Georgia (Caucasus) Country & Tourist Information

Location
Caucasus, north of Turkey.

Area
69,700 sq km (26,911 sq miles).

Population
5 million (UN, 2005).

Population Density
71.7 per sq km.

Capital
Tbilisi.
Population: 1.5 million.

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Language
The official language is Georgian, the only language in the Ibera Caucasian family written in ancient script, with its own unique alphabet. Russian, Armenian, Azeri, Ossetian and Abkhazian are also spoken.

Religion
Christian majority, mainly Georgian Orthodox church. Also Eastern Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish and other Christian denomination minorities.

Time
GMT + 4.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50 Hz. European-type, two-pin plugs are used. The supply of electricity can be intermittent between November and March, and visitors are advised to bring a torch with them.

Head of Government
The parliamentary elections which took place in November 2003 were criticized by international organizations as being flawed. Peaceful demonstrations led to the resignation of President Shevardnadze and the speaker of parliament, Nino Burjanadze, was appointed acting president until presidential elections were held in January 2004. Mickheil Saakashvili, leader of the National Movement, who was the main figure behind the November demonstrations, was elected by a landslide victory. Mr Saakashvili’s party and coalition partners won the parliamentary elections held in February 2005.

Following Saakashvili’s election as president, tensions between the semi-autonomous region of Ajara and its autocratic leader Abashidze grew. Abashidze stepped down. Georgia’s parliament introduced a new Ajaran Constitution and fresh Ajaran legislative elections were held. They were won by a local offshoot of President Saakashvili’s National Movement party.

Head of State
President Mickheil Saakashvili was elected in 2004.

Telephone
Country code: 995. Some outgoing calls from Georgia, except to other parts of the CIS, must be made through the operator and long waits can occur. It is possible for visitors to set up an account with the local telecom company that enables them to make direct long-distance calls without the operator’s assistance. Many businesspeople and journalists now use satellite links to overcome the considerable problems of ordinary telephone communication. The Metekhi Palace Hotel is equipped with its own satellite phones.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. It is possible to rent mobile hand-sets from Geocell Ltd (website: www.geocell.com.ge). Coverage is good throughout the country, but there is limited coverage in the north west.

Internet
There are some internet cafes in Tbilisi.

Media
Much of the Georgian media are considered to be free but there have been reports of journalists investigating corruption being harassed, and sometimes physically attacked. The outspoken private TV station Rustavi-2 has regularly angered the police and officials. The authorities operate the national state TV and radio networks.


Post
International postal services can be severely disrupted. Long delays may occur and parcels should be registered or delivered through courier services such as Air Express and DHL, based locally. It is advisable to post letters in central post offices rather than using the post boxes in the street.

Press
• The daily press includes Sakartvelos Respublika (Republic of Georgia), which is state owned and Rezonansi (Resonance), which is private.
• Akhali Versia (New Version) is a weekly publication.
• Svobodnaya Gruzia (Free Georgia) is published in Russian.
• Georgian Times and Georgia Today are English-language weeklies.
• There are 200 privately-owned newspapers.
• Other foreign newspapers are available.

Radio
• Stations include Georgian State Radio and private Tbilisi-based FM stations Fortuna and Radio 105.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas.
19 Jan Orthodox Epiphany/Baptism.
3 Mar Mothers’ Day.
8 Mar Women’s Day.
8 Apr Orthodox Easter.
9 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
26 May Independence Day.
28 Aug Mariamoba (Day of the Virgin Mary).
14 Oct Svetitskhovloba (Georgian Orthodox Festival).
23 Nov Giorgoba (St George’s Day).

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas.
19 Jan Orthodox Epiphany/Baptism.
3 Mar Mothers’ Day.
8 Mar Women’s Day. 
27 Apr Orthodox Easter. 
28 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
26 May Independence Day.
28 Aug Mariamoba (Day of the Virgin Mary).
14 Oct Svetitskhovloba (Georgian Orthodox Festival).
23 Nov Giorgoba (St George’s Day).

Contact Information:

State Department of Tourism and Resorts
12 Tarzerdi Avenue, 0160 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel: (32) 226 125.
Website: www.tourism.gov.ge or www.parliament.ge

Embassy of Georgia in the UK
4 Russell Gardens, London W14 8EZ, UK
Tel: (020) 7348 1942.
Website: www.geoemb.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1800; 1000-1300 (visa lodging and collection), except Wednesdays (closed for consular information but not general enquiries).

Embassy of the Georgian Republic in the USA
2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 387 2390 or 387 9153 (consular section).
Website: www.georgiaemb.org
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1230.


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