Editing Rustavi

{{Infobox settlement
| settlement_type    = City
| official_name      = Rustavi
| native_name        = რუსთავი
| native_name_lang   = ka
| image_skyline      = Rustavi Square.JPG
| imagesize          = 280
| image_caption      = Rustavi Square
| image_flag         = Flag of Rustavi.svg
| image_seal         = Coat of Arms of Rustavi.svg
| pushpin_map        = Georgia#Georgia Kvemo Kartli
| pushpin_mapsize    = 280px
| map_caption        = Location of Rustavi in Georgia
| subdivision_type   = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{GEO}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Mkhare]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Kvemo Kartli]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
| governing_body     = [[Rustavi City Assembly]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Nino Latsabidze ([[Georgian Dream|GD]])
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=census2014detail />
| area_total_km2     = 60.6
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| population_as_of   = 2025
| population_total   = 128,200
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://geostat.ge/media/61960/1-3-population-by-cities-and-boroughs.xlsx |title=Population by regions |publisher=National Statistics Office of Georgia |access-date=28 April 2024 }}</ref>
| population_metro   = 
| population_rank    = 3rd in Georgia
| population_density_km2 = auto
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->| demographics_type1 = Population by ethnicity
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="etn14" />
| demographics1_title1 = [[Georgians]]
| demographics1_info1 = 91.8  %
| demographics1_title2 = [[Azerbaijanis]]
| demographics1_info2 = 3.7 %
| demographics1_title3 = [[Armenians]]
| demographics1_info3 = 1.6 %
| demographics1_title4 = [[Russians]]
| demographics1_info4 = 1.2 %
| demographics1_title5 = [[Ossetians]]
| demographics1_info5 = 0.4 %
| timezone           = Georgian Time
| utc_offset         = +4
| timezone_DST       = <!-- No DST in Georgia since 2005 -->
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|32|37|N|45|00|42|E|region:GE|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 330
| elevation_ft       = 
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 3700
| area_code          = (+995) 341
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
| website            = {{URL|https://rustavi.gov.ge/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pushpin_relief     = y
| module             = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=12|frame-height=260 | stroke-width=1 |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
}}
'''Rustavi''' ({{lang-ka|რუსთავი}} {{IPA|ka|ɾustʰavi||}}) is a city in the southeast of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], in the [[mkhare|region]] of [[Kvemo Kartli]] and {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}} southeast of capital [[Tbilisi]]. It has a population of 127,154 (January 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population - National Statistics Office of Georgia |url=https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/41/population |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=www.geostat.ge |language=en}}</ref>), making it the [[List of cities and towns in Georgia (country)|third most populous]] city in Georgia. Its economy is dominated by the [[Rustavi Steel|Rustavi Metallurgical Plant]].

==History==
Rustavi is one of the ancient towns of Georgia. The history of Rustavi has two phases: an early history from ancient times until the city was destroyed in the 13th century and modern history from the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] era to the present.

