INDEPTH: GEORGIA
Georgia
Justin Thompson, CBC News Online | November 24, 2003
When longtime Georgian leader Eduard Shevardnadze announced in November 2003 that he would step down, it was the latest in a long series of political upheavals to rock the country since its independence in 1918.
A veteran of the Soviet and Georgian ruling elite, Shevardnadze is widely credited with playing a major role in the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union he served for so many years.
When he became leader of his home state in 1992, it was on a promise to establish democratic rule with free and fair elections.
But when the results of the 2003 parliamentary elections came, Shevardnadze's honesty was widely questioned and he was accused of rigging the results.
Amid widespread protests, and fearing a bloodbath, he stepped aside, clearing the way for the election of a new president.
Revolution has been a fact of life in the republic since its split from the Russian Empire 1918. After only three years of independence, the Red Army invaded Georgia and forced it to form a republic with neighbouring Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of the Soviet Union.
Seventy years later Georgia tried again to go it alone. In April of 1991 – half a year before the Soviet Union was officially dissolved – Georgia's parliament declared independence from the Soviet state.
By early the next year Shevardnadze returned to Georgia and formed its first government. He went on to spearhead a successful bid for Georgia to join the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Since its latest independence, Georgia has taken a pro-West stance, favouring democracy and openness in government.
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| GEORGIA QUICK FACTS: |
Capital: Tbilisi
Population: 5 million
Area total: 69,700 sq. km
Languages: Georgian (71%), Russian (9%), Armenian (7%), Azeri (6%)
Border countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey.
Pop. below poverty line: 54%
Major industries: Steel, aircraft, machine tools, appliances, mining, wood and wine.
Source: DFAIT and CIA
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| CBC STORIES: |
New elections pledged for Georgia (Nov. 24, 2003)
Georgia plunges into political chaos (Nov. 23, 2003)
Protesters storm Georgian parliament (Nov. 22, 2003)
Shevardnadze must resign: opposition (Nov. 21, 2003)
Georgia could slip into civil war (Nov. 20, 2003)
Russia, Georgia to co-operate on fighting Chechen rebels (Oct. 7, 2002)
Russia claims more rebels moving in from Georgia (Sept. 27, 2002)
Russia ready to hit Chechens in Georgia (Sept. 12, 2002)
Georgia accuses Russia of military incursion (Aug. 23, 2002)
Kidnapping ordeal continues in Georgia (Feb. 21, 1998)
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