Georgia/Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: none
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: GG

Government type: republic

Capital: T'bilisi?

Administrative divisions: 53 rayons (raionebi, singular - raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abashis?, Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi?), Adigenis?, Ajaria? or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi?), Akhalgoris?, khalk'alak'is?, Akhalts'ikhis?, Akhmetis?, Ambrolauris?, Aspindzis?, Baghdat'is?, Bolnisis?, Borjomis?, Chiat'ura?*, Ch'khorotsqus?, Ch'okhatauris?, Dedop'listsqaros?, Dmanisis?, Dushet'is?, Gardabanis?, Gori?*, Goris?, Gurjaanis?, Javis?, K'arelis?, Kaspis?, Kharagaulis?, Khashuris?, Khobis?, Khonis?, K'ut'aisi?*, Lagodekhis?, Lanch'khut'is?, Lentekhis?, Marneulis?, Martvilis?, Mestiis?, Mts'khet'is?, Ninotsmindis?, Onis?, Ozurget'is?, P'ot'i?*, Qazbegis?, Qvarlis?, Rust'avi?*, Sach'kheris?, Sagarejos?, Samtrediis?, Senakis?, Sighnaghis?, T'bilisi?*, T'elavis?, T'erjolis?, T'et'ritsqaros?, T'ianet'is?, Tqibuli?*, Ts'ageris?, Tsalenjikhis?, Tsalkis?, Tsqaltubo?*, Vanis?, Zestap'onis?, Zugdidi?*, Zugdidis?
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1991)

Constitution: adopted 17 October 1995

Legal system: based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President [Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE]? (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held 9 April 2000)
election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held [31 October]? 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - CUG 41.85%, AGUR 25.65%, IWSG 7.8%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 59, IWSG 15, Abkhaz deputies 12, independents 14, other 5

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: [Citizen's Union of Georgia]? or CUG [Eduard SHEVARDNADZE]; [Georgian United Communist Party]? or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman]; [Greens Party]? [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; [Industry Will Save Georgia]? or IWSG [Georgi Topadze]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; [National Democratic Party]? or NDP [Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTURIA]; [National Independent Party]? or NIP [Irakli TSERETELI, chairman]; [People's Party]? [Mamuka GIORGADZE]; [Socialist Party]? or SPG [Vakhtang RCHEULISHVILI]; [[Union for "Revival" Party]] or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE]; [Union of Traditionalist]?s or UGT [Akaki ASATIANI]; [United Republican Party]? or URP [Nodar NATADZE, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Georgian refugees from Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament); separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia; supporters of the late ousted President [Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA]? remain a source of opposition

International organization participation: BSEC?, CCC?, CE, CE (guest), CIS?, EAPC?, EBRD?, ECE?, FAO, IAEA, IBRD?, ICAO, IDA?, IFAD?, IFC?, IFRCS?, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat?, Interpol?, IOC, IOM? (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW?, OSCE?, PFP?, UN, UNCTAD?, UNESCO, UNIDO?, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO?, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE
chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth S. YALOWITZ
embassy:

1. 25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026

mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [995] (32) 989-967
FAX: [995] (32) 933-759

Flag description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below