Gali Municipality

Gali Municipality is an administrative-territorial unit in western Georgia, the southeastern part of Abkhazia, on the Black Sea coast. To the north, it borders Ochamchire; to the east, Tsalenjikha; to the south, Zugdidi municipalities; and to the west, the Black Sea. Its area is 1002.5 km². The population is 30,000 people (2020). The center is the city of Gali. In the 1990s, the Gali region had 1 city, 91 villages, and 25 historical sites.

The territory of the present Gali Municipality was part of the Kingdom of Colchis in ancient times; during the earlier feudal era, it was part of Egrisi, and later—the "Kingdom of the Abkhaz." From the 12th century, it was part of the principality (Saeristavo) of Odishi and later became part of the Odishi Samtavro. From the 18th century, the area of the current Gali Municipality, along with several villages of the current Ochamchire municipality, was part of the historical region of Samurzakano. After the abolition of the Abkhazian principality in 1864, the territory of present-day Gali Municipality became part of the Sokhumi Okrug of the Russian Empire (until 1917). From 1918 to 1920, it was part of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. Between 1921 and 1930, the territory was included into the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia. From 1931 onwards, it became one of the districts of Abkhazia.

Population: According to the 1989 census, Gali region's population consisted of Georgians (93.8%), Abkhaz (0.8%), as well as Russians, Ukrainians, Armenians, Greeks, and others. The main settlement zone is 200 meters above sea level. The average population density was 79.4 people per km2, with a natural increase of 6.6 people per 1000.

Historical and architectural monuments: Among the architectural monuments of the Gali Municipality are the fortress and church of Mukhuri (the Middle Ages), the tower of Dikhazurgi (17th-18th centuries), and the churches of Nabakevi (15th century), Saberio, and Chuburkhinji (both from the Middle Ages).

Gali is currently located in the occupied territory.

K. Mgeladze

Sh. Lashkhia

A. Tsintsadze

T. Beradze