Georgia's location, nestled between the Black Sea, Russia, and Turkey, renders it strategically important. It is developing as the gateway from the Black Sea to the Caucasus and the larger Caspian region, but also serves as a buffer between Russia and Turkey. Georgia has a long and tumultuous relationship with Russia, but it is reaching out to its other neighbours and looking to the West in search of alternatives and opportunities. It signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with the European Union, participates in the Partnership for Peace, and encourages foreign investment. France, Germany, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States all have embassies in Tbilisi. Georgia in 2004-2008 sought to become a member of NATO, but did not succeed in the face of strong Russian opposition.
The president of Georgia is the ceremonial head of state of Georgia as well as the commander-in-chief of the Defense Forces. The constitution defines the presidential office as "the guarantor of the country's unity and national independence."
The National Guard of Georgia is a branch of the Defense Forces of Georgia. It is tasked with responding to external threats, civil disturbances, and natural disasters. The GNG is also responsible for the mobilization of reservists.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia is a governmental body of Georgia responsible for protecting and promoting Georgia's interest and its persons and entities abroad. The Ministry is led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs who is appointed by the Prime Minister of Georgia as a member of cabinet. The position is currently held by Ilia Darchiashvili, in office since 04 April 2022.
Salome Zourabichvili is a French-Georgian politician and former diplomat currently serving as the fifth president of Georgia, in office since December 2018. She is the first woman to be elected as Georgia's president, a position she will occupy for a term of six years. As a result of constitutional changes coming into effect in 2024, Zourabichvili is expected to be Georgia's last popularly elected president; future heads of state are to be elected indirectly by a parliamentary college of electors.
Visitors to Georgia must obtain a visa from Georgian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or one of the countries whose citizens can obtain an e-Visa. Visitors must hold a passport valid for the period of intended stay, while Georgian citizens can enter with a valid or expired passport or identity card.
The Ceremonial Palace of Georgia, formerly known as the Presidential Administration of Georgia or formerly the Avlabari Presidential Residence, is a palace for state ceremonies in Tbilisi that used to house the administration of President of Georgia. Located in a refurbished building of the former Imperial gendarmerie, it is located on the left bank of the Kura River, in the Avlabari district of Tbilisi, Georgia.
Irakli Garibashvili is a Georgian politician and a former business executive who has served as the prime minister of Georgia since 22 February 2021. He previously served as prime minister from 20 November 2013 until his resignation on 30 December 2015. Garibashvili is a member of the Georgian Dream party. He entered politics with his long-time associate Bidzina Ivanishvili, in October 2012.
Mikheil Janelidze is a chairman of Center for European Governance & Economy. He is a former Georgian government official who served as Vice Prime Minister (2017–2018), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2015–2018), First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2015) and Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia (2011-2015).
Presidential elections were held in Georgia on 28 October 2018. As no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff between Salome Zourabichvili and Grigol Vashadze was held on 28 November 2018. Salome Zourabichvili won with around 60% of the vote in the second round and took office on 16 December 2018.
Salomé Zourabichvili's tenure as the fifth president of Georgia began with her inauguration on 16 December 2018, and the first presidency since the adoption of a new Constitution transforming Georgia into a parliamentary system in 2018. Zourabichvili's term is set to be the longest term of any presidency in Georgia's history, as the transition into a new Constitution means that her mandate will last until 2024.
The 2019 protests in Georgia, also known as Gavrilov's Night, refers to a series of anti-government and snap election-demanding protests in the country of Georgia.
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Georgia when its first case was confirmed in Tbilisi on 26 February 2020.
The Embassy of Georgia in The Hague is the diplomatic mission of Georgia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is located at Lange Vijverberg 12 in The Hague. The Embassy was established in 2007 after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and the Netherlands on April 22, 1992 and relocated to its current address in 2017. Prior to the opening of the Embassy, Georgia covered diplomatic relations with the Netherlands through its diplomatic mission in Brussels.
The 2020–2021 Georgian political crisis was a political crisis in Georgia that resulted from allegations by opposition parties that the 2020 Georgian parliamentary election was rigged. The opposition accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of election fraud and did not recognize the results. They announced protests and parliamentary boycott. The opposition held a rally on November 1, a day after the elections, and called for snap parliamentary elections. On November 2, the eight opposition parties refused to enter parliament. In February 2021, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia resigned over plans to arrest opposition leader Nika Melia, which occurred on 23 February.
The Orbeliani Palace or the Atoneli Residence is the official residence of the president of Georgia. It is located on Atoneli street in Central Tbilisi.
Individuals and events related to Georgia in 2022.
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