Georgia Government 1997

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

National 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 (Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika)**(Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria (Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika)** (Bat'umi),Akhalgoris, Akhalk'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 administrativecenters (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 chairmanof the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded;previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; elected president5 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and headof government
head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairmanof the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded;previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; elected president5 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and headof government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election lastheld 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA April 2001)
election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE74%

Legislative branch unicameral Supreme Council or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members areelected to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results : percent of vote by party - CUG 24%, NDP 8%, All Georgia Revival Union7%, all other parties received less than 5% each; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders Citizens Union of Georgia or CUG [Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, Zurab ZHVANIA,general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina SARISHVILI-CHANTARIA];United Republican Party, umbrella organization for parties including the GPFand the Charter 1991 Party [Notar NATADZE, chairman]; Georgian Popular Frontor GPF [Nodar NATADZE, chairman]; Charter 1991 Party [Tedo PAATASHVILI]; GeorgianSocial Democratic Party or GSDP [Guram MUCHAIDZE, secretary general]; AllGeorgia Union for Revival [Alsan ABASHIDZE]; Christian Democratic Union orCDU [Irakli SHENGELAYA]; Democratic Georgia Union or DGU [Avtandil MARGIANI];National Independence Party or NIP [Irakliy TSERETELI, chairman]; GeorgianMonarchists' Party or GMP [Temur ZHORZHOLIANI]; Greens Party; Agrarian Partyof Georgia or APG [Roin LIPARTELIANI]; United Communist Party of Georgia orUCP [Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders supporters of ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA (deceased 1 January1994) remain a source of opposition; separatist elements in the breakawayregion of Abkhazia

International organization participation BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, 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: (temporary) Suite 424, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 393-5959
FAX : [1] (202) 393-4537

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador William H. COURTNEY
embassy: #25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone : 995-32-989-967 or 995-32-933-803 (operator assisted)
FAX: tie-line FAX 997-0200; 933-759 or 938-951

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

NOTE: The information regarding Georgia on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Georgia Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Georgia Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.