History of Georgia: from Russian Empire to Independence 1991

The annexation of Georgia by the Russian Empire marked a new era in the history of the Georgian state. The 19th and early 20th centuries were a time of major changes in the country's political, social, economic, and cultural spheres.

The abolition of serfdom between 1864 and 1871 contributed to the development of the country's agriculture: an increase in cultivated land and the division of different regions of agricultural Georgia into distinct crops. Wheat was grown in the east, while corn was grown in the west. However, in terms of technical advancement, the industry still lagged behind. Viticulture and winemaking—traditional Georgian occupations—ranked third after grain farming.

Another important factor in the country's economic growth was the active construction of railways. A railway line between Tbilisi and the port city of Poti opened in 1872, followed in 1883 by a railway line connecting the cities of Baku, Tbilisi, and Batumi. Railways united the country's disparate economic regions, enabled expanded trade, and created conditions for industrial development, primarily coal and manganese. Manganese was exported to other countries through the port of Poti, and oil was exported through the port of Batumi. Cottage industries producing leather, soap, and tobacco products also remained strong.

Georgia's existence as part of the Russian state was short-lived. After the October Revolution of 1917, which marked the fall of the Russian Empire, a coalition government of Transcaucasia was created, recognizing the Transcaucasian region as an independent republic. In 1918, the leaders of Georgia's Constituent Assembly proclaimed the country an independent state. 1921 brought the establishment of Soviet power in Georgia, and in 1922 it became part of the USSR as the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, and in 1936, as a union republic.

In Georgia, as in other union republics, policies of collectivization and industrialization were actively pursued. The Great Patriotic War left its mark on the Georgian people. Georgian military units took part in the battles for the liberation of Crimea, the Taman Peninsula, and in the battles for the Caucasus. Beginning in the 1970s, anti-Soviet and nationalist sentiments began to emerge in the country, and by the late 1980s, rallies demanding independence were raging. Two leaders, Zviad Gamsakhurdia and Eduard Shevardnadze, emerged on the political scene.

On April 9, 1991, based on the results of a nationwide referendum, the Supreme Council of the Republic adopted the Act on the Restoration of Georgia's Independence. Following the May 1991 elections, Zviad Gamsakhurdia became the country's first president. However, he was unable to retain his new post due to fierce opposition from political forces. The newly elected president was ousted, and the country was led by the Military Council, which decided to dissolve parliament and suspend the constitution.

Subsequently, the Military Council was replaced by the State Council of Georgia. Eduard Shevardnadze headed the new political body. In October 1992, as a result of elections and not without the support of the army, E. Shevardnadze became the leader of parliament and interim president of independent Georgia.

In the 1990s, the political situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which were also seeking sovereign status, deteriorated sharply. Between 1992 and 1994, armed conflicts erupted one after another. In 1994, Georgia joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

In 1995 and 2000, Eduard Shevardnadze was re-elected twice as President of Georgia for new five-year terms. However, the dire political and economic situation in the country led to widespread dissatisfaction with the country's political course, which culminated in the Rose Revolution in November 2003. Eduard Shevardnadze resigned early, and opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili became the new president of the country following elections held in January 2004. Mikheil Saakashvili served two terms as Georgia's leader, spanning nearly 10 years from 2004 to 2013. The government was a strong presidential republic with a minor role for parliament.

Foreign policy was oriented toward the West, including with the goal of joining NATO, while relations with Russia cooled. A historic moment during Saakashvili's presidency was the 2008 war with South Ossetia, which resulted in Abkhazia and South Ossetia being recognized by Russia as sovereign states.

Domestically, a number of tax reforms were implemented (the number of taxes was reduced to six), state property was privatized, and the country was debureaucratized.

Since December 16, 2018, Salome Zurabishvili has been the acting president of Georgia.

For more information about Georgia, its unique features, and attractions, read Madloba's catalog. We strive to explain all the intricacies of staying in the country to foreign citizens in simple and understandable language. We'll also give you tips on how to make your trip to this mountainous region magical and unforgettable.

Read also

• History of Georgia: from Homo Georgicus to Modern Times