Georgia Country Report

Georgia is a moderate risk country located at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Asia on the eastern shores of the Black Sea in the volatile Caucasus region. It borders Russia in the north, Turkey and Armenia in the south and Azerbaijan to the east. It is a unitary multi-party parliamentary republic. The country suffers from marginal instability due to active separatist movements in the disputed regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which both claim to be independent states. There is also ongoing hostility between Georgia and northern neighbor Russia. Moscow previously staged a military intervention in South Ossetia in response to Georgian military actions aimed at reclaiming the territory. Tensions have remained high since. However, the capital Tbilisi and the country's southern and eastern regions are well developed by comparison, and face a low instability risk.

Georgia's economy continues to face structural issues, and high levels of unemployment serve as an additional source of instability and criminal activity. Corruption remains a problem and can complicate foreign investment opportunities, although the situation has improved over the last decade. The government has sought to attract greater foreign capital, and economic indicators have steadily improved in line with this aim. The primary threats to foreign travelers are from petty and violent crime, road traffic accidents and the latent threat of renewed armed conflict, especially in the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Infrastructure is fairly poor by regional standards, particularly in rural areas.

The security environment in Georgia varies greatly between its unstable northern provinces and the southeastern lowlands. Separatist violence sporadically occurs on the borders between Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia, due to tensions over the political status of these disputed regions. Past conflicts between Georgia and Russia have led to long-lasting instability. Radical Islamist activity generates a low-security risk, and there are concerns that Caucasus-based jihadists linked to Chechen rebels operate in the Pankisi Gorge region. There are significant levels of both petty and violent crime, and foreign nationals are periodically targeted. Socio-economic and political issues have the potential to lead to localized unrest, particularly during elections. Violent protest movements occasionally emerge, forcing government changes in policy.

There are no safety concerns over air travel.

Roads are adequately maintained in the south but may be of poorer quality in northern rural areas. Road travel is further hampered by erratic local driving habits.

Ports in Georgia are generally efficient.

Utilities are relatively good in Georgia.

Georgia is prone to cyber attack as its defense to this type of crime is weak. The nation has, however, been working with foreign partners to improve its cyber defenses.

Georgia is located in an active seismic zone, and minor earthquakes and tremors are periodically felt. Flooding and drought can also cause damage and loss of life. The country's mountainous regions can present a number of challenges to travelers including rock falls, freezing temperatures and altitude sickness. Unexploded ordnance is widespread around the Abkhazian and South Ossetian borders.

There are no major diseases known to affect travelers to Georgia. The most common travel-related ailment is travelers' diarrhea. There are adequate medical facilities of a reasonable standard in Tbilisi, but care is limited elsewhere. Serious medical problems or emergencies will likely require medical evacuation. Well-supplied pharmacies are present in urban centers, although they may be sparse and less well-stocked in rural areas. Tap water is not safe to drink.

Georgia is a unitary multi-party parliamentary republic. The Prime Minister is the head of government and the President is the head of state. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet form the government and exercise executive power. The unicameral parliament exercises legislative power. Parliamentary elections take place once every four years. The judiciary is nominally independent of the executive and the legislature but is widely regarded as vulnerable to external pressures.

Coalitions featuring a cross-section of political parties are not required to form the government. Government collapses are rare. State institutions are moderately competent and effective and provide reliable services across most of the country.