The national flag of the Republic of Georgia, the so-called "five cross flag", is restored to official use after a hiatus of some 500 years.

Georgia (Georgian: საქართველო, romanized: Sakartvelo; IPA: [sɑkʰɑrtʰvɛlɔ]), is a captivating country strategically located in the Caucasus region. This unique position places Georgia at the geographical and cultural intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, making it a pivotal link and a historical crossroads between these two vast continents.

Its borders are defined by diverse geographical features and neighbouring nations:

Covering an approximate land area of 69,700 square kilometres (26,900 sq mi), Georgia boasts a diverse topography, ranging from the towering peaks of the Greater Caucasus Mountains in the north to the fertile valleys and coastal lowlands. The country's population stands at roughly 3.7 million people. It is important to note that this figure typically excludes the populations residing in the Russian-occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, whose internationally recognized status remains part of Georgia's sovereign territory despite de facto control.

As a sovereign nation, Georgia operates as a representative democracy, governed under a system defined as a unitary parliamentary republic. In this structure, the Prime Minister typically serves as the head of government, wielding significant executive power, while a President usually holds a more ceremonial role as head of state. Tbilisi, the vibrant capital city, is not only Georgia's largest urban centre but also its primary cultural, economic, and political hub, home to approximately one-third of the entire Georgian population.

Historical Trajectory: From Ancient Kingdoms to Modern Statehood

The rich tapestry of Georgian history spans millennia, marked by periods of flourishing indigenous kingdoms, profound cultural shifts, and resilient struggles against foreign dominations.

Ancient Roots and the Adoption of Christianity

During the classical era, the territory encompassing modern Georgia was home to several sophisticated and independent kingdoms. Among the most prominent were Colchis in the west, famously associated with the ancient Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts and the quest for the Golden Fleece, and Iberia in the east, which evolved into a powerful regional entity.

A transformative moment in Georgian history occurred in the early 4th century CE. Traditionally dated to 337 AD, under the reign of King Mirian III, ethnic Georgians officially adopted Christianity as their state religion, largely attributed to the evangelistic efforts of Saint Nino of Cappadocia. This pivotal decision made Georgia one of the first nations globally to embrace Christianity at a state level. This profound spiritual shift became a cornerstone of Georgian national identity, profoundly influencing its culture, art, and contributing significantly to the spiritual and political unification of the early Georgian states.

The Golden Age and Subsequent Decline

The Middle Ages witnessed the consolidation of a unified Kingdom of Georgia, which reached its unparalleled "Golden Age" in the 12th and early 13th centuries. This period of extraordinary prosperity, military strength, and cultural renaissance was notably presided over by formidable monarchs such as King David IV, often revered as "David the Builder" for his military victories, administrative reforms, and patronage of learning, and Queen Tamar the Great, under whose reign Georgia expanded its influence and saw a remarkable blossoming of arts, literature, and architecture, including the construction of significant monasteries and churches.

However, this era of grandeur eventually gave way to decline. The unified kingdom progressively weakened and subsequently disintegrated under the formidable hegemony of various powerful regional empires. These included devastating invasions by the Mongol Empire from the 13th century onwards, which fragmented the kingdom, followed by protracted periods of control and influence by the Ottoman Empire to the west and successive dynasties of Persia (Safavids, Afsharids, Qajars) to the east. These foreign dominations led to severe territorial losses, economic decline, and prolonged struggles for national survival.

The Russian Alliance and Eventual Annexation

Facing persistent threats and invasions from its southern neighbours, one of the Georgian kingdoms, Kartli-Kakheti, sought protection from the growing power to its north. In 1783, it entered into an alliance with the Russian Empire through the Treaty of Georgievsk. While initially intended as a protective pact, this agreement ultimately paved the way for Russia to gradually annex the territories of modern Georgia in a piecemeal fashion throughout the 19th century, effectively incorporating them into the Russian Empire as a governorate.

Modern Georgia: Independence, Challenges, and Euro-Atlantic Aspirations

The 20th century brought renewed yet challenging periods for Georgian statehood, culminating in its re-emergence as an independent nation with a clear pro-Western foreign policy.

Brief Independence and Soviet Rule

Following the tumultuous Russian Revolution in 1917, Georgia seized the opportunity to declare independence. The First Democratic Republic of Georgia was established in May 1918, initially operating under German protection and later gaining recognition from several international powers. However, this period of self-governance proved tragically short-lived. In February 1921, after a swift invasion by the Red Army, Georgia was forcibly annexed by the Soviet Union, formally becoming the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic and one of the USSR's fifteen constituent republics in 1922.

