1989 – Pro-independence protests crushed by Soviet troops in Tbilisi resulting in 21 deaths. Demands for more autonomy in South Ossetia lead to violent clashes between Georgians and Ossetians. Soviet – later Russian – peacekeepers are deployed.
1991 – Georgia declares its independence and Zviad Gamsakhurdia is elected president. He is deposed in a coup and a brief civil war lasts until 1993.
1990-92 – After several outbreaks of violence, South Ossetia declares its intention to secede and proclaims independence in 1992. Sporadic violence continues until agreement on the deployment of Georgian, Ossetian and Russian peacekeepers is reached.
1992-93 – Georgia-Abkhazia War: Georgia sends troops to Abkhazia to halt secession moves. Fierce fighting ends with Georgian forces being expelled from Abkhazia. Up to 30,000 people are killed. Before the war Georgians make up nearly half of Abkhazia’s population but up to 250,000 Georgians and others are expelled, virtually halving Abkhazia’s population.
1994 – Georgian government and Abkhaz separatists sign a ceasefire agreement, paving the way for the deployment of a Russian peacekeeping force.
2001– Clashes in Abkhazia between Abkhaz troops and Georgian paramilitaries backed by fighters from the North Caucasus. The tension is heightened as Russia accuses Georgia of harbouring Chechen rebels, a charge dismissed by Georgia.
2003 – Staunchly pro-Western leader Mikhail Saakashvili comes to power as a result of the Rose Revolution after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigns following protests over alleged election fraud.
2004 – Several deaths are reported in clashes between Georgian and South Ossetian forces.
2006 – South Ossetians vote in favour of independence in an unrecognised referendum.
2008 – Tensions between Georgia and Russia escalate into a full-blown war after Georgia tries to retake South Ossetia. Russian forces push Georgian troops out of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. After five days of fighting the two sides sign a French-brokered peace agreement. Russia recognises both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states – very few other countries do.
Russia says it will keep a military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
2014 – European Union and Georgia sign association agreement – a far-reaching trade partnership deal.
2015 – Russian forces in South Ossetia move internal border 1.5km further inside Georgia proper, threatening main road linking west and east of country.
2017 – South Ossetia holds presidential election and a referendum on changing its name to the State of Alania as part of a plan to join the Russian Federation.
2022 – Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Georgia becomes a temporary home for many Russian exiles.
2023 – Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili draws domestic and international criticism for saying Nato enlargement was one of the main reasons for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Georgia gains EU candidate status.
2024 – Georgia introduces a controversial “transparency on foreign influence” bill – often dubbed the “foreign agents law” – sparking weeks of protests in Tbilisi. EU puts Georgia’s membership path on hold.