Tsalenjikha Municipality

Tsalenjikha Municipality
Tsalenjikha Municipality
Municipality
	The Enguri Valley
	Flag Seal
	Location of the municipality within Georgia
	Coordinates: 42°40′12″N 42°02′59″E / 42.67000°N 42.04972°E
Country	Georgia
Region	Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Administrative centre	Tsalenjikha
Government
• Body	Tsalenjikha Municipal Assembly
• Mayor	Giorgi (Gia) Kharchilava (UNM)
Area
• Total	646.7 km2 (249.7 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• Total	26.158
• Density	40.4/km2 (105/sq mi)
Population by ethnicity
• Georgians	99,56 %
• Russians	0,27 %
• Ukrainians	0,08 %
Time zone	UTC+4 (Georgian Standard Time)
Website	tsalenjikha.gov.ge

Tsalenjikha (Georgian: წალენჯიხის მუნიციპალიტეტი, Ċalenjixis municiṗaliṫeṫi) is a district of Georgia, in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. Its main town is Tsalenjikha. Tsalenjikha Municipality is located in the valleys of the Enguri and Chanistskali rivers, the area is 646.7 km2, the population is 26,158 people (2014). The municipality includes 14 administrative units, including 2 cities Tsalenjikha and Jvari.

History

Tsalenjikha, Megrelian "Tsendikha", Chanistskali Megrelian "Tsentskari" River and such names of the geographical point are confirmed by both Georgian and foreign sources. Tsalenjikha and its environs were the original settlement of western Georgian tribes.

It is known from historical sources that the territory of the municipality was inhabited even when people used stone and bronze tools. Western Georgian tribes have been living on the territory of Tsalenjikha since that time. This is indicated by the names of this point and the river "Chelenjikha", "Tsendikha" Tsalenjikha.

In the 10th and 11th centuries, Tsalenjikha was an important settlement, as evidenced by such a large and important church as the Church of the Transfiguration. From this time on, the importance of Tsalenjikha gradually increased so that by the 13th and 14th centuries it became the only residence of the Dadiani. Here they had a palace, utensils (treasures) and apparently a ancestral tomb as well. Such an increase in the importance of Tsalenjikha led to the relocation of one of the most important dioceses of Odisha to Tsalenjikha in the 14th century. The relocation of the episcopal center to Tsalenjikha led to large-scale construction, as well as the painting of the Tsalenjikha Church during the 14th century during the reign of Vamek Dadiani (1384–1396).

Ak. Simon Janashia undoubtedly believes that 'Tseni' or 'Tsani' 'was one of the tribes of the Chanuri-Megrelian branch and not their own Zani'. (Tsen-Dikha) and the river that flowed into the castle (Tsen-water).

Materials about Tsalenjikha's past are taken from Inga Lortkipanidze's book - Tsalenjikha Painting, by Simon Janashia and Shota Meskhia.^[3]

In 2001, the village of Lia was the site of the Lia radiological accident.^[4]

Historical sites

Kuakantsalia Rock

Tsalenjikha Cathedral

Tsalenjikha Cathedral
The ruins of Gamajistsikhe
Katskhara Fortress
Samikao Cave
Episcopal Church
Jagiri Castle
St. Barbara's Church
Uluria Castle
"Mamukia Tower"
"Dilakirse" fortress
The ruins of Skuri Castle
The ruins of Lesale Castle
Jgali conical tower
St. Nicholas Church in Jgali
Church of the All-Holy Mother of God on the Cross
Omune Castle-Tower

Politics

Tsalenjikha Municipal Assembly (Georgian: წალენჯიხის საკრებულო) is a representative body in Tsalenjikha Municipality. The council assembles into session regularly, to consider subject matters such as code changes, utilities, taxes, city budget, oversight of Municipal government and more. Tsalenjikha Sakrebulo is elected every four year. The last election was held in October 2021.^[5]

Tsalenjikha was one of only seven municipalities where ruling Georgian Dream party failed to gain a majority. After several attempts, the opposition parties UNM, For Georgia and Lelo agreed on a chairman of the Sakrebulo, four weeks after neighboring municipality Chkhorotsqu did the same.^[6]

Party		Seats (27)	Current Municipal Assembly
	Georgian Dream	11
	United National Movement	11
	For Georgia	3
	Lelo	1
	Independent	1^[a]

