 republican scientific centers, 7 museums, information center and a scientific library (3.5 million items). More than 30 thousand students study at the university. Other major universities in the country are the Technical University of Georgia, Tbilisi State Pedagogical University, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi Academy of Economics and Law, Tbilisi Institute of Asia and Africa, Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, State Institute of Theater and Cinema. Sh. Rustaveli, Tbilisi Conservatory (founded in 1917). State universities have a highly qualified staff of professors and teachers. New institutions based on international partnerships have been created: European School of Management (sponsored by the Shevardnadze Foundation), Institute government controlled(a joint educational institution with the US National Academy of Social and Political Sciences, operates on the basis of American programs and textbooks, invites foreign teachers).

Literature and art.

The earliest surviving Georgian literary monuments date back to the 5th century. AD Many outstanding personalities have contributed to the literary heritage of Georgia. These include the author of the epic poem Knight in tiger skin Shota Rustaveli (12th century); the author of the explanatory dictionary of the Georgian language (1716) Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani; Ilya Chavchavadze, Alexander Kazbegi, Akaki Tsereteli, Galaktion Tabidze, Konstantin Gamsakhurdia, Niko Lordkipanidze, Mikhail Javakhishvili and Anna Kalandadze (20th century). Vivid works of prose and poetry, such as a poem Merani Nikoloz Baratashvili, 40 epic works of Vazha Pshavela ( Guest and host dandy wedding etc.), Gamsakhurdia's novel Hand of the Grand Master and Tabidze's poems Moon of Mtatsminda And The wind blows are universally recognized masterpieces. Many works of Georgian authors have been translated into Russian.

Theater.

Georgian drama goes back to the middle of the 19th century. The writer, translator and theater figure Giorgi Eristavi (1811–1864) is considered its founder. There are more than 30 theaters in Georgia. The most visited of them is the Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. Z.Paliashvili, State Academic Drama Theatre. Sh. Rustaveli, Drama State Academic Drama Theater. K. Mardzhanishvili, who celebrated his 150th anniversary of the State Russian Drama Theater. A.S. Griboyedov, State Musical Theater named after A.S. V. Abashidze, State Armenian Drama Theater named after. P. Adamyan, Tbilisi State Puppet Theatre, State theater dolls to them. G. Mikeladze.

Movie.

Cinematography originated in Georgia at the beginning of the 20th century. (the first film was made in 1912). Georgian films enjoy international recognition. Filmmakers such as Eldar Shengelaya (film Shirekilebi), Georgy Chkheidze ( Pirosmani), Tengiz Abuladze (trilogy Supplication, Wishing Tree, Repentance), Otar Ioseliani ( Moon minions), Irakli Makharadze ( Riders of the Wild West - Georgian dexterous horsemen) are winners of awards at international film festivals.

Painting.

Georgia is famous for wall paintings of the 7th-13th centuries, which have been preserved in the Gelati Monastery, Atensky Zion and in the temples in Betania, Kintsvisi and others. Such Georgian artists as Niko Pirosmanishvili (Pirosmani), Gigo Gabashvili, David Kakabadze, Lado Gudiashvili gained wide popularity , Kornely Sanadze, Elena Akhvlediani, Sergey Kobuladze, Simon Virsaladze and Ekaterina Baghdavadze.

Georgian art is distinguished by its sophistication, combining local and European styles. Artists such as Lado Gudiashvili, David Kakabadze and Elena Akhvlediani worked in Paris in the 1920s. Georgian sculptors Elguja Amashukeli, Irakli Ochiauri and Zurab Tsereteli are world famous.

Music.

Georgian folk music, which has existed for over 1500 years, strikes with a combination of Eastern and Western influences. Georgian polyphony is characterized by a special vocal technique and the use of tones close to each other. Usually men sing in Georgia. A typical Georgian song is performed in three voices.

Tbilisi Conservatory has earned a reputation educational institution which prepares excellent performers of classical music. Pianists Alexander Toradze and Eliso Virsaladze, violinist Leana Isakadze, bassist Paata Burchuladze, singer Nani Bregvadze, pianist and music teacher Manana Doidzhashvili, violinist and music teacher Marina Iashvili stand out among them. Georgia has a national symphony orchestra.

