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Samtskhe-Javakheti სამცხე-ჯავახეთის მხარე Samtskhe-Javakhetis mkhare
General info
Region ISO 3166 code:	GE-SJ
Area:	6,413 km²
Population:	208,000 (2002)
Unemployment:	4.6%[1]
Poverty:	60%[2]
Average salary:	$46 per month[3]
Subdivision:	6 regions
Capital:	Akhaltsikhe
Governor:	Giorgi Khachidze

Samtskhe-Javakheti (Georgian: სამცხე-ჯავახეთი) is a region in southern Georgia, with Akhaltsikhe as its capital. Samtskhe-Javakheti comprises six administrative districts: Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Aspindza, Borjomi, Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda. There are 5 municipal, 6 settlement (small town), 67 community and village Sakrebulos (City Assemblies), and totally 268 villages in the region. It is bordered by Guria and Imereti to the north, Kartli (Shida Kartli and Kvemo Kartli) to the north-east and to the east, Armenia and Turkey to the south, Ajara to the west. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and South Caucasus natural gas pipeline passes through this region.

The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. This section has been tagged since December 2007.

According to the 2002 census ethnic Armenians, chiefly concentrated in Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda districts (Javakheti), are the majority in the region, making up about 54% of the population^[4], which they share with Pontian Greeks, Ossetians and Georgians. Armenians are underrepresented in all spheres of public life and especially government - only three of the governor’s 26 staff are Armenians (11 per cent). The same is true for the territorial departments of different ministries. For instance, only sixteen of 82 staff (19.5 per cent) of the tax department in Samtskhe-Javakheti are Armenians.^[5] Lack of dialogue between local Armenians and Tbilisi adds to perceptions of discrimination and alienation.^[6] There have been demonstrations, alleged police brutality and killings in this region.^[7] Many Armenians claim they are treated as second-class citizens. The local Armenian civic organization, United Javakhk Democratic Alliance calls for local autonomy, comparable with the one promised to Abkhazians and Ossetians.

One of the major tourist attraction in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia is the Vardzia (which was founded by Queen Tamar in 1185) and Vanis Kvabebi (which dates from 8th century) cave monasteries. They are located near the town of Aspindza, Georgia.

Vardzia's church and bell tower

• Unemployment
• Poverty
• Crisis Group Report
• ICG Report

• Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Governmental Website
• Friends at Dinner, Foes at Politics (about socio-economic problems of the region)
• Obstacles Impending the Regional Integration of the Javalkheti Region, an ECMI working paper (PDF format)

v • d • e Administrative divisions of Georgia
Autonomous republics	Abkhazia1 · Adjara
Regions	Guria · Imereti · Kakheti · Kvemo Kartli · Mtskheta-Mtianeti · Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti · Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti · Samtskhe-Javakheti · Shida Kartli2
City with special status	Tbilisi (capital)
1 Self-proclaimed republic which de jure is part of Georgia.   2 Includes the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia.

Coordinates: 41°35′N 43°16′E / 41.583, 43.267