Georgia Country Handbook This handbook provides basic reference information on Georgia, including its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and trans- portation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military per sonnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to Georgia. The Marine Corps Intel ligence Activity is the community coordinator for the Country Hand book Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Community position on Georgia. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and gov- ernment personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, NATO member countries, and other countries as required and desig- nated for support of coalition operations. The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research, comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for training. Further dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this document, to include ex- cerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code. CONTENTS KEY FACTS .................................................................... 1 U.S. MISSION ................................................................. 2 U.S. Embassy .............................................................. 2 Travel Advisories ........................................................ 3 Entry Requirements ................................................... 3 Passport/Visa Requirements .................................. 3 Immunization Requirements ................................. 3 Customs Restrictions ............................................. 3 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE ..................................... 4 Geography ................................................................... 4 Land Statistics ........................................................ 4 Boundaries ............................................................. 4 Border Disputes ..................................................... 5 Topography ............................................................ 6 Natural Resources .................................................. 6 Land Use ................................................................ 7 Environment ........................................................... 7 Climate ....................................................................... 8 TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION .......... 11 Transportation ............................................................. 11 Roads ..................................................................... 11 Rail ......................................................................... 12 Air .......................................................................... 13 Maritime ................................................................ 15 Communication ........................................................... 17 Radio and Television .............................................. 17 Internet ................................................................... 19 iii Contents (Continued) Newspapers and Magazines ................................... 19 Postal Service ......................................................... 19 CULTURE ....................................................................... 20 Statistics ...................................................................... 20 Ethnic Groups ........................................................ 20 Population Patterns ................................................ 20 Society ........................................................................ 21 People .................................................................... 21 Family .................................................................... 26 Role of Men and Women ....................................... 27 Social Structure and Authority ............................... 28 Language ..................................................................... 28 Education and Literacy ............................................... 28 Religion .................................................................. 29 Recreation ................................................................... 30 Sports ..................................................................... 30 Entertainment ......................................................... 31 Customs and Courtesies .............................................. 31 Greetings ................................................................ 31 Gestures ................................................................. 32 Visiting ................................................................... 32 Dining .................................................................... 33 Dress Standards ..................................................... 34 MEDICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................ 35 Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel ......................... 35 Medical Capabilities ................................................... 36 Key Medical Facilities ................................................ 37 HISTORY ......................................................................... 38 Chronology of Key Events .......................................... 42 iv Contents (Continued) GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS .................................. 44 Government ................................................................. 44 National Level ....................................................... 44 Local Level ............................................................ 45 Key Government Officials ..................................... 45 Politics ........................................................................ 46 Elections ................................................................ 46 Political Parties and Pressure Groups ................... 47 Internal Disputes .................................................... 47 Foreign Relations ........................................................ 52 United States ......................................................... 52 Russia ..................................................................... 53 Turkey .................................................................... 53 Iran ......................................................................... 54 International Organizations .................................... 54 ECONOMY ..................................................................... 55 Economic Statistics ..................................................... 56 Resources .................................................................... 57 Industry .................................................................. 57 Agriculture ............................................................. 57 Utilities .................................................................. 57 Foreign Investment ...................................................... 58 THREAT .......................................................................... 59 Crime .......................................................................... 59 Travel Security ............................................................ 60 Terrorism ..................................................................... 61 Drug Trafficking ......................................................... 62 ARMED FORCES ........................................................... 62 Role and Mission ........................................................ 65 v Contents (Continued) Strategy ....................................................................... 66 Personnel ..................................................................... 67 Capabilities ................................................................. 67 Future Requirements and Force Modernization ......... 68 Army ........................................................................... 69 Organization ........................................................... 69 Deployment ............................................................ 70 Major Units ............................................................ 70 Equipment ............................................................. 70 Air Force ..................................................................... 73 Mission .................................................................. 73 Organization ........................................................... 73 Capabilities ............................................................ 73 Disposition ............................................................. 73 Navy and Coast Guard ................................................ 75 Mission .................................................................. 75 Organization ........................................................... 75 Capabilities ............................................................ 75 Disposition ............................................................. 75 Naval Equipment ................................................... 76 Coast Guard Equipment ......................................... 76 Paramilitary Forces ..................................................... 76 Separatist-Region Armed Forces ................................ 77 CIS Peacekeeping Forces and Weapons of Mass Destruction ..................................... 78 vi Contents