Regions and Autonomous Republics of Georgia

2. Regions and Autonomous Republics of Georgia Georgia is divided into 9 regions, 1 independent city (Tbilisi), and 2 autonomous republics. Georgia contains two official autonomous regions, of which one has declared independence. In addition, another territory not officially autonomous has also declared independence. Officially autonomous within Georgia, the de facto independent region of Abkhazia declared independence in 1999. The de facto independent South Ossetia is officially known within Georgia as the Tskinvali region to separate it from the Russian North Ossetia. It was autonomous under the Soviet Union, and when it was renamed to Tskinvali in 1995 its autonomy was removed. De facto separate since Georgian independence, offers were made to give South Ossetia autonomy again, but in 2006 an unrecognised referendum in the area resulted in a vote for independence.

3. Abkhazia Abkhazia is a disputed territory on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus. Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny. This status is recognized by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Tuvalu and also by the partially recognized state of South Ossetia, and the unrecognized Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh. The Georgian government and the majority of the world's governments consider Abkhazia a part of Georgia's territory. Under Georgia's official designation it is an autonomous republic, called the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, whose government sits in exile in Tbilisi. The status of Abkhazia is a central issue of the Georgian–Abkhazian conflict. The wider region formed part of the Soviet Union until 1991. As the Soviet Union began to disintegrate towards the end of the 1980s, ethnic tensions grew between the Abkhaz and Georgians over Georgia's moves towards independence. This led to the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia that resulted in a Georgian military defeat, de facto independence of Abkhazia and the mass exodus and ethnic cleansing of the Georgian population from Abkhazia. In spite of the 1994 ceasefire agreement and years of negotiations, the status dispute has not been resolved, and despite the long-term presence of a United Nations monitoring force and a Russian-dominated Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping operation, the conflict has flared up on several occasions. In August 2008, the sides again fought during the South Ossetia War, which was followed by the formal recognition of Abkhazia by Russia, the annulment of the 1994 cease fire agreement and the termination of the UN and CIS missions. On 28 August 2008, the Parliament of Georgia passed a resolution declaring Abkhazia a Russian-occupied territory.

4. Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti is a region in western Georgia which includes the historical Georgian provinces of Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti and has Zugdidi as its capital. Guria • Guriais a region in Georgia, in the western part of the • country, bordered by the eastern end of the Black Sea. The region has • a population of 143,357 (2002) and Ozurgeti is a regional capital.

5. Adjara Adjara , officially the Autonomous Republic of Adjara is an autonomous republic of Georgia. Adjara is located in the southwestern corner of Georgia, bordered by Turkey to the south and the eastern end of the Black Sea. Adjara is a home to the Adjaraethnic subgroup of Georgians. Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti is a region in northwestern Georgia which includes • the historical provinces of Racha, Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti . It covers an area of • 4,954 km² and has a population of 50,969 (2002 census), but nominally also a section of • northwest South Ossetia over which Georgia have no jurisdiction and control. It is the most • sparsely populated region in the country. The capital is Ambrolauri.

6. Imereti Imeretiis a region in Georgia situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. The region's main city is Kutaisi; The 800,000 Imeretians speak a Georgian dialect; they are one of the local culture-groups of the ethnically subdivided Georgian people. In late antiquity and early Middle Ages the ancient western Georgian kingdom of Egrisi existed on The territory of Imereti. Its king declared Christianity as an official religion of Egrisi in 523 AD. In 975-1466 Imereti was part of the united Georgian Kingdom. Since its disintegration in the 15th century, Imereti was an independent kingdom. • Samtskhe-Javakheti ,is a region formed in the 1990s in southern • Georgia from the historical provinces of Meskheti, Javakheti and • Tori . Akhaltsikhe is its capital. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil • pipeline, the South Caucasus natural gas pipeline, and the Kars • Tbilisi–Baku railway (under construction) pass through the • region. The current division of Georgia into "regions"/Mkhare is • A relatively new phenomenon introduced by the Shevardnadze • government in the mid 1990s, partly as a response to the • cessation of Abchasia and the South Ossetia-conflict. In this • process, SamtskheJavakheti was basically formed from the two • traditional provinces of Samtskhe and Javakheti. Samtskhe-Javakheti

7. ShidaKartli ShidaKartli is a region in Georgia. It consists of the following districts: Gori, Kaspi, Kareli, Java, Khashuri. The northern part of the region, namely Java, and northern territories of Kareli and Gori is controlled by the authorities Of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia since 1992. Mtskheta-Mtianeti • Mtskheta-Mtianeti is a region in eastern Georgia • comprising the town of Mtskheta, which serves as • a regional capital, together with its district and • the adjoining mountainous areas. The western • part is controlled by the breakaway Republic of • South Ossetia since 1992 and the independence • of Georgia.

8. Kvemo Kartli Kvemo Kartli is a historic province and currentadministrative region in southeastern Georgia. The city of Rustavi is a regional capital. The population is mixed between Azeris (45.1%), Georgians (44.7%), Turkish speaking Pontic Greeks and Caucasus Greeks, Russians and others. Kakheti Kakheti is a region formed in the 1990s in eastern Georgia from the historical province of Kakheti and the small, mountainous province of Tusheti. Telavi is its capital. The region comprises eight administrative districts: Telavi, Gurjaani, Kvareli, Sagarejo, Dedoplistsqaro, Signagi, Lagodekhi and Akhmeta. Kakheti is bordered by the Russian Federation to the Northeast, Azerbaijan to the Southeast, and the Georgian regions of Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Kvemo Kartli to the west. The Georgian David Gareja monastery complex is partially located in this province and is subject to a border dispute between Georgian and Azerbaijani authorities.

9. Tbilisi • Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mtkvari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tpilisi founded in the 5th century by VakhtangGorgasali, the monarch of Georgia's precursor Kingdoom of Iberia, Tbilisi has served, with various intervals, as Georgia's capital for nearly 1500 years and represents a significant industrial, social, and cultural center of the country. Located on the southeastern edge of Europe, Tbilisi's proximity to lucrative east-westtrade routs often made the city a point of contention between various rival empires throughout history and the city's location to this day ensures its position as an important transit route for global energy and trade projects. Tbilisi's varied history is reflected in its architecture, which is a mix ofmedieval, classic and Soviet structures. • Historically, Tbilisi has been home to peoples of diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, though it is now overwhelmingly Eastern Orthodox Christian. Notable tourist destinations include cathedrals like Sameba and Sioni, classical Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue, medieval Narikala Fortress, pseudo Moorish Opera Theater, and the Georgian National Museul.