The Democratic Republic of Georgia: Struggle for Independence 1918-1921
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Andro Kacharava Alexander Daushvili The Democratic Republic of Georgia: Struggle for Independence 1918-1921 1 The book transcribes in a popular form the creation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, its political development, its domestic and foreign politics, and the fascinating and dramatic story of fight for freedom and independence. The book is intended for readers interested in history of Georgia. 2 This book is dedicated to the memory of those who fought for the independence of Georgia 3 Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................ 6 CHAPTER 1. Preconditions ............................................................................ 7 Georgia’s Aspiration to Freedom and Independence XIX-XX cc. ................................................ 7 Social Democracy and Georgia ................................................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER 2. Independent Once Again! ........................................................ 8 World War I and Georgia ........................................................................................................................... 8 The February Revolution in Russia ....................................................................................................... 8 Independent Transcaucasia ..................................................................................................................... 9 Declaring Georgia’s Independence ...................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER 3. Political Life ............................................................................ 11 The Ruling Party ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Socialist-Federalist Party ……………………………………………………………………………………………..12 Socialist-Revolutionary Party ................................................................................................................ 12 National-Democratic Party ..................................................................................................................... 12 The Bolsheviks ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Constituent Assembly ............................................................................................................................... 13 The Degree of Democracy ....................................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER 4. Internal Politics of the Democratic Republic of Georgia ... 15 The Building of a New Georgian State ................................................................................................. 15 Committees ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Local Government ...................................................................................................................................... 16 Judicial System ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Militsiya (Police) ......................................................................................................................................... 18 National Guard ............................................................................................................................................ 18 Georgian Army............................................................................................................................................. 19 Georgian ‘Vendee’ ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Agrarian Reforms ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Worker Relations and Production ....................................................................................................... 22 The Bourgeoisie .......................................................................................................................................... 24 The Nobility .................................................................................................................................................. 24 Church and State ......................................................................................................................................... 24 Education and Culture .............................................................................................................................. 25 State of Affairs ............................................................................................................................................. 26 Inter-Ethnic Relations............................................................................................................................... 26 4 CHAPTER 5. Foreign Policies of the Democratic Republic of Georgia ... 34 Transcaucasia and World Politics ........................................................................................................ 34 Relations with Germany........................................................................................................................... 34 Relations with Turkey .............................................................................................................................. 37 British Politics in Southern Caucasus ................................................................................................. 38 Peculiarities of US-Georgia Relations ................................................................................................. 41 Georgia-Armenian Conflict ..................................................................................................................... 41 Independent Georgia and Azerbaijan ................................................................................................. 44 White Russia and Independent Georgia ............................................................................................. 46 Hopes of International Recognition..................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER 6. Conclusion ............................................................................... 48 Bolshevik Policy in the Caucasus and Near East ............................................................................. 48 The Agreement of May 7, 1920 .............................................................................................................. 49 Soviet Russia’s Embassy ........................................................................................................................... 50 Russia’s Secret Plans ................................................................................................................................. 50 The Lore Provocation................................................................................................................................ 51 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 54 Figures ……………………………………………………………………………..……………..…….. 56 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………….………………………………..... 65 Further Reading ................................................................................................................................... 66 5 Foreword This book is dedicated to the history of independent Georgia, and it illustrates how the long-lost hope to restore Georgia’s statehood became a reality in 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire. Unfortunately, this period of Georgian independence appeared to be rather short-lived and ended after Bolshevik Russia’s occupation in 1921. This dramatic period of Georgian history has been well reflected in the work. The book describes the domestic and foreign policy of the country, with the special attention to its relations with Germany, Russia, Turkey and the Entente Alliance. It also examines the territorial disputes that emerged with Georgia’s immediate neighbors – Azerbaijan and Armenia, and clearly depicts the complicated circumstances that Georgia faced after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. The book is well written, is easy to read and certainly contributes to the popularization of Georgian history. Professor Otar Japaridze 6 “After restoring Georgia’s independence, each citizen of the Republic of Georgia is obligated to know the history of the country… A contemporary Georgian politician may find many pertinent and thought-provoking episodes from our past that are applicable to present times.” Ivane Javakhishvili, 1919 Chapter 1. Preconditions Georgia’s Aspiration to Freedom and Independence XIX-XX cc. In 1801, the Russian Emperor, Paul I, attempted to abolish the Georgian Kingdom of Kartli- Kakheti fraudulently, later the same year his successor, Alexander I did it forcefully, turning the Kingdom of Kartli and Kakheti into a governorate of the Russian Empire. He subsequently appropriated the title of “King of Georgia” and wore it