===Early history===
The 11th-century [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] chronicler, [[Leonti Mroveli]] in his work "''[[The Georgian Chronicles|Georgian Chronicles]]''" connects the foundation of the city to [[Kartlos]], the [[Origin myth|eponymous ancestor]] of [[Georgians]], whose wife had founded a town along the [[Kura (Caspian Sea)|Kura river]] called Bostan-Kalaki ([[Literal translation|lit.]] "''city of gardens''"). The same chronicler, who also worked on “''The life of the Kings''”, mentions the town Rustavi among those castles, which opposed [[Alexander the Great]]'s army, although it is proved that Alexander had never invaded Iberia. Rustavi is mentioned among such ancient towns as Uplistsikhe, Urbnisi, Mtskheta and Sarkineti. It could be assumed that Rustavi as a city had been founded at least in the 5th–4th centuries B.C. Besides the manuscripts, the excavations of the castle Rustavi prove that Rustavi was an important political and administrative center of Iberia. In late 4th century A.D [[Trdat of Iberia]] had built a church and a canal in Rustavi.
[[File:Rustaviscixe.JPG|left|thumb|Rustavi fortress]]
During the reign of [[Vakhtang I of Iberia]] (5th century) Rustavi took an important part in the political life of the Kingdom of Iberia. At the beginning of the 6th century, in 503, the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanids]] conquered Iberia and turned it into an ordinary Persian province ruled by a ''[[Marzban|marzpan]]'' (governor). However, [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] Emperor [[Heraclius]]'s offensive in 627 and 628 brought final victory over the Persians and ensured Byzantine predominance in Georgia, until the [[Arab rule in Georgia|invasion of the Arabs]]. During the struggle against the Arab occupation, Rustavi belonged to the [[Principality of Kakheti]]. The latter would eventually form the [[Kingdom of Kakheti-Hereti|Kakhetian kingdom]], whose ruler, [[Kvirike III of Kakheti|Kvirike III the Great]], installed an [[Eristavi]] (duke) in Rustavi. Upon Kvirike's death, Kakheti was temporarily annexed to the [[Kingdom of Georgia]].<ref>[[Cyril Toumanoff|Toumanoff, Cyrille]] (1976, Rome). Manuel de Généalogie et de Chronologie pour le Caucase chrétien (Arménie, Géorgie, Albanie).</ref><ref>[[Vakhushti|Вахушти Багратиони]].{{cite web|url=http://www.vostlit.by.ru/Texts/rus6/Wachushti/text5.htm|title=Вахушти Багратиони. История царства грузинского. Возникновение и жизнь Кахети и Эрети. Ч.1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905231600/http://www.vostlit.by.ru/Texts/rus6/Wachushti/text5.htm|archive-date=September 5, 2010|url-status=unfit|access-date=June 29, 2007}}</ref> As soon as the Arabs were defeated, in 1068, Georgia was invaded by the resurgent [[Seljuk Empire|Turkic Seljukids]] from Central Asia, under the command of Sultan [[Alp Arslan]]. A fierce battle took place between king [[Bagrat IV of Georgia]] and the Seljuks, where Bagrat was bitterly defeated and as a result, the king of Kakheti gained independence developing closer contact with the Seljuks and securing independence in this way. After the [[Great Turkish Invasion|Seljukid invasions of Georgia]], allied forces took Tbilisi and Rustavi and gave it to the [[Emirate of Tbilisi|Emir of Tbilisi]]. During that time, Rustavi declined, its economy was ruined, and only thanks to its strategic location did it remain as a well-fortified town in the hands of the emirs in Tbilisi. In 1069 Bagrat IV defeated emir Fadlun and captured the fortress of Rustavi, Partskhisi, and [[Agarani Fortress|Agarani]]. During the [[History of Georgia (country)#King David IV the Builder and Georgian Reconquista|anti-Seljuk campaigns]] led by [[David IV of Georgia|David IV]] Rustavi played an essential role in securing Georgia's southern boundaries. Rustavi was finally destroyed after [[Timur's invasions of Georgia|Timur's invasion of Georgia]].

===Modern history===
Rustavi was rebuilt as a major industrial center during the Soviet era. The development of Rustavi was part of [[Joseph Stalin]]'s accelerated industrialization process, and included ironworks, steelworks, chemical plants and an important railway station on the [[Tbilisi]]–[[Baku]] railroad line. Rustavi is the site of approximately 90 large and medium-sized industrial plants.

[[File:Rustavi Metallurgical Plant.jpg|thumb|left|Head office of Rustavi Steel Works]]
[[File:Kostava Street, Rustavi (Photo A. Muhranoff, 2011).jpg|thumb|270px|Kostava Street, Rustavi]]
The core of the city's industrial activity was the [[Rustavi Steel|Rustavi Metallurgical Plant]], constructed in 1941–1950 to process [[iron ore]] from nearby [[Azerbaijan]]. Stalin brought workers from various regions in Georgia, specifically from the poorer rural provinces of Western Georgia. Rustavi became a key industrial center for the Transcaucasus region. The industrial activity expanded to include the manufacture of [[steel]] products, cement, chemicals, and synthetic fibers.

