What is the current political situation in Georgia?

Georgia is an independent and safe country without any political unrest or war. The idea of a stable country where different nations can coexist peacefully has been proven over the centuries in this country. Georgians generally respect diversity in society and are tolerant of minorities.

Georgia holds regular and competitive elections, and its democratic trajectory shows signs of improvement. According to the Freedomhouse, these are the main factors that determine the level of freedom in Georgia:

• Electoral laws are generally fair, and independent bodies have typically done so impartially. 
• The media is diverse and free to express opinions.
• Academic freedom is protected.
• Georgia is generally known for giving people the freedom of expressing themselves, something that can be seen in online communications.
• The civil society sector is fairly robust and active.
• Workers have many rights and protections in the workplace. These include being able to organize, bargain collectively, and strike.
• The legal framework and government policies are supportive of business activity.
• Personal social freedoms are respected.

What does Georgian society look like?

The character of the Georgian society is the result of the history and experience accumulated over the centuries. The many resources in Georgia such as historic villages, beaches, farms, and vineyards make it the perfect location for the cultural experience because of its exciting diversity. Its society is famous for its hospitality and tolerance characteristics. Georgians respect the representatives of minorities, members of different religions, and various races, trying to show the true face of their country with a kind attitude.

Christianity has been the main religious influence in Georgia since at least the fourth century A.D. Most of the modern Georgian population identifies with the Georgian Orthodox Church, which is about 83% of the population. However, Muslims make up 9-10% of the population while the Armenian Apostolic Church makes up a total of 4%. There are a lot of other religious minorities in the country, which explains that the freedom of religion is a major part of Georgian society.

Brief History of Georgia

Georgia has a rich, ancient history with a lot of picturesque beauty. For many centuries, this territory has been a battlefield due to its strategic location. Despite some tough times, Georgia managed to survive and maintain its statehood.

According to ancient history, in the 2nd millennium, two pieces of Georgia that were Diaokh and Kolkha were formed. They were overthrown by nomadic tribes invading from the north. At the end of the VI-IV centuries BC, there were formed two ancient kingdoms called Colchis and Iberia.

Georgia became a major player in the region during the IV century. In 326, St. Nino of Cappadocia introduced Christianity to this nation. This was a big event for Georgia as it significantly determined the future development of the country. In the Middle Ages, Georgia was divided into many different royal principalities and it was not until the 12th century that it was united by one of the greatest Georgian kings – Davit Agmashebeli. However, the development reached its peak between the 11th and 13th centuries, when King Tamar was ruling, which is why it is called “the golden age”. Georgia resisted the invasions of such great empires as Byzantium, Persia, Mongol Empire, Ottoman Empire, and others. 

The Russian Empire annexed Georgia in 1891. They ignored Georgian traditions, language, culture, and habits. The frescos in all Georgian cathedrals were black-washed and both the status of the Patriarch and the autocephaly of the Georgian Church were abolished. This was a hard period for Georgia as it was fighting not only for its freedom but also for its identity. It was not until 1918, after the overthrow of the Russian Empire, that Georgia gained political independence. In the same year, the country’s first parliament was established in the newly independent country. However, the freedom turned out to be brief as in February of 1921, Tbilisi was occupied by the Russian Red Army. From 1921 to 1991 Georgia was part of the Soviet Union.

Georgia finally gained its independence in 1991. However, during the first years of independence, Georgia was in the chaos of the Civil War, which lasted from 1991 to 1993. This conflict has consisted of inter-ethnic and international conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which still remain disputed territories of Georgia. In 2008, The country was involved in the Russo-Georgian War. Russian forces attacked the Georgian cities of Zugdidi, Senaki, Poti, and Gori. They held these areas beyond the ceasefire when they could have otherwise withdrawn. During this time, the South Ossetians destroyed ethnic Georgian villages and started the ethnic cleansing of Georgian.

Despite the centuries of war, Georgia has never lost its desire for freedom. From the time of independence to the present day, the Georgian people have maintained their freedom and have not stopped developing the country’s economy.

Development of Georgia

After gaining independence, Georgia began to develop rapidly. In recent decades, infrastructure has been improved, water, electricity, and gas have become available to villages and suburbs, buildings with modern architecture have been built, and medical services have become accessible to all people.

If we compare modern Georgia with its situation 18 years ago, we will see that it has completely changed. In the 1990s, Georgia struggled to provide residents with constant electricity, gas, and water, there was no high-quality infrastructure, and it was difficult to move between cities. However, today the country is at a stage of development where citizens can live comfortably, and all necessary resources are available.

Ownership rules in Georgia

The right to own real estate is one of the most essential rights protected by the Constitution of the country of Georgia. As with most laws, there are many different rules and regulations in the Civil Code that you may need to follow. There are various forms of property ownership under Georgian legislation, whether in the Tbilisi or Batumi real estate market.

Public Registry is a government agency dedicated to creating and maintaining a transparent immovable property registry, developing property and business registration systems, and spatial data infrastructure with fast and innovative services. Ownership documents are obtained easily through the Justice House, which takes only one day.

Owning a property in Georgia is easy and accessible for any person, meaning that any foreigner can buy the property regardless of the country they are from. As a foreigner, you have the same rights as Georgian citizens when it comes to purchasing the residential property. Another rule of property is that Georgia has no tax for foreign nationals on the purchase and sales of property. You do not need a local partner to buy the property. Instead, you will be the direct owner of the property. Once you purchase the property, you will have lifetime ownership and the right to transfer it to your children after. However, if you plan to sell your property privately, you can do that comfortably without paying the government.

Foreign Investments in Georgia

located in the Caucasus region, near the black sea, Georgia is geographically well positioned as a gateway between Europe and Asia. With the stable economy, thriving cities, and competitive costs of operating business, Georgia is the perfect place for investments.

Top reasons to invest in Georgia

• Georgia is ranked as a leading performer by international institutions
• Strategic geographic location
• Free trade agreements with 2.3 bln consumer market
• fast-growing economy
• Corruption-free destination
• Growth-friendly tax policy
• Young, skilled, and competitive labor force

Galleria Tbilisi

Galleria Tbilisi – Completed in November of 2017 “Galleria Tbilisi” is a multifunctional Shopping Centre, which is located in Tbilisi, Rustaveli Avenue. The total investment size for the project was US$84M.

City Mall Saburtalo

City Mall Saburtalo is a modern, energy-efficient shopping mall in Tbilisi, offering two-lever parking for 1500 cars. The total investment in the project was US$71M. City Mall Saburtalo unites over 200 shops, cafes, restaurants, bowling centers, and the country’s largest cinema.

Axis Towers

Axis Towers is the tallest skyscraper building, consisting of two 32-story towers. This project includes retail areas, restaurants, cafes, conference rooms, and office spaces. The total investment in the project was US$101.4M.

Paragraph Hotel Freedom Square

The paragraph Hotel project is located on freedom square in Tbilisi. This building will operate as part of Marriot International’s Luxury Collection. The hotel will feature 220 rooms of six different categories and styles. The total investment in the project is US$106M.

According to Geostat, the top investing countries in 2021 were the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Turkey. As for the most popular sectors for investing, Energy, Financial, and Real estate sectors are occupying the main positions.

Is Georgia a safe country?

Georgia is a safe country for both local and foreign residents. According to global statistics, the crime index of Georgia is 23.38, which is lower than countries such as Germany, Italy, and France. Tbilisi, which is the capital of Georgia, is considered one of the safest cities in the world (currently 45th according to the 2022 Safety Index). According to the 2021 Gallup Law and Order Index, with a score of 88 out of 100, Georgia is among one of the safest countries in the world.