Background:
Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian
revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the
Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Ethnic separation in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, poor governance, and Russian military bases deny the
government effective control over the entirety of the state's
internationally recognized territory. Despite myriad problems, some
progress on market reforms and democratization has been made. An
attempt by the government to manipulate legislative elections in
November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the
resignation of President Eduard SHEVARDNADZE.