May 1944 was a significant time in the history of modern Rustavi. Geologists began to define the soil of the place where the metallurgical works were to be built. The area was nearly empty, and there were only temporary lodgings and slums available. Many people arrived at Rustavi, coming from different parts of Georgia. The first newspaper came out on 30 August 1944. It was called “Metallurgiisatvis” (meaning "For Metallurgy" in Georgian).

Rustavi celebrated frequent housewarming parties as many people migrated to the city each day. In 1948 the first streets were “baptized” in Rustavi. The first street was named after the [[Young Communist League]], the second, after the builders of Rustavi, and the third, after its ancient name Bostan-Kalaki.

On 19 January 1948, a decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic declared Rustavi a town of republican importance. On 27 April 1950, the whole town celebrated the production of the first industrial Georgian steel. The theme of the celebration was dedicated to an ancient people whom are believed to have originally settled the area, known as the [[Khalib]]s.

[[File:Rustavi 17677 (14337607157).jpg|thumb|270px|Factories]]German [[POW]]s who were captured in [[World War II]] were enlisted to build the city of Rustavi. Modern Rustavi is divided into two parts—''Dzveli Rustavi'' (Old Rustavi) and ''Akhali Rustavi'' (New Rustavi). Old Rustavi adheres to Stalinist architectural style while New Rustavi is dominated by a multitude of Soviet-era block apartments. The [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|fall of the Soviet Union]] in 1991 proved disastrous for Rustavi, as it also caused the collapse of the integrated Soviet economy of which the city was a key part. Most of its industrial plants were shut down and 65% of the city's population became unemployed, with the attendant social problems of high crime and acute poverty that such a situation brings. The population shrank from 160,000 in the mid-1990s to 116,000 in 2002 as residents moved elsewhere in search of work.

New York-based artist [[Greg Lindquist]] (b. 1979) has documented Rustavi's crumbling concrete factories in his paintings and installations, such as the exhibition "Nonpasts" in 2010. Lindquist has also worked with Georgian collaborators, such as artist Gio Sumbadze (b. 1976), in projects that address the current social, cultural and political significance of these architectures. In 2010, the Laura Palmer Foundation staged an exhibition at the Ministry of Transportation building ([[Tbilisi Roads Ministry Building]]) in which Lindquist and Sumbadze installed paintings addressing the history of Georgia's transportation system. This BOMB magazine [http://bombsite.com/issues/1000/articles/4764 interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106121201/http://bombsite.com/issues/1000/articles/4764 |date=2011-11-06 }} with La Toya Frazier for the exhibition "Planet of Slums" addresses many of the complexities of Lindquist's work in the Republic of Georgia.

== Demographics ==
[[File:Megobroba avenue.JPG|thumb|270px|Rapid expansion under Soviet rule]]
At the beginning of 2021, Rustavi had more than 130,072 inhabitants,<ref name="geostatpop">{{Cite web | url=https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/41/population | title=Population and Demography - Population by cities and boroughs (daba), as of 1 January | date=2021-01-01 | accessdate=2022-03-31 | work=National Statistics Office of Georgia, Geostat | language=en}}</ref> an increase of 4% since the 2014 census.<ref name=census2014detail>{{Cite web |url=http://census.ge/files/pdf/2014-wlis-aRweris-ZiriTadi-Sedegebi.pdf |title=Main Results of the 2014 Census (Publication) |work=Census.ge, National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) |pages=316–317 |date=2016-04-28 |accessdate=2022-03-31 |language=ka |archive-date=2020-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213232229/http://census.ge/files/pdf/2014-wlis-aRweris-ZiriTadi-Sedegebi.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> This increase makes Rustavi the [[List of cities and towns in Georgia (country)|fourth most populous]] city in Georgia, just behind [[Kutaisi]], which is suffering from ongoing contraction. Rustavi experienced rapid growth due to [[Industrialization in the Soviet Union|industrialization]] under [[Jozef Stalin|Stalin]]. Following Georgian independence in 1991, and the years of civil war and crisis that followed, many residents emigrated due to unemployment. The low point was reached around 2002, with growth picking up in the 2010s while industrial activities and employment have resumed. 

