COUNTRY REPORT Georgia Georg ia November 2013 pull back from most occupied Georgian territory, but in late August 2008 Russia unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Russian military forces remain in those regions. Billionaire philanthropist Bidzina IVANISHVILI's unexpected entry into politics in October 2011 brought the divided opposition together under his Georgian Dream coalition, which won a majority of seats in the parliamentary election in October 2012 and removed UNM from power. The new constitution, shifting many powers from the president to the prime minister and parliament, including the power to name the prime minister and government ministers, did not go into effect until a new president was elected in the fall of 2013. Conceding defeat, SAAKASHVILI named IVANISHVILI as prime minister and allowed Georgian Dream to create a new government. Tensions remain high as IVANISHVILI, SAAKASHVILI, and their supporters struggle to co-exist until the end of the president's term. 2. Basic Data Official Name: Georgia Size: 69. 700 km2 . Limits: Located southwest of Asia, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and south of Caucasus mountains. Georgia has borders with Armenia (164 km), Azerbaijan (322 1. General km), Russia (723 km) and Turkey (252 kilometres). The coastline of Georgia (Black Sea) has an area of 310 km. Population: 4,570,934 inhabitants (main ethnic groups: Georgian 83%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2%). The region of present day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D., and Capital: Tbilisi (1.115.000 inhabitants) Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, More Cities: Kutaisi (267.000), Rustavi (160.000), Batumi (145.000) y Suhumi (capital of the region of Abkhazia 60.000 inhabitants). and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut Language: Georgian (official 71%). Other languages: Russian (9%), Armenian (7%), short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian Azeri (6%), others (7%). empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Currency: Lari (GEL) Equivalence: 1 GEL = 1’7 $ USD, 1’4 € Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1921 and regained its independence when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Mounting public 2.1. Social Indicators___________________________________ discontent over rampant corruption and ineffective government services, followed by an attempt by the incumbent Georgian Government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the Population density (inhabitants per km2): 64 resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. In the aftermath of Per capita income $ 3.210 that popular movement, which became known as the "Rose Revolution," new GINI: 40'8 (data 2009). Since 58 worldwide. elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his Life expectancy: 77.3 years (73'9 men / 81 women). Position 65 worldwide. United National Movement (UNM) party. Progress on market reforms and HDI (numerical value / no world order): Position 75 democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has Birth rate: 10.75 births per 1,000 inhabitants been complicated by Russian assistance and support to the separatist regions of Total fertility rate: 1'46 children per woman Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Periodic flare-ups in tension and violence culminated in a five-day conflict in August 2008 between Russia and Georgia, including the invasion of large portions of undisputed Georgian territory. Russian troops pledged to Demographics - Population :- 4,555,911 (July 2013 est.) - Age Structure :- years through a combined system in which 77 members are elected by closed party o 0-14 years: 15.4% (male 373,539/female 327,139) lists and proportional systems in a single national district and the remaining 73 o 15-24 years: 14% (male 326,910/female 309,245) deputies are elected in equal number of districts single-member constituencies, by o 25-54 years: 42.2% (male 926,172/female 994,432) majority of votes. Until the recent elections of October 1st 2012, the main political o 55-64 years: 12.3% (male 255,905/female 305,652) party was the United National Movement of President Mikhail Saakashvili who had o 65 years and over: 16.2% (male 293,435/female 443,482) 119 of 150 seats. The remaining seats are allocated to United Opposition 17, (2013 est.) Christian Democratic Movement (CDM ) 6, the Labour Party 6 , Republican Party 2 . The “Georgian Dream” Coalition, led by Binidza Ivanishvili , won a majority in the mentioned parliamentary elections of October 1st, with 54.85% of the votes, compared to 40.43 % of the United National Movement of President Saakashvili, according to preliminary results. The new parliament was constituted during the second half of October 2012, in the new parliament building in the city of Kutaisi. Georgian policy in recent years has been characterized by the implementation of a reform program, still unfinished, but tangible results have been achieved in areas such as the fight against corruption (in the International Corruption Index of Transparency rose from position 133 to 66 between 2004 and 2009), the reform of the security forces, the reduction of tax fraud and other, that have allowed Georgia to become one of the countries that has advanced the EU 's Eastern neighbourhood, in terms of democratic development. The economic policy, with liberalizing character, has managed to stabilize the economy, improve the investment climate and get positive growth rates. The 7% GDP growth in 2011 confirms the strong growth trend since 2010 following the negative impact of the 2008 war. In the first half of 2012 the - Median Age :- Georgian economy has grown by 6.8 %. On the other hand, Georgia is a remarkable Total: 39.6 years international financial aid recipient. The country is a member of the WTO since 2000. Male: 37.1 years Georgia has an important strategic position in the transportation routes of oil from Female: 42.1 years (2013 est.) Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean. - Population Growth Rate : -0.33% (2013 est.) - Birth Rate : 10.72 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) The conflict in South Ossetia and Abkhazia is a central issue in Georgian politics. The desire to reintegrate - Death Rate : 10.17 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) Georgian breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which enjoyed de facto independence - Net Migration Rate : -3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) - Urbanization : from armed conflict 91 and 93, led to an open confrontation with Russia in August 2008, which ended with an agreed ceasefire, obtained with the mediation of the EU. Then Russia recognized Abkhazia and o Urban population: 52.8% of total population (2011) South Ossetia as independent states, promoting the recognition by other countries. One consequence is that o Rate of urbanization: -0.37% annual rate of change (2010-15 about 20 % of Georgian territory is separated from the rest. The number of people displaced by the conflict est.) represents around 6% of the population, about 275,000 people. In November 2010, President Saakashvili made a statement before the European Parliament committing to non-use force to resolve the conflict. 2. POLITICAL SITUATION Executive branch: - Chief of state: President Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI (since 27 October 2.1 Internal Policy 2013); the president is the chief of state and serves as head of government for the power ministries of internal affairs, justice, and defence. - Head of government: Prime Minister Bidzina IVANISHVILI (since 25 Recent Political Situation October 2012); the prime minister is head of government for all the ministries of government except the power ministries of internal affairs, Georgia gained independence from the USSR in April 1991, and its first President, justice, and defence. Zviad Gamsakhurdia, deposed in 1992. Between 1992 and 2003 the President of Georgia was former Foreign Minister of the USSR, Eduard Shevarnadze. The current - Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers President Mikhail Saakashvili came to power after the "Rose Revolution" of November 2003. Winner of the January 2004 presidential election with 96% of the vote, he renewed his mandate in the 2008 presidential elections with 54 % of the votes. The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2013. Legislative branch:- The Constitution of Georgia, currently in force, was adopted in October 1995 and - Unicameral Parliament or Parlamenti (150 seats; 77 members elected by amended in 2004 and set Georgia as a Presidential Republic. The President has proportional representation, 73 elected in single-member constituencies; broad powers and appoints the members of the Government, which must be members to serve four-year terms) individually approved by the Parliament. In 2010, was approved an amendment to the Constitution, that shall enter into force on the end of the current presidential Judicial branch:- term in 2013, which reduces the power of the President, increases the power of the - Highest court(s): Supreme Court (organized into several specialized Parliament and strengthens the powers of the Prime Minister. judicial chambers; number of judges determined by the president of Georgia); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) Parliament is unicameral and has 150 seats. Deputies are directly elected every four Note - the Abkhazian and Ajarian Autonomous republics each have a supreme court and a hierarchy of lower courts are part of a strategy to capitalize on Georgia's strategic location between Europe and - judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by Asia and develop its role as a transit point for gas, oil, and other goods.