Composer Zakhary Paliashvili (1871–1933) collected a unique collection of Georgian folk songs and composed music for operas Abesalom and Eteri And Daisi based on Georgian folklore. Meliton Balanchivadze (1862–1973) – author of the first Georgian romances (1888) and the first Georgian opera insidious Tamara(in the last setting Darejan Insidious). Composer, musicologist and ethnographer Dimitri Arakishvili (1873–1953) became famous for his lyric opera The legend of Shota Rustaveli, which in 1919 was staged at the Tbilisi Opera House. In the same year, the legendary epic opera appeared in the repertoire of the theatre. Abessalom and Eteri Zakharia Paliashvili and comic opera Keto and Kote Victor Dolidze. Giya Kancheli (b.1935) is known among modern composers - the author of the opera Let there be music, several symphonies and concertos, as well as music for a large number of films and performances ( Caucasian chalk circle according to Brecht Richard III according to Shakespeare); Bidzina Kvernadze (b. 1928) is the author of symphonic, piano, choral music, romances, as well as music for opera, ballet and drama performances and films.

Museums, libraries and scientific institutes.

There are 110 museums in Georgia, there are more than 20 in Tbilisi alone. State Museum Georgia them. Simon Janashia, transformed in 1919 from the Caucasian Museum, is the largest treasury of Georgian cultural monuments. Here are objects of material culture dating back to the Lower Paleolithic era, demonstrating the development of civilization on the territory of Georgia and the Caucasus as a whole; handicrafts from different regions of Georgia; a collection of coins from both Georgian and Middle Eastern countries. There are geological, biological, zoological departments, as well as a department on the modern and recent history of Georgia. State Museum of Arts of Georgia Sh.Amiranashvili contains the richest collection of ancient Georgian, Russian, Soviet, Western European and Oriental art. In addition, museums such as the National Art Gallery, State Museum of Contemporary visual arts, State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts, Museum of Georgian Literature, Tbilisi Historical Museum. I. Grishashvili, State Museum of Music, Theater and Cinema, State House-Museum of N. Pirosmani. Kutaisi Historical and Ethnographic Museum. N. Berdzenishvili collected residential buildings from different parts of Georgia.

The largest libraries in Georgia are the National Library, founded in 1846, with a fund of more than 7 million items; library of Tbilisi State University and the Central Scientific Library of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia, as well as the central libraries of Abkhazia and Adjara.

The country's leading scientific institution is the Georgian Academy of Sciences, which separated in 1941 from the USSR Academy of Sciences. The structure of the Academy includes departments of mathematics and physics; earth sciences; applied mechanics and mechanical engineering; chemistry and chemical technologies; biology; physiology and experimental medicine; agricultural problems; social sciences; language and literature with 53 institutes and a number of research centers.

Georgia has brought up a galaxy of world famous scientists. Nikoloz Berdzenishvili (1894–1965) published the first Georgian history textbook; Mose Janashvili (1855-1934) - author of many scientific and popular works on history, ethnography and linguistics, most of which are devoted to Russian-Georgian relations; Nikoloz Muskhelishvili (1891–1976), mechanic and founder of the Georgian school of mathematics, president of the Georgian Academy of Sciences 1941–1972; Alexander Tsagareli (1844–1929), the first Georgian professor of philology, member of the scientific societies of Russia, Norway, Italy, France, one of the founders of the State University of Georgia; Ilya Vekua (1907–1977), mathematician and mechanic, president of the Georgian Academy of Sciences 1972–1977

Mass media.

Many magazines and newspapers are published in Georgia, mainly in the Georgian language. The largest among them are the daily newspaper Rezonansi (leading among the independent press), Sakartvelos Respublika (Georgian Republic, reflecting the official point of view of the government), Free Georgia (daily newspaper in Russian), Vecherniy Tbilisi, Kavkasioni", "Droni", "Iveria-express", "7 days". Among other newspapers, the Georgian Times stands out (on English language) and the monthly independent "Adamianis Uplebebi" ("Human Rights").

