List of Presidents of Georgia: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Georgia from 1991 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Georgia, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Georgia: Mikheil Kavelashvili (in office since 2024). Salome Zourabichvili, the previous president, and the opposition parties dispute the legitimacy of Kavelashvili’s election, citing alleged fraud in the October 2024 parliamentary election; the ruling party and the election commission say that vote was free and fair.

Presidents of Georgia in order, with years in office

Zviad Gamsakhurdia

Served: 1991–1992

Dissident leader who chaired the Supreme Council from November 1990, was elected the first president on 26 May 1991 and was deposed in a coup on 6 January 1992.

Tengiz Kitovani and Jaba Ioseliani (Military Council)

Served: 1992

Co-leaders of the Military Council that ruled after the coup, from 6 January to 10 March 1992. They were not styled president.

Eduard Shevardnadze

Served: 1992–1995

Former Soviet foreign minister invited to lead the country; head of state as chairman of the State Council and then chairman of parliament. He was not styled president in this period.

Eduard Shevardnadze

Served: 1995–2003

Elected president in November 1995 and re-elected in April 2000; he resigned on 23 November 2003 after the Rose Revolution.

Nino Burjanadze

Served: 2003–2004 (acting)

Speaker of parliament who served as acting president until Mikheil Saakashvili’s inauguration on 25 January 2004.

Mikheil Saakashvili

Served: 2004–2007

Leader of the Rose Revolution, elected in January 2004; he resigned on 25 November 2007, which led to an early presidential election.

Nino Burjanadze

Served: 2007–2008 (acting)

Served again as acting president, from 25 November 2007 to 20 January 2008.

Mikheil Saakashvili

Served: 2008–2013

Re-elected in January 2008 and served until the end of his second term in 2013.

Giorgi Margvelashvili

Served: 2013–2018

Elected in October 2013 and served one term.

Salome Zourabichvili

Served: 2018–2024

France-born former diplomat elected in 2018; the first woman to hold the office and the last president chosen by direct popular vote. She disputes the legitimacy of her successor’s election.

Mikheil Kavelashvili

Served: 2024–present

Former footballer backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party; chosen by an electoral college on 14 December 2024 and inaugurated on 29 December 2024.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Georgia

Who is the current president of Georgia?

The current head of state of Georgia is Mikheil Kavelashvili, in office since 2024. Salome Zourabichvili, the previous president, and the opposition parties dispute the legitimacy of Kavelashvili’s election, citing alleged fraud in the October 2024 parliamentary election; the ruling party and the election commission say that vote was free and fair.

Who were the previous presidents of Georgia?

The presidents and heads of state of Georgia listed on this page, in order, are: Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Tengiz Kitovani and Jaba Ioseliani (Military Council), Eduard Shevardnadze, Eduard Shevardnadze, Nino Burjanadze, Mikheil Saakashvili, Nino Burjanadze, Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Margvelashvili, Salome Zourabichvili, Mikheil Kavelashvili.

Who was the first president of Georgia?

Zviad Gamsakhurdia was the first president of Georgia, in office 1991–1992.

Sources: Wikipedia, President of Georgia and List of leaders of Georgia; Associated Press, Reuters, Eurasianet and Georgia Today reports (checked Nov 2026). Presidents since the office was created in April 1991; the 1992–95 heads of state who were not styled president are listed with that explained. Georgia is placed in Asia, as on the Asia hub; it is sometimes classed as European.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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