Crisis Phase (April 9, 1991-December 21, 1991): Georgia declared its independence from the Soviet Union on April 9, 1991. Zviad Gamsakhurdia was named president by the Georgian Supreme Soviet on April 14, 1991. President Gamsakhurdia was re-elected with 87 percent of the vote on May 26, 1991. On September 24, 1991, President Gamsakhurdia declared a state-of-emergency following weeks of political unrest.
Conflict Phase (December 22, 1991-January 3, 1992): Tengiz Kitovani and Dzhaba Iosseliani led a military rebellion against the government of President Gamsakhurdia beginning on December 22, 1991. President Gamsakhurdia was overthrown by rebel troops on January 2, 1992, and the Georgian Military Council (GMC) took control of the government on January 3, 1992. President Gamsakhurdia and 80 supporters fled to Armenia. Some 115 individuals were killed during the conflict.
Post-Conflict Phase (January 4, 1992-August 31, 1993): The GMC appointed Tengiz Kitovani as acting-prime minister on January 4, 1992. Government troops suppressed a pro-Gamsakhurdia demonstration in Tbilisi on February 2, 1992, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. Former Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze was appointed chairman of the 50-member Georgian State Council (GSC) on March 10, 1992. Government troops clashed with supporters of former President Gamsakhurdia near Poti on April 4, 1992, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals. The government suppressed an attempted coup on June 24, 1992, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) sent an electoral assessment mission to the country on July 28-August 3, 1992. Legislative elections were held on October 11, 1992, and Eduard Shevardnadze was elected as chairman of parliament with some 95 percent of the vote. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly (PA)/OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) sent observers to monitor the legislative elections. Prime Minister Tengiz Sigua resigned on August 5, 1993, and he was replaced by Otar Patsatsia on August 10, 1993. Some 100 individuals were killed in political violence between January 1992 and August 1993.
Conflict Phase (September 1, 1993-December 31, 1993): Former President Zviad Gamsakhurdia led a rebellion from the city of Zugdidi against the government of President Shevardnadze beginning in September 1993. The Georgian Supreme Soviet approved a two-month state-of-emergency on September 14, 1993. Government troops and rebels clashed on September 15, 1993, resulting in the deaths of nine government soldiers. Rebels captured Poti on October 1, 1993 and Samtredia on October 17, 1993, resulting in the deaths of 40 individuals. Government troops recaptured Samtredia and Poti on October 20-25, 1993. Russian troops intervened in support of the government of President Shevardnadze beginning on October 20, 1993. Government troops captured Zugdidi on November 6, 1993. Zviad Gamsakhurdia committed suicide on December 31, 1993, when rebel forces that he was commanding were completely surrounded by government troops. Some 500 individuals were killed, and some 200,000 individuals were displaced during the conflict.
Post-Conflict Phase (January 1, 1994-November 23, 2003): Giorgi Chanturia, leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP), was assassinated in Tbilisi on December 3, 1994. President Shevardnadze survived an assassination attempt in Tbilisi on August 29, 1995. A new constitution went into effect on October 17, 1995. Legislative elections were held on November 5-19, 1995, and the Citizens’ Union of Georgia (SMK) won 105 out of 235 seats in the parliament. Eduard Shevardnadze was elected president with some 77 percent of the vote on November 5, 1995. The OSCE/ODIHR established an election observation mission consisting of 100 observers to monitor the presidential and legislative elections. The Council of Europe (COE) Parliamentary Assembly sent observers to monitor the presidential and parliamentary elections. The British Helsinki Human Rights Group (BHHRG) sent observers to monitor the election process from October 5 to November 20, 1995. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) sent two observers to monitor the presidential and legislative elections beginning in October 1995, and the NHC mission issued a report on November 20, 1995. Nikoloz Lekishvili was appointed as prime minister on December 11, 1995. President Shevardnadze survived another assassination attempt on February 9, 1998 (three individuals were killed during the attempted assassination). On February 10, 1998, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the attempted assassination of President Shevardnadze. The government suppressed a military rebellion of some 200 rebels soldiers led by Lt. Colonel Akaki Eliava on October 19-20, 1998, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Local elections were held on November 15, 1998, and the SMK won a plurality of the vote. The COE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA) sent 14 observers from 11 countries headed by Gabor Kolumban of Romania to monitor the local elections from November 11-18, 1998. Legislative elections were held on October 31, 1999 and November 14, 1999. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 20 long-term observers and 177 short-term observers from 27 countries headed by Nikolai Vulchanov of Bulgaria to monitor the legislative elections from September 28 to November 15, 1999. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent nine observers from eight countries to monitor the first round of parliamentary elections from October 28 to November 2, 1999. The BHHRG sent observers to monitor the legislative elections beginning on October 27, 1999, and the BHHRG mission issued a report on November 10, 1999. President Eduard Shevardnadze was re-elected with 83 percent of the vote on April 9, 2000. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 18 long-term observers and 147 short-term observers from 24 countries headed by Nikolai Vulchanov of Bulgaria to monitor the presidential election beginning on March 9, 2000. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent nine observers from seven countries headed by Matyas Eorsi of Hungary to monitor the presidential elections on April 7-11, 2000. The OSCE/ODIHR issued its final report on June 9, 2000. President Shevardnadze dismissed the government on November 1, 2001. Legislative elections were held on November 2, 2003, and the official results indicated that the pro-government bloc For a New Georgia (FNG) won a plurality of the seats in the parliament. Opposition political parties claimed election fraud. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 34 long-term observers and 450 short-term observers to monitor the legislative elections from September 9 to November 3, 2003. Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov of Russia facilitated negotiations between the government and opposition political leaders on November 23, 2003, during which opposition political leader Mikhail Saakashvili issued an ultimatum to President Shevardnadze to resign. President Shevardnadze resigned as a result of the ultimatum, and Nino Burdzhanadze was appointed as interim president on November 23, 2003.
