Georgia — Extortion: From Professional Criminals to the ‘Revolutionary Government’

Abstract

A small country with a population of a little over four million, Georgia is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Two-thirds of the people are Georgian (Kartveli); minorities include Armenians, Russians and Azerbaijanis. Among Georgians there are sub-ethnic regional identities such as Kakhetians, Khevsurs, Pshavs, Kartlians, Imeretians, Gurians, Svans and Adjarians. Sub-ethnic regional identi­ties were stronger in the late twentieth century, although they remain pronounced.