Modern Seismicity. The large events (M³6) during instrumental period are - Teberda earthquake of 1905 (Ms=6.4, I0=7), Kartli earthquake of 1920 (Ms=6.2, I0=8-9), Tabatskuri earthquake of 1940 (Ms=6.0, I0=8), Chkhalta earthquake of 1963 (Ms=6.4, I0=9), Racha earthquake of 1991 (Ms=6.9, I0=9), Gudamakari earthquake of 1992 (Ms=6.3, I0=8). Only Kartli earthquake of 1920 and Tabatskuri earthquake of 1940 are connected with fault system of Lesser Caucasus, other large events are connected with active faults of Greater Caucasus.
The Racha earthquake that occurred on April 29, 1991, at 09:12:48.1 GMT in the southern border of Greater Caucasus is the biggest event ever recorded in the region. The earthquake killed more then 200 people, left approximately 60 000 homeless and caused damage over thousands of square kilometers. A maximum intensity of 9 on the MSK scale was observed. The mainshock was followed by a complex aftershock extended over several months. Three distinguishable aftershocks with magnitude greater than Ms³5.4 among them: April 29, at 18:30, Ms=6.1, May 3 at 20:19 Ms=5.5and June 15 at 00:59, Ms=6.2. These events caused farther damage and casualties. The cluster of this event and its aftershock sequence is clearly seen.
On the other hand there is quite complicated picture in Javakheti region due to the intersection of different faults, but it can be noted that large earthquakes with Ms>5.0 have focal mechanisms of strike-slip type.

A map showing fault plane solutions of earthquakes with Ms>4.0 was constructed on the basis of different sources Jackson 1992, Sikharulidze et al. 1983, Arefiev et al 1993. Focal mechanisms are shown using lower hemisphere projection (dilatational quadrants are shaded). The main part of earthquakes which occurred on Greater Caucasus have reverse fault or thrust mechanisms, (all large earthquakes Ms>6.0 are among them) with nearly horizontal axes of north-south direction.