In 2014, the '''ethnic composition''' of Rustavi was almost 92% [[Georgians|Georgian]], with minority communities of [[Azerbaijanis in Georgia|Azerbaijanis]] (3.7%), [[Armenians]] (1.6%) and [[Russians]] (1.2%). More than 500 [[Ossetians]] (0.4%) lived in the city. Other ethnic minorities included 315 [[Ukrainians]], 239 [[Yazidis]], 166 [[Pontic Greeks|Greeks]], 55 [[Assyrians in Georgia|Assyrians]] and smaller numbers of [[Kist people|Kists]], [[Jews]], [[Abkhazians|Abkhazian]] and [[Lom people|Bosha]].

The proportions of the ethnic minorities in the city has not always been this way. Especially in the Soviet period these were completely different, with striking numbers of Russians. The city also had a substantial Ossetian community. Migration during and after the fall of the Soviet Union and due to civil conflicts has made the city much more mono-ethnic, i.e. Georgian.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
! colspan=19 | Historical ethnic composition Rustavi
|-
! Year 
! colspan=2 | 1959<ref name="etn59">{{Cite web | url=http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/rngeorgia.html | title=Population of Georgia | accessdate=2022-03-31 | work=Etno Kaukasus | language=ru }}</ref> 
! colspan=2 | 1970<ref name="etn70">{{Cite web | url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-ethnic1970.htm | title=Ethnic composition of Georgia 1970 | accessdate=2022-03-03 | work=Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR | language=en }}</ref> 
! colspan=2 | 1979<ref name="etn79">{{Cite web | url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-ethnic1979.htm | title=Ethnic composition of Georgia 1979 | accessdate=2022-03-03 | work=Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR | language=en }}</ref> 
! colspan=2 |1989<ref name="etn89">{{Cite web | url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-ethnic1989.htm | title=Ethnic composition of Georgia 1989 | accessdate=2022-03-03 | work=Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR | language=en }}</ref> 
! colspan=2 | 2002<ref name="notecensus2002"/><ref name="etn02">{{Cite web | url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-ethnic2002.htm | title=Ethnic composition of Georgia 2002 | accessdate=2022-03-03 | work=Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR | language=en }}</ref> 
! colspan=2 | 2014<ref name="etn14">{{Cite web | url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-ethnic-loc2014.htm | title=Ethnic composition of Georgia 2014 | accessdate=2022-03-30 | work=Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR | language=en}}</ref> 
! 2021<ref name="geostatpop"/>  
|-
! Rustavi City<ref name="popcities">{{Cite web | url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/georgia-cities.htm | title=Population cities & towns of Georgia | accessdate=2022-03-31 | work=Population Statistics Eastern Europe and former USSR | language=en }}</ref> 
! colspan=2 | 62,395 || colspan=2 | {{increase}} 98,210 || colspan=2 | {{increase}} 129,084 || colspan=2 | {{increase}} 158,661 || colspan=2 | {{decrease}} 116,384 || colspan=2 | {{increase}} 125,103 || colspan=2 | {{increase}} 130,072 
|-
| [[Georgians]] || 27,680 || 44.4% || 55,158 || {{increase}} 56.2% || 79,820 || {{increase}} 61.8% || 103,523 || {{increase}} 65.2% || 102,151 || {{increase}} 87.8% || 114,819 || {{increase}} 91.8% ||
|-
| [[Azerbaijanis in Georgia|Azerbaijanis]] || 3,693 || 5.9% || 5,765 || {{decrease}} 5.9% || 7,443 || {{increase}} 5.8% || 11,576 || {{increase}} 7.3% || 4,993 || {{decrease}} 4.3% || 4,661 || {{decrease}} 3.7% ||
|-
| [[Armenians]] || 4,367 || 7.0% || 5,943 || {{decrease}} 6.1% || 6,707 || {{decrease}} 5.2% || 6,872 || {{decrease}} 4.3% || 2,809 || {{decrease}} 2.4% || 1,965 || {{decrease}} 1.6% ||
|-
| [[Russians]] || 19,724 || 31.6% || 21,610 || {{decrease}} 22.0% || 23,060 || {{decrease}} 17.9% || 21,267 || {{decrease}} 13.4% || 3,563 || {{decrease}} 3.1% || 1,459 || {{decrease}} 1.2% ||
|-
| [[Ossetians]] || 1,601 || 2.6% || 3,224 || {{increase}} 3.3% || 4,493 || {{increase}} 3.5% || 5,613 || {{increase}} 3.5% || 1,410 || {{decrease}} 1.2% || 545 || {{decrease}} 0.4% ||
|-
| colspan=15 class="wikitable" style="align:left;text-align:left;background-color:#eaecf0"|Note:{{refn|name="notecensus2002"|The 2014 census found an inexplicable gap with the data from the national statistical office Geostat. UN-assisted research has found the 2002 census was inflated by about 8-9 percent. See,<ref name=retro2017>{{Cite web | url=https://geostat.ge/media/20624/3.-Population-Dynamics_ENGL-_print_F.pdf | title=Population Dynamics in Georgia - An Overview Based on the 2014 General Population Census Data | date=2017-11-29 | access-date=2022-03-30 | work=National Statistics Office of Georgia, Geostat | language=en }}</ref> "1. Introduction", Page 1.}}
|}

