Gurjaani, Georgia

Capital City

With a population of just 7,426, Gurjaani is a sleepy town in eastern Georgia that offers little in the way of modern urban amenities. The region's history of depopulation and crime is still felt today, as the post-Soviet economic crisis has left the town's infrastructure lacking. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and violent incidents tied to the Mkhedrioni paramilitary group were common in the 1990s. While Gurjaani is the center of Georgia's winemaking, those seeking a vibrant city life would be better off looking elsewhere.