Akhmeta Municipality

Akhmeta Municipality is an administrative-territorial unit in Eastern Georgia. From the North, it borders Chechnya (Russian Federation) and Ingushetia (RF); from the East, Dagestan (RF) and Telavi municipality; from the West, Dusheti and Tianeti; and from the South, Sagarejo municipality. It is 2207 square kilometers and has a population of 22,7 thousand (2014). Its center is the city of Akhmeta. The municipality has one city and 108 villages.
During the feudal era (15th century), the territory of Akhmeta municipality was part of Kveteri and Pankisi Saeristavo. In the 70s of the 15th century, after the disillusion of Saeristavos in Kakheti, a couple of Samouravos were established here (Tusheti, Pankisi, Kistauri, Zemo Khodashni, Kvemo Khodashni, Khatrioni, Maghraani, and others). In the 19th century, Kist and Ossetian populations settled in Pankisi Gorge.

Among the architectural monuments of the municipality, there are churches of Akhmeta, Akhshani, Baikho, Maghrani (with mid-16th century frescoes), the “White George” of Atsquri, and Zemo Khodasheni. The prominent monastic ensembles are Alaverdi and Matnis Tskhrakari. Kveteera and Upper Alvani are important architectural monuments; Bakhtrioni's fortress, "Kakhi's Tina Fortress," and the towers of Girevi and Pegho (from the Middle Ages) near Farsmi are also noteworthy. In the Akhmeti area, there is the three-nave basilica “Ghvtaeba” (second half of the 6th century), the Church of St. George in Lomisi (Middle Ages), and the ruins of the Tskhrakara Palace (late Middle Ages).

G. Zardalishvili

N. Asatiani