== City governance ==
[[File:Rustavi S 4.JPG|thumb|270px|Map of Rustavi]]
Rustavi is a self-governing city. The representative body of the city is the City Council, and the executive body is the City Hall. Administratively, Rustavi is divided into 10 territorial bodies:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://georgiantravelguide.com/en/rustavi |title=About Rustavi |access-date=2021-04-15 |archive-date=2021-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415142602/https://georgiantravelguide.com/en/rustavi |url-status=live }}</ref>

#David Agmashenebeli district
#Old Rustavi district
#Shota Rustaveli district
#Zhiuli Shartava district
#[[Giorgi Chkondideli district]]
#Ilia Chavchavadze district
#Vakhtang Gorgasali district
#Iakob Tsurtaveli district
#Nikoloz Baratashvili district
#district named after the 13 Assyrian fathers

===City council===
{{Main|Rustavi City Assembly}}
[[File:Rustavi 2018.jpg|thumb|270px|Rustavi City hall]]
'''Rustavi City Assembly''' ([[Georgian language|Georgian]]: რუსთავის საკრებულო, Rustavi Sakrebulo) is the representative body in Rustavi City that consists of 35 members as of 2021,<ref name=electioncode>{{Cite web | url=https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/1557168?publication=69 | title=Election Code of Georgia (art. 148, 149, Annex 1) | date=2021-06-28 | accessdate=2022-03-31 | work=Legislative Herald of Georgia | language=en }}</ref> who are elected every four years.

