Of those republics that actively sought independence from the Soviet Union, Georgia has had perhaps the most difficult transition. The republic has experienced high levels of political instability and violence, ethnic conflict, and economic disruption. Despite the problems, however, there is reason to be hopeful that some progress in the direction of democratization has taken place and that the political violence and economic difficulties experienced by Georgia in the period from 1990 to 1995 will not prove to be permanent features of Georgian political life. The series of elections that have been held since 1990, as well as the interaction of deputies in parliament, has led to an increasingly well-defined structure of political parties and movements. The elections themselves have been judged by international observers as relatively free and fair, itself a major accomplishment when compared to the experience of other former Soviet republics in the Caucasus and Central Asia.