The Republican Party of Georgia emerged as an underground political organization in then-Soviet Georgia on May 21, 1978, and campaigned for an independent Georgia, human rights and free market economy.During this time, unlike many other active dissident groups, whose attention was mainly focused on protecting human rights within the provisions of the Soviet Constitution, the Republican Party’s stated aim from the outset was the restoration of Georgia’s independence, the establishment of political pluralism, the formation of democratic institutions, ensuring the freedom of the press and the formation of a market economy. On 10 November 2006, the Republican Party of Georgia was accepted as an observer member by the Liberal Institute (LI) at its 54th congress held in Morocco, achieving full membership on 3 April 2013. At the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Euope (ALDE) Party congress held from 18-19 October 2007, the Republican Party of Georgia was admitted as a full member. This makes the Republican Party the first political organization in Georgia to enjoy recognition as a true member of a family of kindred European and International parties. On 21 February 2012, the political coalition “Georgian Dream” was created. The coalition won parliamentary elections on 1 October 2012. The Republican Party Chairman Davit Usupashvili was elected as Speaker of Parliament and Vakhtang Khmaladze was made Chairman of the Judicial Committee. Similarly, Republicans have been appointed within the Georgian Government: Paata Zakareishvili: as State Minister for Reintegration and Tengiz Shergelshvili as First Deputy Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure. In May 2015, Tinatin Khidasheli became Defense Minister while Gigla Agulashvili was appointed Minister for Environmental and Natural Resources Protection. Chairperson of the Republican Party is Khatuna Samnidze and Political Secretary Tamar Kordzaia.