The last election for the ''sakrebulo'' was held in [[2021 Georgian local elections|October 2021]]. Rustavi was one of only seven municipalities where the ruling Georgian Dream party failed to secure a council majority in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://civil.ge/archives/452078 | title=GD Falls Short of Securing Majorities in 7 Sakrebulos | date=2021-11-01 |accessdate=2022-03-31 | work=Civil.ge | language=en }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#ccc" colspan="2" | Party
! style="background:#ccc"  | 2017<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://cesko.ge/res/docs/danOK47.pdf | pages=16–17 | title=Protocol elected municipal council members and mayors 2017 | access-date=2022-03-03 | publisher=CESKO Central Election Commission | language=ka }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
! style="background:#ccc"  | 2021<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://cesko.ge/static/res/docs/2021sakrebuloswevraddameradarcheulipirebi.pdf | pages=21–23 | title=Protocol elected municipal council members and mayors 2021 | access-date=2022-03-03 | publisher=CESKO Central Election Commission | language=ka }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
! colspan="44" style="background:#ccc" | Current Municipal Assembly
|-
| style="background-color: #2044bc" | &nbsp;
| [[Georgian Dream]] 
| style="text-align: right" | '''16'''
| style="text-align: right" | '''16'''
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| style="background-color: #2044bc" | &nbsp;
|-
| style="background-color: #e4012e" | &nbsp;
| [[United National Movement (Georgia)|United National Movement]]
| style="text-align: right" | '''3'''
| style="text-align: right" | '''11'''
| style="background-color: #e4012e" | &nbsp;
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| || || || || 
|-
| style="background-color: #702f92"  | &nbsp;
| [[For Georgia]] 
| style="text-align: right" | '''1'''{{efn|Split from [[Georgian Dream|GD]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://npg.ge/ka-GE/Home/Details/4688|title=რუსთავის საკრებულოს "ქართული ოცნების" თავმჯდომარის მოადგილე გახარიას პარტიას შეუერთდა|date=2021-07-16|access-date=2024-06-19|website=NPG.ge|language=ka}}</ref>}}
| style="text-align: right" | '''3'''
| style="background-color: #702f92" | &nbsp;
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| style="background-color: #FFD400" | &nbsp;
|[[Lelo for Georgia|Lelo]] 
| 
| style="text-align: right" | '''2'''{{efn|Davit Suladze and Nino Suladze - left [[United National Movement (Georgia)|UNM]] and joined [[Lelo for Georgia|Lelo]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=რუსთავის საკრებულოს ფრაქცია "ნაციონალური მოძრაობის" წევრი "ლელოში" გადავიდა|url=https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/32085529.html|date=2022-10-16|accessdate=2024-06-19|website=radiotavisupleba.ge|language=ka}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=რუსთავის საკრებულოში ფრაქცია "ნაციონალური მოძრაობა" რამდენიმე წევრმა დატოვა|url=https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/32906382.html|date=2024-04-15|accessdate=2024-06-19|website=radiotavisupleba.ge|language=ka}}</ref>}}
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| Independent
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| style="text-align: right" | '''3'''{{efn|Aleksandre Beridze, Vazha Morgoshia and Zurab Beradze - split from [[United National Movement (Georgia)|UNM]].<ref name=":0" />}}
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|[[Movement for Liberty - European Georgia|European Georgia]] 
| style="text-align: right" | '''2'''
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| style="background-color: #e7b031" | &nbsp;
| [[Alliance of Patriots of Georgia|Alliance of Patriots]]
| style="text-align: right" | '''1'''
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| style="background-color: #16166b  | &nbsp;
| [[Georgian Labour Party|Labour Party]] 
| style="text-align: right" | '''1'''
| 
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| style="background-color: #13254d  | &nbsp;
| [[People's Party (Georgia, 1992)|People's Party]] 
| style="text-align: right" | '''1'''{{efn|Levan Oniani - left [[Georgian Dream|GD]] and joined [[People's Party (Georgia, 1992)|People's Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/31406174.html|title=რუსთავის საკრებულოს თავმჯდომარემ "ქართული ოცნება" დატოვა და გოგაშვილის პარტიას შეუერთდა|date=2021-08-12|access-date=2024-06-25|website=radiotavisupleba.ge|language=ka}}</ref>}}
| 
| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
|-
! colspan=2 | Total 
! align=right | 25
! align=right | 35 
! colspan="44" | &nbsp;
|}