Regular radio broadcasting began in 1927, and television broadcasting in 1956. The main sources of information in Georgia are the State Corporation of Television and Radio Broadcasting, the national information Agency"Sakinform", agencies "Iprinda", "BS-Press", "BGI", as well as private TV companies "Kavkasioni" and "Ibervision". There are local radio stations in Tbilisi and other cities. IN different areas Tbilisi broadcasts cable television. State radio stations broadcast mainly in Georgian.

Holidays.

Officially celebrated: New Year - January 1, Christmas - January 7, Epiphany - January 19, Mother's Day - March 3, International Women's Day - March 8, Memorial Day - April 9, Victory Day - May 9, Independence Day - May 26 , Assumption of the Virgin - August 28, St. George - November 23, as well as Easter and Georgian Orthodox holiday Svetitskhovloba - October 14.

STORY

The first traces of the presence of primitive man on the territory of Georgia date back to the Middle Paleolithic. The age of the remains ancient man on the territory of Eurasia - "Homo erectus georgicus", has about 1.8 million years.

In the Early Eneolithic, a large center of agriculture arose in the east of Georgia. The oldest monuments of the Bronze Age in the Akhaltsikhe region appeared c. 5000 years ago. In the middle of the Bronze Age, the largest cultural center existed in the Trialeti region. At the end of the Bronze Age (about 3,000 years ago), Kurgan cultures spread, with which the migration of Proto-Georgian tribes (Diaukhs, Tabalis, Muskhs and Kolkhs) from the south is associated. They knew how to smelt iron and process metal, and their exploits were reflected in the Greek myths of the Golden Fleece and Prometheus. According to the stories of the Greeks, these symbols of wealth and knowledge were located in the Caucasus. The Assyrians, who invaded the Caucasus and pushed the ancient Georgian tribes to the north, reigned in the 8th-7th centuries. BC. Herodotus noted that the Assyrian king Sargon II moved to Colchis with part of the Israelite population, which he removed from Palestine in 722 BC. The Western Georgian Colchis kingdom was formed around the 6th century. BC, and the eastern Kartli (Iberian) kingdom - in the 4th century. BC. Both of them had political and economic ties with the Greeks, the Achaemenid and Parthian states. According to the instructions of Strabo and Pliny the Elder, both states prospered. From the 4th c. BC. Georgians call themselves Kartveli, and their country Sakartvelo ("land of the Kartvelians").

In the 1st century BC. Roman legions under the command of Pompey the Great established Roman power in Colchis and forced Kartli to sign treaties with Rome. Around 330 AD Christianity was introduced in Kartli, in Western Georgia and Abkhazia - in the 6th century. In 523 the Kartli kingdom was conquered by the Sassanids, in 562 AD. The Kingdom of Colchis was annexed to the Byzantine Empire. At the beginning of the 7th c. Byzantium established its power over Kartli as well. From the middle of the 7th to the 9th c. a significant part of the Georgian lands was captured by the Arabs. Several feudal states were formed on the territory of Georgia: the Abkhazian kingdom in the west (including Abkhazia and Western Georgia), Tao-Klardzhet in the south, Kakheti and Hereti in the east, Kartli in the central part.

Middle Ages.

At the end of the 10th c. King Bagrat III united the eastern and western parts of Georgia into a single state (his descendants, the Bagratids, ruled in Georgia until 1801). The monarchy and united Georgia were finally strengthened under David IV the Builder (ruled 1089-1125) and his granddaughter Queen Tamara (ruled 1184-1213). The 12th century was the "golden age" of the country's cultural and political development. This was the era of prosperity of the large Georgian academies in Gelati and Ikalto, at which time the bright talent of the poet Shota Rustaveli (who dedicated an epic poem to Queen Tamara Knight in tiger skin), were made by goldsmiths Beka and Beshken Opizari. Many temples were built. Georgian warriors participated in the crusades, and Georgian scientists were known in the monasteries of Palestine and Greece. By the beginning of the 13th century. The Georgian kingdom, stretching from the Black to the Caspian Sea, became one of the most powerful states in the region and had trade ties with Europe and the East. The period of his greatness ended in the 13th century, when the Mongol-Tatars invaded the country. It especially suffered from the invasion of Timur's troops at the very beginning of the 15th century. The Georgian kings and aristocracy were unable to preserve the integrity of the country, except for the short period of the reign of George V the Brilliant (1314–1346). After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Georgia was cut off from the Christian world and subsequently subjected to Turkish and Persian conquests. Even under such great kings as Vakhtang VI (1703-1712 and 1719-1724) and Heraclius II (1744-1798), the country was unable to defend itself against the raids of hill tribes from the north and Muslims from the south.

