Flags of Georgia

  • The flag of Georgia (Georgian: საქართველოს სახელმწიფო დროშა; sakartvelos sakhelmtsʼipo drosha), also known as the Five Cross Flag (Georgian: ხუთჯვრიანი დროშა; khutjvriani drosha), is one of the national symbols of the Republic of Georgia. Originally a banner of the medieval Kingdom of Georgia, it was brought back to popular use in the late 20th and early 21st centuries during periods of the Georgian national revival. Prior to obtaining its official status in 2004, the flag was popularized by the United National Movement and served as one of the most recognizable symbols of the Rose Revolution.

    Flag of Georgia

    Flag of Georgia (2004–present)

  • Georgia (1991–2004)

    The previous flag used by the Democratic Republic of Georgia from 1918 to 1921 was revived on 8 December 1991, by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia. However, it lost popularity thereafter as it became associated with the chaotic and violent period around the collapse of the Soviet Union. The wine-red colour symbolises the good times in the past and the future, while the black represents Russian rule, and the white represents hope for peace.

    Flag of Georgia 1990 2004

    Flag of Georgia (1991–2004)

  • Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (1921–1991)

    During the Soviet period, Georgia adopted several variants of the red Soviet flag incorporating either the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic's name, or a red hammer and sickle with a star in a blue sun in the canton and a blue bar in the upper part of flag. The flag of the Georgian SSR was abolished by the Georgian government in November 1990 shortly before it declared independence from the Soviet Union.

    Flag of Georgian SSR 1921 1922

    Flag of the Georgian SSR (1921–1937)

  • Flag of Georgian SSR 1937 1951

    Flag of the Georgian SSR (1937–1952)

  • Flag of Georgian SSR

    Flag of the Georgian SSR (1951–1991)

  • Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918–1921)

    During Georgia's brief existence as an independent state as the Democratic Republic of Georgia from 1918 to 1921, a tricolour was adopted. The design resulted from a national flag-designing contest won by the painter Iakob Nikoladze. It was abolished by the Soviet Union following the 1921 incorporation of Georgia into the USSR.

    800px Flag of Georgia 1918 1921

    Flag of the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918–1921)

  • Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic (1918)

    While not technically a Georgian flag, this flag is of importance as Georgia was one of the founding countries of the federation. The Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic's flag was a tricolour design, with a top band of dark yellow, a middle band of black, and a bottom band of red.

    Flag of the Transcaucasian Federation

    Flag of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic (1918)