===Mayor===
[[File:Rustavi georgia.JPG|right|thumb|270px|Statue of [[Shota Rustaveli]]]]
[[File:Panoramic view of the Rustavi Metallurgical Plant. 1957.jpg|270px|thumb|view of the Rustavi Metallurgical Plant. 1957]]
The most recent mayoral election was held on 2 October 2021, with a runoff on 30 October which Nino Latsabidze ([[Georgian Dream]]) won from Davit Kirkitadze ([[United National Movement (Georgia)|United National Movement]]).<ref name="agenda-gvote21">{{Cite web | url=https://agenda.ge/elections/2021/dist/index.html? | title=Interactive results 2021 municipal elections | accessdate=2021-03-31 | work=Agenda.ge | language=en }}</ref>

The results were as follows:
<onlyinclude>{{Election results
|cand1='''Nino Latsabidze'''|party1=[[Georgian Dream]]|votes1=22352|votes1_2=27298
|cand2=David Kirkitadze|party2=[[United National Movement (Georgia)|United National Movement]]|votes2=21706|votes2_2=23523
|cand3=Beqa Liluashvili|party3=[[For Georgia]]|votes3=3401
|cand4=Tornike Arevadze|party4=[[Alliance of Patriots of Georgia|Alliance of Patriots]]|votes4=1231
|cand5=Vazha Bakhturidze|party5=[[European Democrats (Georgia)|European Democrats]]|votes5=751
|cand6=Elguja Kochiashvili|party6="Whites"|votes6=408
|invalid=2308 |invalid2=2205
|totalvote=52212|totalvote2=53037
|electorate=106895||electorate2=106869
|source=[https://results.cec.gov.ge/#/ka-ge/election_45/dashboard CEC], [https://results.cec.gov.ge/#/ka-ge/election_46 CEC]
}}</onlyinclude>

'''Previously elected mayors of Rustavi'''{{refn|Prior to the 2014 Local self-governance reform, mayors were elected by the city assembly.}}
* Irakli Tabagua ([[Georgian Dream|GD]]) (2017–2021)
* Davit Jikia ([[Georgian Dream|GD]]) (2014–2017)

==Climate==
Rustavi has a [[Subhumid temperate climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Cwa'') with hot wet summers and relatively cold drier winters.
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Rustavi
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes

|Jan high C= 6.3
|Feb high C= 7.9
|Mar high C= 12.4
|Apr high C = 19.6
|May high C = 24.8
|Jun high C = 28.6
|Jul high C = 31.9
|Aug high C = 31.6
|Sep high C = 27.0
|Oct high C = 20.3
|Nov high C = 13.4
|Dec high C = 8.2

|Jan mean C = 2.0
|Feb mean C = 3.4
|Mar mean C = 7.3
|Apr mean C = 13.6
|May mean C = 18.6
|Jun mean C = 22.5
|Jul mean C = 25.8
|Aug mean C = 25.4
|Sep mean C = 21.1
|Oct mean C = 14.8
|Nov mean C = 8.8
|Dec mean C = 4.0

|Jan low C = -2.3
|Feb low C = -1.1
|Mar low C = 2.2
|Apr low C = 7.6
|May low C = 12.5
|Jun low C = 16.4
|Jul low C = 19.8
|Aug low C = 19.3
|Sep low C = 15.3
|Oct low C = 9.4
|Nov low C = 4.3
|Dec low C = -0.3

