2003, a new era in the country's political history

The "Rose Revolution" overthrows Eduard Chevarnardze, the legatee of Russian politics. The new President Saakashvili has two objectives: modernisation and democratisation. Georgia looks towards Europe, turning its back on Russia. Russia is responding with ever greater diplomatic and economic pressure. The war of 2008 will be the concretisation of these tensions. In domestic politics, the newly elected representative advocates the eradication of corruption, a liberal ideology, and a real social and economic transformation of the country. Under his leadership, Georgia has become a liberal market economy democracy. The path is far from being "paved with roses": as a result of his abuses of power, Saakashvili was ousted in 2013. He will be replaced by the oligarch Ivanishvili, at the head of the Georgian Dream coalition. On 28 October 2018, a wind of renewal marked the political scene in Georgia. President Margelashvili has just completed his term of office with a mixed result. His party, the Georgian Dream, presents a new candidate: the former French diplomat Salome Zurabishvili.

The institutions

Since 1991, Georgia has been a presidential republic. The current President, Salome Zurabishvili, elected in 2018 - exceptionally for six years - by direct universal suffrage, holds executive power. Since 2015, the role of the President has been purely representative, with the bulk of the executive being held by the Prime Minister.

Legislative power is in the hands of the parliament, or Supreme Council, currently presided over by David Oussoupchvili. It has 235 members elected for a period of four years.

The "owner of the house on the hill."

There is no need to name him, in Georgia we know who he is. The Georgian Dream remains the instrument of one man: Bidzina Ivanichvili. He is the happy resident of this palace overlooking Tbilisi. Before the last presidential elections, he knighted the current president. The billionaire does not need an official post: he is the real strong man of the country. His fortune, officially amounting to 4.9 billion dollars, is equivalent to 45.4% of the GDP. It was made in Russia.

Freedom and human rights in Georgia

According to a European Parliament report dated July 2018, Georgia still has to make progress in terms of human rights, especially towards "minority and vulnerable groups": ethnic minorities, homosexuals, women victims of sexual violence

... NGOs accused the government of interfering in trials deemed unfair. According to Amnesty International, law enforcement officials who fail to respect citizens' human rights go unpunished. Some political refugees are forcibly repatriated to their countries of origin, as was the case for Turkish and Azerbaijani refugees who were kidnapped by Georgian law enforcement officials.

Geopolitics: an issue, Europe or Russia?

Allying Europe and sparing Russia is Georgia's policy, even if its relations with its big neighbour are particularly stormy. The 2008 war over Abkhazia and South Ossetia was not perceived by the rest of the world as a mere local conflict. In reality, it was an indirect conflict between the West and Russia. There were two options: Russian domination in this highly strategic region or a continuation of European political and economic investment. The region is now an issue, not exempt from future conflicts between the Western world and Russia.

"Go East"

The data for Georgia have changed. It is no longer alone on the great geopolitical chessboard. In the eyes of the West, starting with the United States, the entire Caucasus represents a new focus of interest. Since the early 2000s, NATO and Europe have been looking to the East with two objectives: the search for new energies and the establishment of a new geopolitical strategy. Great minds meet: Georgia, for its part, has adopted a largely pro-Western stance. It is definitively turning towards Europe.

Georgia is now a member of the UN and various international organisations such as the WTO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The Georgian population, feeling Russia's attitude as a perpetual threat, is therefore overwhelmingly in favour of joining NATO and the European Union. A NATO base was opened in Georgia in 2015. During your trip, you will often see European Union flags, more than ever with national flags at demonstrations.

Georgia and its neighbors

Turkey and Georgia: a geostrategic position. Situated between the oil regions of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, Turkey and Georgia occupy an important position. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (south-eastern Turkey) and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum oil pipelines bring precious black gold from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey is Georgia's third largest trading partner.

Facing Iran. In its history, Georgia, repeatedly annexed by Persia, was once considered a region of "Greater Iran". Georgia is therefore very much influenced by Persian culture, politically, economically and culturally. Relations between the two countries are good and very fruitful economically.

With Armenia. Georgia is the only "opening point" for Armenia. The country gives Armenia access to the Black Sea through its land links and ports. This infrastructure is Armenia's only means of land transit for exporting and importing goods. Georgia is also the only crossing point for the gas pipeline between Vladikavkaz and Yerevan.

Relations with Azerbaijan. Georgia and Azerbaijan have common interests: complex relations with Russia, separatist conflicts threatening their territorial integrity. They therefore have every interest in strengthening their relations. Azerbaijan exports gas and oil, thus providing Georgia with energy resources instead of Russia. The country is also a transit country.

Economy of the country

Since the Rose Revolution, the Georgian economy has undergone a metamorphosis. Over the past seventeen years, the country has embarked on a major programme of economic and political reform. Despite socio-economic fragility, the country has been able to modernise. It has adopted a liberal economy with a policy of privatization, sales and very low taxes, allowing a real boom in the tertiary sectors. Georgia also benefits from its geographical position as a transit country for hydrocarbons from the Caspian Sea.

In 2018, per capita GDP is around $4,068.

In terms of foreign trade, Georgia mainly exports copper ore, ferroalloys, and re-exports cars. In the agri-food sector, Georgia is known for its wine, spirits, gold and medicines. It imports hydrocarbons, cars, copper, industrial equipment, wheat and rye.

Tourism, which is booming, is a major contributor to the economy. In 2018, Georgia welcomed 8 million visitors, almost three times the number of its inhabitants. Thanks to its structural reforms, the country is becoming increasingly integrated into the world economy and attracts investors thanks to its many assets: a very liberal policy, a strategic position, a favourable tax regime, an easily acquired residence permit, and ease of access.