Samtskhe-Javakheti is a region in southern Georgia, with Akhaltsikhe as its capital. It is bordered by Guria and Imereti to the north, Kartli (Shida Kartli and Kvemo Kartli) to the north-east and to the east, Armenia and Turkey to the south, Ajaria to the west.

Javakheti Armenians

The majority of the region's population is Armenian, the second largest ethnic minority in Georgia (about 90,000). A significant part of Armenian population depends on the employment in Russian military bases in Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda districts, and the announced 2008 Russian withdrawal aggravates the socio-economic tensions in the region. More than half of the Armenian population regularly make seasonal trips to Russia for work.

An expected improvement is the planned construction of the highway (financed by the US Millennium Challenge Account) to link the region with the rest of Georgia. Also, a railroad is planned to run from Kars (Turkey) to Azerbaijan via the area will create more opportunities.

The local Armenian civic organizations, United Javakhk calls for local autonomy, comparable with the one promised to Abkhazians and Ossetians.

At the same time, unlike a number of other multiethnic regions of Caucasus, there are no violent ethnic clashes in the region.