The Republic of Georgia remains characterized by an unstable socio-political economy and by
gross levels of economic inequality corruption ineffective policing a weak judiciary and a
limited free and independent press. Currently sixty-five percent of the population continue to
live under the poverty level thus facilitating participation in crime and corruption to survive
economically. Following initial independence from the Soviet Union separatist and nationalistic
movements resulting in the secession of several regions and the creation of hundreds of
thousands of internally displaced Georgians. Georgias post-soviet history included violent
political purges including inter-political party violence bomb attacks and murders. Official
corruption remains problematic and includes individuals at all levels of government. This
exploratory narrative analysis of media coverage of crime corruption and politics in
post-Soviet Georgia illuminates the early development of a free press while reflecting Georgian
attitudes about politics and corruption. The analysis includes pre-election newspaper coverage
of the November 2003 parliamentary poll beginning in late August 2003 the Rose Revolution in
November 2003 resulting in the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze and the
socio-economic and socio-political events preceding and following the election of new President
Mikhail Saakashvili from January 2004 through the end of March 2004.
