Samtredia
Encyclopedia
Samtredia is a town in Imereti
, Georgia
, lying in a lowland between the rivers Rioni
and Tskhenis-Tsqali
, 244 km west of Tbilisi
, and 27 km west of Kutaisi
, the nation’s capital and the second largest city respectively. Georgia’s most important roads and railways converge there, making Samtredia the country’s vital transport hub. The Kopitnari Airport
is also located in 10 km from Samtredia. The town's population is 29,694 as of the 2002 all-Georgia census. The climate is humid subtropical, with mild and warm winters and hot summers.
Samtredia evolved as a town from a crucial railway junction in the 1870s and acquired a town status in 1921. Under the Soviet
rule, it was industrialized for the production of food and wood. Due to its strategic location, Samtredia played a prominent role in the civil unrest early in the 1990s. In a high-profile incident, from July 26 to 31 1990, the Samtredia junction was blocked by anti-Soviet opposition groups which forced, in this way, the Soviet Georgian leadership to adopt a liberal election code. The junction was again blocked, this time by the new government of Zviad Gamsakhurdia
, in March-April 1991 in an attempt to exert pressure on the central Soviet authorities. This blockade, however, inflicted a heavy damage to the economy of Georgia and the neighboring Republic of Armenia which was largely dependent on Georgia’s railways. Later in 1993, Samtredia became one of the major battlegrounds in the Georgian Civil War
in which the forces loyal to the ousted President
Gamsakhurdia confronted the post-coup government troops, and briefly controlled the town from October 17 to October 23, 1993, putting all communications to Tbilisi under threat. Although Samtredia has been stable ever since, the post-Soviet crisis resulted in a significant economic decline the effects of which have not completely been reversed.
club A.C. Milan
defender and Georgia national football team
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Imereti
Imereti is a province in Georgia situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. It consists of the following Georgian administrative-territorial units:#Kutaisi #Baghdati region#Vani region#Zestafoni region...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, lying in a lowland between the rivers Rioni
Rioni River
The Rioni or Rion River is the main river of western Georgia. It originates in the Caucasus Mountains, in the region of Racha and flows west to the Black Sea, entering it north of the city of Poti...
and Tskhenis-Tsqali
Tskhenis-Tsqali
Tskhenis-Tsqali is a river in Georgia. It begins in Mountainous part of Georgia, Svaneti, runs for 184 km., and joins Rioni River near the town Samtredia - References :...
, 244 km west of Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, and 27 km west of Kutaisi
Kutaisi
Kutaisi is Georgia's second largest city and the capital of the western region of Imereti. It is 221 km to the west of Tbilisi.-Geography:...
, the nation’s capital and the second largest city respectively. Georgia’s most important roads and railways converge there, making Samtredia the country’s vital transport hub. The Kopitnari Airport
Kopitnari Airport
Kopitnari Airport is an airport located west of Kutaisi, the second largest city in Georgia and capital of the western region of Imereti. It is one of three international airports currently in operation in Georgia.-Airlines and destinations:...
is also located in 10 km from Samtredia. The town's population is 29,694 as of the 2002 all-Georgia census. The climate is humid subtropical, with mild and warm winters and hot summers.
Samtredia evolved as a town from a crucial railway junction in the 1870s and acquired a town status in 1921. Under the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
rule, it was industrialized for the production of food and wood. Due to its strategic location, Samtredia played a prominent role in the civil unrest early in the 1990s. In a high-profile incident, from July 26 to 31 1990, the Samtredia junction was blocked by anti-Soviet opposition groups which forced, in this way, the Soviet Georgian leadership to adopt a liberal election code. The junction was again blocked, this time by the new government of Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia was a dissident, scientist and writer, who became the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era...
, in March-April 1991 in an attempt to exert pressure on the central Soviet authorities. This blockade, however, inflicted a heavy damage to the economy of Georgia and the neighboring Republic of Armenia which was largely dependent on Georgia’s railways. Later in 1993, Samtredia became one of the major battlegrounds in the Georgian Civil War
Georgian Civil War
The Georgian Civil War consisted of inter-ethnic and intranational conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia , as well as the violent military coup d'etat of December 21, 1991 - January 6, 1992 against the first democratically elected President of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia and his...
in which the forces loyal to the ousted President
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
Gamsakhurdia confronted the post-coup government troops, and briefly controlled the town from October 17 to October 23, 1993, putting all communications to Tbilisi under threat. Although Samtredia has been stable ever since, the post-Soviet crisis resulted in a significant economic decline the effects of which have not completely been reversed.
Famous people from Samtredia
Kakha Kaladze – Italian Serie ASerie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
defender and Georgia national football team
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
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