iously elected
chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November
1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government

head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE
(previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March
1992; Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman
of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government

cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)

election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE reelected president; percent
of vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 80%

Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to
as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 31 October and 14 November 1999 (next to be
held NA 2003)

election results: percent of vote by party - CUG 41.85%, AGUR
25.65%, IWSG 7.8%, all other parties received less than 7% each;
seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 58, IWSG 15, Abkhaz deputies 12,
independents 17, other 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme
Council on the president's recommendation); Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG
[Eduard SHEVARDNADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG
[Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman]; Industry Will Save Georgia or
IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Irina
SARISHVILI-CHANTURIA]; Socialist Party or SPG [Temur GAMTSEMLIDZE];
Union for "Revival" Party or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE]; United
Republican Party or URP [Nodar NATADZE, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Georgian refugees from
Abkhazia (Abkhaz faction in Georgian Parliament); separatist
elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia; supporters of the late
ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA remain a source of opposition

International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Tedo JAPARIDZE

chancery: Suite 300, 1615 New H