Supreme Council of Adjara

The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, based in Batumi, is the highest representative and legislative body of this unique region of Georgia. Founded in 1991, it plays a key role in the governance of Adjara, which has a special autonomous status within Georgia. The Council consists of 21 members elected by the residents of Adjara for a four-year term under a mixed electoral system.

The history of the Council is inextricably linked with the modern history of Adjara, including the period of Aslan Abashidze, who headed it from 1991 to 2001 and effectively governed the region as a semi-independent republic. Today, the Supreme Council functions within the framework of the Constitution of Georgia, with its chairman appointed by the President of Georgia, who also has the right to dissolve the Council.

In recent years, the Supreme Council of Adjara has been actively working to increase its openness and transparency. In 2020, a permanent Open Governance Council was established, which, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, developed an action plan aimed at increasing citizen engagement, improving access to information and developing technologies. Initiatives such as the Citizen Engagement Center, an electronic petition system and live broadcasts of meetings have been introduced. The Supreme Council building in Batumi is the center of political life in the autonomy and an important institution in the governance structure of Adjara.