Overview

Georgia declared independence from the USSR in 1991, at which time the country was recognized by the West and the international community. This declaration of independence inspired the regions of Ajaria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia to declare their independence from Georgia; brief, bloody wars ensued. Those skirmishes were halted in 1993 when Russian troops moved into the region, resulting in today's "frozen conflicts."

In 2003, the "Rose Revolution" toppled the corrupt government...