Post-Crisis Phase (November 24, 2003-September 24, 2007): Mikhail Saakashvili, leader of the National Movement-Democrats (Natshhionakhuri Modraoba-Demokrathebi-NMD), was elected president with 96 percent of the vote on January 4, 2004, and he was inaugurated as president on January 25, 2004. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 38 long-term observers and 435 short-term observers to monitor the presidential election from December 5, 2003 to January 5, 2004. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 13 observers headed by Matyas Eorsi of Hungary to monitor the presidential election from January 2 to 7, 2004. Legislative elections were held on March 28, 2004, and the NMD won 135 out of 235 seats in the parliament. The Rightist Opposition (Memarjvene Opozits’ia-MO) won 15 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent some 40 long-term observers and 425 short-term observers to monitor the legislative elections from February 15 to March 29, 2004. The COE Parliamentary Assembly sent 40 observers headed by Matyas Eorsi of Hungary to monitor the legislative elections from March 26 to 30, 2004. The EU established the European Union Rule of Law Mission to Georgia (EUJUST Themis) on July 16, 2004. EUJUST Themis was headed by Sylvie Pantz of France. Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania died in an accident on February 3, 2005. President Saakashvili nominated Zurab Noghaideli as prime minister on February 11, 2005, and Zurab Noghaideli was approved by the parliament on February 17, 2005. The EU Rule of Law Mission in Georgia (EUJUST Themis) was completed on July 14, 2005. On September 7, 2006, some 29 individuals were arrested and charged with plotting to overthrow the government. Municipal elections were held on October 5, 2006. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 19 long-term observers and nine election experts from 19 OSCE member-states headed by Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens of Germany to monitor the municipal elections from September 8 to October 14, 2006. The COE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CLRA) sent observers to monitor the municipal elections.
Crisis Phase (September 25, 2007-present): Former Minister of Defense Irakli Okruashvili formed an opposition group, Movement for United Georgia, on September 25, 2007. Irakli Okruashvili was arrested on corruption charges on September 27, 2007. Anti-government demonstrations began in Tblisi on September 28, 2007. President Saakashvili declared a state of emergency on November 7, 2007 following clashes between protesters and government police. The government lifted the state of emergency on November 16, 2007. President Saakashvili was re-elected with 53.5% of the vote on January 5, 2008, and he was inaugurated for a second term on January 20, 2008. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 41 long-term observers and 320 short-term observers from 33 OSCE member-states headed by Ambassador Dieter Boden from Germany to monitor the presidential election from December 6, 2007 to January 6, 2008. The CoE Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament sent observers to monitor the presidential election. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 26 observers from five countries headed by Jim Kolbe of the U.S. to monitor the presidential election. Legislative elections were held on May 21, 2008, and President Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM) won 119 out of 150 seats in the parliament. The United Opposition-National Forum-New Rights coalition won 17 seats in the parliament. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 14 election experts, 28 long-term observers, and 360 short-term observers from 48 OSCE member-states headed by Boris Frlec of Slovenia to monitor the legislative elections from April 10 to May 22, 2008. The CoE Parliamentary Assembly sent 23 observers headed by Matyas Eorsi of Hungary to monitor the legislative elections from May 18 to May 22, 2008. The European Parliament and NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent observers to monitor the legislative elections. President Saakashvili replaced Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze with Grigol Mgaloblishvili on November 1, 2008. Prime Minister Mgaloblishvili resigned due to ill health on February 6, 2009. Anti-government demonstrations began in Tbilisi on April 9, 2009. Government troops suppressed an attempted mutiny at the Mukhrovani military base on May 5, 2009. Government police clashed with anti-government protesters in Tbilisi on May 7, 2009. President Saakashvili held talks with opposition leaders on May 11, 2009. Gia Krialashvili, one of the leaders of the recent failed military mutiny in Mukhrovani, was killed by government police near Tbilisi on May 21, 2009. Government police clashed with anti-government protesters in Tbilisi on May 29, 2009. Municipal elections were held on May 30, 2010. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 14 election experts, 24 long-term observers from 22 OSCE member-states, and 203 short-term observers observers to monitor the municipal elections from April 16 to May 31, 2010. Government police clashed with anti-government protesters in Tbilisi on May 26, 2011, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. Government troops clashed with suspected Islamic militants near the border with the Russian republic of Dagestan on August 29, 2012, resulting in the deaths of three government soldiers and eleven militants. Legislative elections were held on October 2, 2012, and the Georgian Dream bloc won 85 out of 150 seats in the parliament. The United National Movement (UNM) won 65 seats in the parliament. Bidzina Ivanishvili of the Georgian Dream bloc was confirmed as prime minister by the parliament on October 25, 2012. The OSCE/ODIHR sent 16 election experts, 28 long-term observers, and 262 short-term observers to monitor the legislative elections from August 22 to October 2, 2012. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent 53 observers to monitor the legislative elections. The CoE Parliamentary Assembly sent 22 observers headed by Luca Volonte of Italy to monitor the legislative elections from September 29 to October 2, 2012. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly sent 14 observers to monitor the legislative elections. The European Parliament (EP) sent 14 observers headed by Milan Cabrnoch of the Czech Republic to monitor the legislative elections from September 29 to October 2, 2012. The European Institute for Democratic Participation (EIDP) sent 35 observers from four countries to monitor the legislative elections. The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 15 observers from ten countries to monitor the legislative elections. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) sent observers from seven countries to monitor the legislative elections from September 26 to October 4, 2012.
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