Post-Soviet Independence and Lingering Conflicts

By the late 1980s, amidst the unraveling of the Soviet empire, a powerful independence movement emerged within Georgia, gaining momentum rapidly. This widespread national awakening culminated in Georgia's secession from the Soviet Union in April 1991, making it one of the first Soviet republics to declare full independence on April 9th. The subsequent decade, however, was fraught with severe challenges. Post-Soviet Georgia grappled with profound economic crises, significant political instability, and internal ethnic conflicts, notably secessionist wars in its autonomous regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These conflicts, which erupted shortly after independence, resulted in significant loss of life, mass displacement, and the establishment of de facto separatist regimes, further complicating Georgia's territorial integrity and post-Soviet development.

The Rose Revolution and Pro-Western Policy Shift

A pivotal turning point arrived with the bloodless Rose Revolution in November 2003. This popular civic protest, sparked by widespread discontent over alleged election fraud and corruption, brought about a fundamental change in leadership and inaugurated a new era for Georgian foreign policy. Following the revolution, Georgia embarked on a determined pro-Western trajectory, actively pursuing a series of comprehensive democratic and economic reforms. These reforms were specifically aimed at fostering closer integration with Western institutions, particularly the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), reflecting the nation's strategic choice for Euro-Atlantic alignment and democratic values.

This distinct Western orientation, however, soon led to a severe deterioration in relations with Russia, which ultimately culminated in the brief but impactful Russo-Georgian War of August 2008. Since this conflict, Russia has maintained military presence and extended diplomatic recognition to Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. This position is overwhelmingly rejected by the international community, which continues to recognize these regions as integral parts of Georgia under Russian occupation, affirming Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

Economy, Development, and Global Engagement

Georgia has achieved significant progress in its economic development and global integration since regaining independence, striving to position itself as a regional economic hub.

Economic Reforms and Development Status

Despite the initial post-Soviet hardships, Georgia is now classified as a developing country and consistently achieves a "very high" ranking on the Human Development Index (HDI). This indicates robust progress in key areas such as health, education, and living standards. The ambitious and comprehensive economic reforms implemented since independence have been instrumental in this positive trajectory. These reforms have markedly improved levels of economic freedom, streamlined regulations, and significantly enhanced the ease of doing business within the country, attracting foreign investment. Furthermore, these persistent efforts have demonstrably led to substantial reductions in corruption indicators, a significant achievement lauded internationally, alongside a decline in poverty rates and unemployment levels, contributing to a more stable and prosperous society.

Unique Legal Stances and International Affiliations

Georgia has also garnered international attention for its progressive legal stances, particularly concerning drug policy. It stands out as one of the first countries in the world to pioneer the effective decriminalization of cannabis for personal use through a landmark constitutional court ruling in 2018. This significant step placed it among the first nations globally to move away from punitive drug policies, notably as the sole former-socialist state to take such a measure. While personal recreational use is decriminalized (meaning administrative, not criminal, penalties apply), commercial sale and public consumption remain illegal and restricted, respectively.

The country is an active and committed member of numerous international organizations, reflecting its strategic positioning and dedication to multilateral cooperation across both Europe and Asia. Key memberships underscore its geopolitical alignment and development goals:

National Symbols: The Flag of Georgia

Among Georgia's most prominent and recognizable national symbols is its distinctive flag, officially known in Georgian as საქართველოს სახელმწიფო დროშა (romanized: sakartvelos sakhelmts'ipo drosha), and colloquially referred to as the "five-cross flag" (ხუთჯვრიანი დროშა, romanized: khutjvriani drosha).

This striking emblem features a large red St. George's Cross centrally placed on a white rectangular background. In each of the four quadrants created by this large cross, there is a smaller red bolnur-katskhuri cross, sometimes described as a Georgian Bolnisi Cross. Historically, this design served as a primary banner of the medieval Kingdom of Georgia, particularly prominent during the glorious reigns of King David IV and Queen Tamar. Its design is deeply rooted in profound Christian symbolism: the large cross represents Jesus Christ and Saint George, Georgia's patron saint, while the four smaller crosses are traditionally believed to symbolize the four Evangelists or the five holy wounds of Christ, unequivocally underscoring Georgia's profound and enduring Christian heritage.

After centuries of disuse during periods of foreign domination, the flag experienced a powerful resurgence and was officially re-popularized in the late 20th and early 21st centuries during the Georgian national revival. Its re-adoption in 2004, following the Rose Revolution, was a potent and widely celebrated symbol of Georgia's renewed national identity, its regained sovereignty, and its unbreakable historical continuity as a deeply Christian nation.