The capital and largest city of the Republic of Georgia on the Kura river; Also called: Tiflis, capital of Georgia.
Formerly Tiflis; Capital of Georgia; industries include textiles, machinery, ceramics, and tobacco; Dating from the 5th century, it is a center of Georgian culture, with fine medieval churches. Anti-Russian demonstrations were quashed here by troops 1981 and 1989; the latter clash followed rejected demands for autonomy from the Abkhazia enclave, and resulted in 19 or more deaths from poison gas (containing chloroacetophenone) and 100 injured. In Dec 1991 at least 50 people were killed as well-armed opposition forces attempted to overthrow President Gamsakhurdia, eventually forcing him to flee.