Russian rule.

In 1783, Heraclius II concluded an agreement with the Russian Empress Catherine II (Treaty of St. George), according to which Russia established a protectorate over the Kartli-Kakheti kingdom. In 1801, Russia annulled the treaty and included Eastern Georgia in Russia. Shortly before that, in 1800, the last king of the Bagration dynasty, George XII of Kartli-Kakheti, died. Western Georgia during 1803–1864 was partly incorporated into the Russian Empire. This process was especially facilitated by Russia's victories in the Russian-Persian (1804-1813 and 1826-1828) and Russian-Turkish (1806-1812 and 1828-1829) wars. Periodically flaring up anti-Russian uprisings were quickly and brutally suppressed.

In the 19th century there have been major changes in society and political life Georgia. The abolition of serfdom, the growth of cities, the improvement of the education system and the development of industry had a strong influence on the formation of the Georgian nation. Tbilisi (Tiflis) became the administrative and commercial center of the entire Caucasus. In 1872, a railway connection was opened between the port city of Poti and Tiflis. Communication with the Black Sea ports has been established. By rail, peasants came to the cities to look for work.

By 1905, the Georgian section of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party (RSDLP) proved to be the strongest socialist organization in the Russian Empire. After the RSDLP broke up in 1903 into factions of Bolsheviks and Mensheviks, the majority of Georgian Marxists joined the Menshevik faction. After the overthrow of the tsarist autocracy in 1917, power passed into the hands of the Provisional Government of Russia and the Georgian soviets, in which the Mensheviks predominated. Shortly after the resignation of the Provisional Government, the Mensheviks seized power in Georgia. After a short period of federalism with neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Georgian government, led by the Mensheviks, on May 26, 1918, declared the country's independence. With the consent of the Mensheviks, in June 1918 Georgia was occupied by German and Turkish troops; in December they were replaced by British troops, who remained here until July 1920. In February 1921, the Bolsheviks raised an armed uprising and, with the help of the Red Army, overthrew the Menshevik government.

In 1921 Georgia became a Soviet republic, and in December 1922 it was incorporated into the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (TSFSR) as part of the USSR (formed on December 30, 1922). In 1936, the TSFSR was abolished, and Georgia became one of the union republics of the USSR.

Hopes for the political autonomy of Georgia were destroyed by the policy of I.V. Stalin. In order to eliminate the opposition, Stalin in 1931 appointed L.P. Beria as the first secretary of the Communist Party of Georgia, who held this post until 1938. Under Beria, collectivization in rural areas was carried out especially cruelly, tens of thousands of people died in the process of mass purges (party activists, intellectuals, experts and all those who were suspected of dissatisfaction with the Stalinist regime).

In 1944, approximately 100,000 Meskhetians (a mixed group of Muslim Georgians and Turks) were deported from South Georgia to Central Asia.

Under N.S. Khrushchev, Georgia gained greater independence in managing the economy and cultural life.

In the 1970s, a dissident movement emerged in Georgia led by Zviad Gamsakhurdia and Merab Kostava. The course towards perestroika, proclaimed in the late 1980s by M.S. Gorbachev, led to a rapid change of leaders of the Communist Party of Georgia.

In September 1990, an unofficial parliament was elected, competing with the current one, which was called the National Congress (more than half of the electorate participated in the elections). It was dominated by members of the National Independence Party, led by Irakli Tsereteli, and the National Democratic Party, led by Giorgi Chanturia (until January 1992, the National Congress played the role of extra-parliamentary opposition to the Supreme Council and President Gamsakhaurdiya).