Results in local election

Municipal Assembly

Party		Party list			Constituency			Total seats	+/–
Party		Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats	Total seats	+/–
	United National Movement	5,439	37.78	7			4	11	8
	Georgian Dream	5,008	34.79	7			4	11	13
	For Georgia	2,730	18.96	3			1	4	New
	Lelo	482	3.35	1				1	New

	European Georgia	310	2.15						2
	Alliance of Patriots	107	0.74						1
	Labour Party	102	0.71
	Strategy Aghmashenebeli	95	0.66
	New Political Center - Girchi	75	0.52						New
	Other parties	47	0.36
Invalid/blank votes
Total		14,395	100	18			9	27
Registered voters/turnout		28,737	51.11
Source: CEC

Mayor


Candidate		Party	First round		Second round
Candidate		Party	Votes	%	Votes	%
	Giorgi Kharchilava	United National Movement	5,657	39.68	7,248	51.10
	Goga Gulordava	Georgian Dream	5,450	38.23	6,937	48.90
	Khvicha Mebonia	For Georgia	2,720	19.08
	Tamari Belkania	Lelo	429	3.01
Total			14,256	100.00	14,185	100.00

Registered voters/turnout			28,737	–	28,737	–
Source: CEC, CEC

Municipal Assembly 2017-2021

Party		Seats (30)	Current Municipal Assembly
	Georgian Dream	24
	United National Movement	3
	European Georgia	2
	Alliance of Patriots	1

Notable natives

Meliton Kantaria (1920 – 1993) – was a Georgian sergeant of the Soviet Army credited with having hoisted a Soviet flag over the Reichstag on 30 April 1945.
Terenti Graneli (1897 – 1934) – was a noted Georgian poet.
Aneta Dadeshkeliani (1872–1922) – was a Georgian poet, educator and social reformer.
Nikoloz Shengelaia (1903 – 1943) – was a Soviet Georgian film director.
Leo Kiacheli (1884 – 1963) – was a Georgian novelist, short story writer, and journalist.
Badri Kvaratskhelia (b. 1965) – a former Georgian footballer.
Givi Kvaratskhelia (b. 1979) – a retired Georgian footballer.
Georgi Tsurtsumia (b. 1980) – a wrestler who competed in the Men's Greco-Roman 120 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (b. 2001) – is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Italian Serie A side S.S.C. Napoli and the Georgia national team.

Explanatory notes

^ Nana Lemonjava - split from For Georgia.^[7]

References

^ "მერი - წალენჯიხის მუნიციპალიტეტი" (in Georgian). Tsalenjikha.gov.ge. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
^ "Ethnic composition of Georgia 2014". Pop-stat.mashke.org. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
^ "Ისტორია".
^ The radiological accident in Lia, Georgia. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency. 2014. ISBN 978-92-0-103614-8. OCLC 900016880.
^ "Protocol elected municipal council members and mayors 2021" (PDF) (in Georgian). CESKO Central Election Commission. p. 67-68. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
^ "Opposition Elects Chair in Hung Tsalenjikha Sakrebulo". Civil.ge. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
^ "Two Sakrebulo Members Quit Gakharia's Party in Contested Municipalities". Civil.ge. 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2022-01-20.

External links

Districts of Georgia, Statoids.com

[8] Nana Lemonjava - split from For Georgia.^[7]

[1] "მერი - წალენჯიხის მუნიციპალიტეტი" (in Georgian). Tsalenjikha.gov.ge. Retrieved 2021-06-19.

[2] "Ethnic composition of Georgia 2014". Pop-stat.mashke.org. Retrieved 2021-06-19.

[3] "Ისტორია".

[:0-4] The radiological accident in Lia, Georgia. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency. 2014. ISBN 978-92-0-103614-8. OCLC 900016880.

[gevote21-5] "Protocol elected municipal council members and mayors 2021" (PDF) (in Georgian). CESKO Central Election Commission. p. 67-68. Retrieved 2022-03-03.

[6] "Opposition Elects Chair in Hung Tsalenjikha Sakrebulo". Civil.ge. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.

[7] "Two Sakrebulo Members Quit Gakharia's Party in Contested Municipalities". Civil.ge. 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2022-01-20.

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