Overview
Kutaisi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and holds a paramount place in Georgian history and culture. Located in the Imereti region of western Georgia, it serves as the region’s administrative capital and is Georgia’s third-most populous city. Historically, Kutaisi has been a major political, economic, and cultural center, serving as the capital of various Georgian kingdoms over the centuries, including the legendary Kingdom of Colchis. Today, Kutaisi is a vibrant city that blends its rich historical legacy, evident in its ancient cathedrals and monasteries, with a growing modern infrastructure and a role as a significant transportation and educational hub.
Geographical Location
Kutaisi is situated in the central-western part of Georgia, in the Imereti region, along both banks of the Rioni River as it emerges from the Caucasian foothills onto the Kolkheti Lowland. The city lies at an altitude of approximately 120-300 meters above sea level. Its geographical position has historically made it a crucial crossroads connecting western and eastern Georgia. The surrounding landscape includes the Imereti Plains to the west and hilly terrain to the east and north. Kutaisi is also a good starting point for exploring nearby natural attractions such as the Sataplia and Prometheus caves, and the Okatse Canyon.
History
Kutaisi boasts an incredibly rich and ancient history, with archaeological evidence suggesting settlement dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE (15th-13th centuries BC), when it is believed to have been the capital of the Kingdom of Colchis, the land of the mythical Golden Fleece. In Greek mythology, Kutaisi (then often referred to as Aia or Kutaia) was the destination of Jason and the Argonauts.
Throughout its long history, Kutaisi has served as the capital of various successive Georgian kingdoms and entities:
The city has witnessed numerous invasions and destructions throughout its stormy history, notably by the Turks in 1691. The Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site located near Kutaisi, was founded by King David IV (“David the Builder”) in 1106 and became a major spiritual and intellectual center, housing the renowned Gelati Academy.
In the early 19th century, the Kingdom of Imereti was annexed by the Russian Empire. Kutaisi then became an important administrative center within the empire, serving as the seat of the Kutaisi Governorate (formed in 1846). During this period, the city’s architecture and lifestyle began to adopt more European characteristics. Kutaisi was also a center of Georgian intellectual and cultural life, with the establishment of gymnasiums and a royal printing house. The early 20th century saw it as a hub for Georgian symbolist poets, known as the “Blue Horns.”
During the Soviet era, Kutaisi developed as a significant industrial center, producing trucks, mining machinery, textiles, and foodstuffs.
After Georgia regained independence in 1991, Kutaisi retained its status as a major city and the capital of the Imereti region. For a brief period, from 2012 to 2018, Kutaisi served as the parliamentary capital of Georgia, with a new, modern parliament building constructed for this purpose.
Population
Kutaisi is the third most populous city in Georgia.
The majority of the population consists of ethnic Georgians.
Politics (Historical Context)
Kutaisi’s political history is defined by its long-standing role as a capital city. From the ancient Kingdom of Colchis to the medieval united Kingdom of Georgia and later the Kingdom of Imereti, Kutaisi was a center of royal power and political decision-making for centuries. Its status as a capital naturally made it a focal point of political life, intrigue, and conflict.
Under Russian Imperial rule, while no longer a royal capital, Kutaisi became the administrative center of a large governorate, wielding significant regional political and administrative influence. Throughout the Soviet period, it was a major city with its own local governing structures aligned with the Soviet political system.
In post-Soviet Georgia, Kutaisi is a self-governing city with its own elected City Assembly (Sakrebulo) and Mayor, responsible for local governance. It also hosts the administration of the State Representative (Governor) for the Imereti region.
Administrative Divisions
Kutaisi is a self-governing city (ქალაქი – kalaki), which means it has a status equivalent to that of a municipality. It is the administrative center of the Imereti region. As a self-governing city, it manages its own local affairs. The city itself is historically and administratively divided into various districts or neighborhoods, such as the “Royal District” (Ukimerioni), Sapichkhia, Nikea, Avtokarkhana, and others, some of which serve as single-member districts for the election of some members to the Kutaisi City Assembly.