On October 28, 1990, the coalition of Zviad Gamsakhurdia "Round Table - Free Georgia" won the multi-party elections to the Supreme Council of Georgia on October 28, 1990. This bloc received 54% of voters and won 155 out of 250 seats in parliament. The Communist Party of Georgia won 30% of the vote (64 seats). The All-Georgian Union of National Accord and Revival won 3.4% of the vote and did not receive a single seat in parliament. Gamsakhurdia was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council in November 1990.

Gamsakhurdia proclaimed a course towards a unitary state without autonomies. Abkhazians and residents of South Ossetia did not agree with such a policy. On September 20, 1990, the South Ossetian Regional Council proclaimed the South Ossetian Soviet Democratic Republic, and on October 26 approved its constitution. At the first meeting on December 11, the Supreme Council of Georgia decided to liquidate the autonomy of South Ossetia, declared the conscription of Georgians into the Soviet armed forces illegal and established an independent National Guard.

In March 1991, the Georgian government refused to hold a referendum on the territory of the country on the future of the USSR and instead held a referendum on the independence of Georgia. The referendum was attended by 95% of the electorate, 93% voted in favor of granting independence. On April 9, 1991, the Supreme Council adopted the Act on the Restoration of the State Independence of Georgia and recognized the Act of Independence of 1918 and the Constitution of 1921 as valid.

Independent Georgia.

At the end of April 1991, the Supreme Council of Georgia adopted a new constitution and elected Zviad Gamsakhurdia as president. In direct presidential elections on May 26, Gamsakhurdia received almost 87% of the vote. However, already in December 1991, a struggle broke out between the president's supporters and the opposition, which was joined by the National Guard. After several weeks of fighting in the central part of Tbilisi, in January 1992 Gamsakhurdia was removed from his post and fled the country. The Military Council headed by Tengiz Kitovani came to power. In March 1992, the Military Council announced its dissolution and the creation of the State Council, which consisted of approximately 70 representatives of 36 opposition parties. EA Shevardnadze became the Chairman of the State Council.

In July 1992, Shevardnadze stopped the 18-month war with South Ossetia, on whose territory the Mixed Peacekeeping Forces were introduced as part of the Russian, Georgian and Ossetian battalions. However, the war with the Abkhazians, which broke out suddenly in August 1992, could not be stopped.

In October 1992, elections were held for a new parliament. Shevardnadze, who received 96% of the votes, was elected its chairman. The cabinet appointed by Shevardnadze in late 1992 reflected the balance of political power in the new parliament. The parliamentary factions soon merged into a majority group, i.e. supporters of Shevardnadze, and an opposition group of opponents of Shevardnadze. The majority united in a broad coalition, the Union of Citizens of Georgia, headed by Zurab Zhvania. The opposition was led by the Popular Front, the National Democratic Party, Charter-91 and the Ilya Chavchavadze Society. The All-Georgian Revival Union represented the political forces of Adzharia in Tbilisi. New political parties were formed: the Christian Democratic Union led by Irakli Shengelaya, the Democratic Georgian Union (Avtandil Margiani), the National Independence Party (Irakli Tsereteli), the Georgian Monarchist Party (Timur Zhorzholiani) and the United Communist Party of Georgia (Panteleimon Georgadze).

Gamsakhurdia's supporters launched a partisan struggle immediately after his dismissal. During 1992–1993, they launched attacks on state leaders and economic targets of strategic importance. In the fall of 1993, Gamsakhurdia tried to return to power, marking the beginning of a short but fierce civil war. In January 1994, Gamsakhurdia was killed under unclear circumstances.

The November 1995 parliamentary elections were held on the basis of a mixed system based on party lists and single-mandate constituencies. There were 10 parties represented in the parliament that overcame the 5% barrier, but three were the most influential: the Union of Citizens of Georgia, the National Democratic Party and the All-Georgian Union of Revival.