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 21
|Feb precipitation mm = 27
|Mar precipitation mm = 32
|Apr precipitation mm = 46
|May precipitation mm = 75
|Jun precipitation mm = 69
|Jul precipitation mm = 41
|Aug precipitation mm = 40
|Sep precipitation mm = 37
|Oct precipitation mm = 41
|Nov precipitation mm = 34
|Dec precipitation mm = 22
|source 1 = Climate-Data.org <ref name = Climate-Data.org >{{cite web
| url = http://en.climate-data.org/location/1792/
| title = Climate: Rustavi
| access-date = 2016-02-27
| archive-date = 2018-07-05
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180705003259/https://en.climate-data.org/location/1792/
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
}}

==Sports==
[[File:Poladi Stadium.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Poladi Stadium]]]]

===Rustavi Race Circuit===
The last of the racetracks built in the USSR. Competitions started in the end of 1979 and the track hosted eleven USSR Championship events until 1989. Prior to 2009 the condition of the [[Rustavi International Motorpark|track]] had deteriorated. That same year the area was sold to the private company Stromos on the State auction. After total reconstruction in 2011–2012,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/631dd36d#/631dd36d/58 | title=Black Sea Racetrack | date=2011-04-01 |accessdate=2022-03-31 | work=Professional Motorsport World, April–June 2011 | language=en }}</ref> the [[Rustavi International Motorpark|track]] reopened and has hosted a number of racing events, such as the [[TCR International Series]], [[Formula Alfa]] series, [[Legends car racing|Legends]] championship, [[BMW]] Annual Festival, [[Drag racing|drag]] and [[Drifting (motorsport)|drift]] competitions, amateur races and many more.

===Basketball===
The city is home to the basketball club [[BC Rustavi]] of the [[Georgian Superliga]]. It plays its home games in the Rustavi sports arena.

===Martial arts===
The [[Shavparosnebi]] (Blackshields) is an active studio with traditional sport and martial arts competitions.<ref name="eurasianet">{{cite web|last=Bardzimashvili|first=Temo|title=Georgia: Reviving Ancient Martial Arts Traditions|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/node/65836|publisher=EurasiaNet|accessdate=15 September 2012|date=29 August 2012}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
*[[Robert Tedeyev]] (born 1986), former Russian professional football player
*[[Davit Zirakashvili]] (born 1983), former Georgian [[rugby union]] player

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also| List of twin towns and sister cities in Georgia (country)}}
Rustavi is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=რუსთავთან დამეგობრებული ქალაქები|url=https://rustavi.gov.ge/page/45|website=rustavi.gov.ge|publisher=Rustavi|language=ka|access-date=2020-12-07|archive-date=2021-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128104650/https://rustavi.gov.ge/page/45|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Міжнародна співпраця|url=https://kr.gov.ua/investitsiyne_seredovishche/propozitsii_inozemnikh_partneriv|website=kr.gov.ua|publisher=Kryvyi Rih|language=uk|access-date=2020-12-07|archive-date=2021-05-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528125741/https://kr.gov.ua/investitsiyne_seredovishche/propozitsii_inozemnikh_partneriv|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*{{flagicon|LTU}} [[Akmenė District Municipality|Akmenė]], Lithuania
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Cherkasy]], Ukraine
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[İnegöl]], Turkey
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Ivano-Frankivsk]], Ukraine
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Kiruna Municipality|Kiruna]], Sweden
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Kryvyi Rih]], Ukraine
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Łódź]], Poland
*{{flagicon|LTU}} [[Panevėžys]], Lithuania
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Płock]], Poland
*{{flagicon|AZE}} [[Sumqayit]], Azerbaijan
*{{flagicon|BLR}} [[Zhodzina]], Belarus
<!--rest - not twinning-->
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{Commons category|Rustavi}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [[List of monuments in Rustavi]]
* [[Rustavi City Assembly]]
* [[Internati]]
* [[Rustavi 2]], television broadcasting company
* [[Rustavi Steel]]
* [[Rustavi International Motorpark]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Cities and towns in Georgia (country)}}
{{Districts of Georgia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rustavi| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Kvemo Kartli]]
[[Category:Self-governing cities in Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Kvemo Kartli]]