Since gaining independence from the former USSR in 1991, Georgia has been marred by years of governmental corruption, political unrest and nationwide protests.
In 1991, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, leader of the National-Liberation movement, became the first democratically elected President of the newly independent Republic of Georgia. Just a year later, Gamsakhurdia’s rule was brought to a sudden end when a coup followed allegations of dictatorial policies and human rights abuses by the hands of the state.
At this point, Eduard Shevardnadze, the Soviet Union’s Foreign Minister under Mikhail Gorbachev, stepped in as Chairman of the Georgian state council and, later, as President. In 2000, Shevardnadze secured a second term in an election that was rife with claims of vote rigging.
In 2003, highly controversial presidential elections sparked fury amongst Georgians. The country was overcome by mass demonstrations, eventually leading to the declaration of a state of national emergency. In November 2003, following a meeting with opposition leaders Mikheil Saakashvili and Zurab Zhvania, the President announced his resignation. Saakashvili was later sworn in as President.
Once in power, Saakashvili made attempts to strengthen ties with the USA and led the country into the pro-democracy Rose Revolution. But over the years Georgians began to view the Saakashvili government as increasingly authoritarian and in 2012 Saakashvili’s party was defeated in parliamentary elections. Saakashvili himself hung on as President in the short term.
Now, 23 years after independence and following a decade of controversial rule under Mikheil Saakashvili, his second and final term has come to an end and Georgians have made history by electing a new President – Giorgi Margvelashvili – without forcibly ousting his predecessor.