After 1995, Georgia entered a period of stabilization. Significant progress has been achieved in the negotiations on the Ossetian-Georgian conflict. The Georgian parliament is pursuing economic reforms in cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank and is betting on the restoration of the Ancient Silk Road - the Eurasian Corridor, using Georgia's geographical position as a bridge for the transit of goods between Europe and Asia.

Currently, Russian peacekeepers and UN observers are stationed in Abkhazia. Recently, 20,000 refugees have returned to the Gali region. Since 1996, there have been no large-scale armed clashes in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

In the 1999 parliamentary elections, held in two rounds, on October 31 and November 14, three parties overcame the 7% threshold: the Union of Citizens of Georgia, the Revival of Georgia bloc and the Industry Will Save Georgia bloc. In addition, the parliament included 12 deputies from Abkhazia and 17 independent deputies.

In 2000, Shevardnadze was elected president of the country for another five-year term. Opposition to the ruling CUG party is gaining strength in the country, as evidenced by the convincing victory in the 2002 local elections of the Georgian Labor Party, the National Movement - Democratic Front bloc and the New Rights party.

The crisis of the Shevardnadze administration and its overthrow.

After 2000, the position of President Shevardnadze steadily worsened. By July 2003, Georgia's external debt had grown to $1.75 billion, and the state was on the verge of insolvency. The country twice sought to delay the payment of debts to foreign creditors from the "Paris Club", and after the failure of an attempt to pass through parliament in August 2003 a decision to radically reduce the budget deficit, the IMF announced a freeze on further assistance to Georgia. The chronic financial crisis, massive unemployment, increasing poverty and an inefficient tax system caused increasing discontent among the population. OK. 52% of the country's residents lived below the poverty line . At the same time, corruption reached a high level. Emigration grew (since 1991, 950 thousand people left the country, of which 600 thousand went to Russia). The number of internal refugees reached almost 300,000.

The opposition and international organizations accused the government of human rights violations, the persecution of opponents of the regime and national minorities, as well as significant violations during the 2002 local elections.

The country was shaken by numerous political and ethnic problems. Shevardnadze failed to secure the return of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which had declared their secession from Georgia. In Adzharia and Samchkho-Javakhetia, demands for autonomy were heard more and more loudly.

In the field of foreign policy, Shevardnadze tried to maintain a balance between the US and Russia, but he was getting worse at it. Relations with Russia grew tense due to the war in Chechnya and the situation in Abkhazia. The Russian authorities accused the Georgian leadership of harboring Chechen separatists and threatened to attack "terrorist bases" on Georgian territory, in the Pankisi Gorge. In an effort to counterbalance Russian influence, Shevardnadze asked the US for more military and economic assistance, signed a strategic partnership agreement with NATO, and announced Georgia's aspirations to become a member of NATO and the European Union. He gave permission for the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which is strategically important for the United States, through Georgian territory. In 2002, the US sent hundreds of special troops to assist the Georgian army in "anti-terrorist operations" in the Pankisi Gorge.

Rapprochement with the United States caused a further deterioration in relations with Russia. American politicians were also increasingly dissatisfied with the Shevardnadze administration. In the spring of 2003, the State Department in Washington warned that financial aid to Georgia could be cut and the country categorized as not making "necessary" economic and political reforms.

In 2003, President Shevardnadze found himself in political isolation. The ruling bloc (the Union of Citizens of Georgia) began to disintegrate. The opposition was led by Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze, who since April 2003 openly accused the government of dictatorial policies and corruption. In August, the former leader of the Union of Citizens of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, joined the bloc with her. They formed the Burjanadze-Democrats coalition. Shevardnadze was strongly opposed by the right-wing National Movement led by Mikheil Saakashvili.

On November 2, 2003 parliamentary elections were held in the country. The authorities announced the victory of the government list "For New Georgia", which received 21% of the vote. According to official data, 19% of the vote went to the Union of Democratic Revival, headed by Aslan Abashidze, the head of the government of autonomous Adjara, who was considered a politician close to Russia. Saakashvili's list got 19%, while Burjanadze and Zhvania's list got 9% of the votes.

