The Government of Georgia
Overview
- Capital: Tbilisi
- Administrative regions: 9 regions plus the autonomous republics of Adjara and (disputed) Abkhazia
- Government & legal system: Unitary parliamentary republic; civil law system. (government site)
- Head of state / government: Mikheil Kavelashvili, President (largely ceremonial); Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister (head of government) (official page)
- Official language(s): Georgian (official); Abkhaz co-official within Abkhazia
- National Day: May 26 (Independence Day, 1918/1991)
- Independence: May 26, 1918 (first declared); restored April 9, 1991 (from the USSR)
- Other official holidays: George’s Day (Nov 23), Didgoroba
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official site)
- Regional / international memberships: United Nations/ UN, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe/ OSCE, GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development; European Union/ EU candidate status
- Visa / entry requirements: Visa-free for many nationalities for short stays; e-visa available for others. (visa info)
- Currency: Georgian lari (GEL) — notes depict Georgian writers, cultural figures, and national landmarks.
- Flag symbolism: The ‘Five Cross Flag’ — white field with a central red St. George’s Cross and four smaller red Bolnisi crosses in each quadrant, representing Georgia’s Christian heritage and historic kingdoms.
