Government and Politics of Georgia

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

9 regions, (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi), Chiat'ura*, Gori*, Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, K'ut'aisi*, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, P'ot'i*, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Rust'avi*, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli, T'bilisi*, Tqibuli*, Tsqaltubo*, Zugdidi*

Legal System

based on civil law system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: No Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Georgia Dual citizenship recognized: No Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Salome ZOURABICHVILI (since 16 December 2018); note - the president serves as a largely ceremonial head of state following constitutional reforms that shifted significant executive authority to the prime minister head of government: Prime Minister Irakli KOBAKHIDZE (since 29 February 2024); note - the prime minister is the head of government and holds primary executive authority; the cabinet is accountable to parliament cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by a 300-member electoral college for a single six-year term (as of 2024, no longer elected by direct popular vote); the most recent presidential election was held on 28 November 2024; prior to constitutional changes, the president was elected by popular vote for a five-year term election results: Salome ZOURABICHVILI elected president in the December 2018 runoff; percent of vote in runoff - Salome ZOURABICHVILI 59.5%, Grigol VASHADZE 40.5%; note - Mikheil KAVELASHVILI was elected president by the electoral college on 14 December 2024 and is expected to assume office upon completion of the transition

Legislative Branch

unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats - 150 elected by party lists); members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held spring 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - National Movement-Democratic Front 135, Rightist Opposition 15

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's or chairman of the Supreme Court's recommendation); Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts

Political Parties

Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement Democratic Front [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI] bloc composed of National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats; National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New Right [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI]; Rightist Opposition [David GAMKRELIDZE] bloc composed of Industrialists and New Right Party; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]

Head of State

President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI

Head of Government

Prime Minister Nikoloz GILAURI

Cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers

Elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 January 2008 (next to be held January 2013)

Election Results

Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7%, Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1%

Constitution

adopted 17 October 1995

Independence

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union

International Organization Participation

BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE chancery: Suite 602, 1101 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390 FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT embassy: 11 George Balanchine St., T'bilisi 0131 mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00 FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10

Capital City

T'bilisi

Location

41 41 N, 44 50 E

Time Difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

The name in Georgian means "warm place," referring to the numerous sulfuric hot springs in the area

U.S. Embassy Tbilisi 11 George Balanchine Street Tbilisi 0131 Tel: (995 32) 227-70-00 or Consular Section: (995 32) 227-77-24 Duty officer for emergencies after hours: (995 32) (995 32) 227-70-00 E-mail: AskConsulTbilisi@state.gov

Military Branches

Georgian Armed Forces: Land Forces (including Air and Air Defense Forces); separatist Abkhazia Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Air Forces; separatist South Ossetia Armed Forces Note: Georgian naval forces have been incorporated into the Coast Guard, which is not part of the Defense Ministry

Service Age and Obligation

18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months