The opposition refused to recognize the election results, accusing the government of rigging the results. She organized mass demonstrations in the streets of Tbilisi, which were called the "Rose Revolution". Power structures went over to the side of the opposition politicians, opposition supporters occupied the parliament building. After a two-week standoff, Shevardnadze was forced to announce his resignation on November 23. Burjanadze was proclaimed interim president of Georgia, the results of the parliamentary elections were canceled (except for the results in 75 single-mandate constituencies).

Board of M. Saakashvili.

On January 4, 2004, early presidential elections were held in the country. The candidate of the camp of winners, the leader of the United National Movement party Mikheil Saakashvili, collected 96.3% of the votes, his opponent Teimuraz Shashiashvili - only 1.9%. Adzharia boycotted the elections. Upon assuming the presidency, Saakashvili appointed Zurab Zhvania as prime minister.

The first task of the new regime was the consolidation of power. On March 28, 2004, new elections were held for 150 parliamentary seats, elected by proportional voting. 67% of the votes and 135 seats were won by the ruling group "United Movement - Democrats", 15 mandates were left to the "Right Opposition" (the "New Rights" bloc and the conservative party "Industry will save Georgia"). Opposition forces (Union of Democratic Revival, Laborites, Gamsakhurdia's supporters, national democrats, traditionalists, etc.) did not get a single seat. They sharply criticized the formation of a pro-government parliament, which they described as a path to a one-party system.

The leader of Ajaria, Abashidze, refused to recognize the new government in Tbilisi, and Saakashvili stepped up pressure on the autonomous republic. In response to the movement of government Georgian troops, Adjara closed three bridges over the Choloki River connecting the region with the rest of Georgia. At the same time, the Georgian government provided support to the Adjarian oppositionists, who organized mass demonstrations in Batumi against the head of the autonomy. After brief resistance and Russian pressure, Abashidze was forced to flee Georgia on 5 May; Adzharia submitted to the central Georgian authorities.

Saakashvili's attempts to secure the return of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2004 led to strained relations with Russia. Armed clashes between Georgian and South Ossetian forces took place on the territory of South Ossetia; positions of the Russian peacekeeping forces were fired upon. The Georgian government has demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces from Abkhazia, threatening to use force against the breakaway republic and tourists visiting it. In early 2005, the Georgian parliament demanded the evacuation of Russian military bases on Georgian territory. In foreign policy, the Saakashvili administration is guided by the US and NATO. The government announced its intention to carry out economic reforms in cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank.

On February 3, 2005, Prime Minister Zhvania died under unclear circumstances. According to official version he died as a result of gas poisoning. According to the unofficial version, the prime minister was killed on Saakashvili's orders.

The former Minister of Finance Zurab Noghaideli was appointed as the new head of government.

In January 2006, the president signed a decree on the country's withdrawal from the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS countries. Georgia's foreign policy has changed, and a new course has been proclaimed to join NATO and the European Union.

On January 5, 2008, early presidential elections were held. They were appointed under pressure from the opposition. Starting from December 2, 2007, rallies of the united opposition were held in Tbilisi with demands to postpone the parliamentary elections from autumn to spring 2008. This was preceded by a speech by Saakashvili's former ally, ex-Minister of Defense I. Okruashvili. He went live on the opposition channel Imedi with sensational revelations about the president and accused him of plotting contract killings and corruption. Okruashvili also announced his transition to tough opposition to official Tbilisi. The next day, the police detained Okruashvili in his office, the Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia filed charges of extortion, money laundering and negligence. The Georgian opposition led people to rallies in connection with the arrest of Okruashvili. He was released on bail, and he left for Germany, where he was soon arrested at the request of Georgia. In January 2008, Okruashvili was taken under escort from Berlin to Paris; the Dublin Convention saved him from extradition to his homeland.

The authorities did not agree to negotiations, and the slogans began to become tougher, one of the demands to M. Saakashvili was the demand to step down from the presidency. The number of demonstrators increased every day. On November 6, speaking on television, the president said that the authorities would not make any concessions. On November 7, the authorities deployed well-trained special forces against the participants of a peaceful rally. Law enforcement officers used rubber batons, tear gas, water cannons and guns with rubber bullets against the protesters. The massacre continued in different parts of the city until late at night and ended with the defeat of the Imedi TV channel, which broadcast the protests live. The channel belonged to businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili. During the dispersal of the rally, it was reported that several hundred people were injured. In the evening of the same day, Saakashvili signed a decree declaring a state of emergency in Tbilisi. “The decree introduces temporary restrictions on holding demonstrations and manifestations, as well as calls in the media for violence, overthrowing the government and organizing riots and overthrowing the government with the use of force.” This was done in connection with the "coup attempt".

On November 8, Saakashvili made a televised address to the people, in which he announced the decision to postpone the presidential elections from autumn 2008 to January 5, 2008.

As it became known later, Patarkatsishvili transferred all the shares of the TV channel to the American company News corporation, which is part of the media empire of Rupert Murdoch. Under pressure from the international community, the Tbilisi City Court granted the request of the Georgian Prosecutor General's Office to lift the arrest on the property of the opposition television company Imedi. The court motivated its decision by the fact that the actions of the channel no longer pose a threat to public order. The National Communications Commission annulled the decision to suspend the channel's broadcasting license. The channel resumed broadcasting for a while, but was soon closed again after several journalists left the channel.

According to the official data of the Georgian CEC, Mikheil Saakashvili won the elections - in the first round he won 53.5% of the vote. His main rival, united opposition candidate Levan Gachechiladze, received 25.6%, oligarch Badri Patarkatsishvili 7.1%, Labor Party leader Shalva Natelashvili 6.5%, New Rights party leader David Gamkrelidze 4.2%. , Giorgi Maisashvili - 0.8%, Irina Sarishvili - less than 0.2%. The final document was signed by 7 members of the CEC, and 6 representatives of the opposition parties refused to sign it, saying that the election results were falsified.

The Georgian opposition insisted on holding a second round of presidential elections. The Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia put Patarkatsishvili on the wanted list.

After the inauguration, Mikhail Saakashvili began to form a cabinet of ministers, Vladimir Gurgenidze was appointed prime minister.

In August 2008, an armed conflict began in South Ossetia, or a five-day war, which ended with the expulsion of the Georgian army from the region. On August 26, 2008, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which respectively declared their independence in 1992 and 1994. Subsequently, the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was recognized by such countries as Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Tuvalu.

On August 14, 2008, the Georgian Parliament adopted a decision on Georgia's withdrawal from the CIS. On August 18, 2009, the withdrawal procedure was completed, but approximately 75 international treaties remained in force.

In November 2010, President Saakashvili approved the law "On Amendments and Additions to the Constitution of Georgia", previously approved by the country's parliament. According to the changes in the Constitution, the country passed from the presidential form of government of the republic to the parliamentary one. The changes were to take effect after the parliamentary elections in 2012.

Since 2009, new opposition protests began, which were actively supported by the majority of the country's population. The reason for dissatisfaction was the situation with human rights, elitist corruption and lost territories as a result of the conflict in South Ossetia. The opposition also put forward a demand for the president's resignation. Protests swept the whole country. But the climax was the violent dispersal of the protesters on May 26, 2011 with the use of tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and batons. As a result, there were dead and wounded. The next day, May 27, a parade was held at the site of the dispersal of the protesters in honor of Georgia's Independence Day, which was hosted by Saakashvili. Opposition moods in the country only intensified, despite Saakashvili's authoritarian regime.

On October 1, 2012, parliamentary elections were held, which were won by the opposition bloc Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia, headed by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili (85 seats), and the United National Movement - 65 seats in parliament.

After Saakashvili

President Saakashvili, who was due to expire, according to the Constitution, in 2013, scheduled the presidential elections for October 27, thus extending his term of office by almost 1 year. On October 27, 2013, presidential elections were held, in which the representative of the Georgian Dream, Giorgi Margvelashvili, won with 62.1% of the votes, in second place was D. Bakradze from the UNM (21.7%), N. Burjanadze received 10.1% of the votes , taking 3rd place.

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