Lee - The experiment: Georgias forgotten revolution 1918-1921

1783

Georgia signs the Treaty of Georgievsk, putting it under Russian protection.

1801

Russia begins the annexation of Georgia.

1868

Birth of Noe Zhordania.

1878

Birth of Joseph Stalin.

1892

mesame dasi (The Third Group), Georgias first Marxist organisation, is formed.

1904

Outbreak of a peasant rebellion in the western Georgian province of Guria.

19056

Russian Revolution; in Georgia, Guria falls under the complete control of the Social Democrats.

1906

Gurian Republic ends as Russian troops re-occupy the district. Elections to the first State Duma; in this and future Duma elections, the Social Democrats win large majorities in Georgia.

1917

In March, the tsar abdicates. The Provisional Government asserts its authority over all of Transcaucasia. In November, the Bolsheviks seize power in Petrograd. Elections take place across the former Russian empire for the Constituent Assembly; in Georgia, the Social Democrats win a large majority. The Peoples Guard is formed in Georgia and seizes weapons from the Tiflis arsenal in a daring raid.

1918

In January, the Bolsheviks disperse the Constituent Assembly by force. Transcaucasia declares independence, but the federation lasts for just one month. On 26 May, Georgia declares independence. Peace agreement signed with Turkey following mediation by the Germans, who then occupy Georgia. In December, a brief war breaks out with Armenia. The First World War ends in a German defeat; Britain begins to move forces into Transcaucasia.

1919

Elections to the Georgian Constituent Assembly; several parties compete and the Social Democrats win a landslide victory. The British occupation of Georgia begins. General Denikins Volunteer Army engages in border clashes with the Georgians. Rising tension between the British, who support Denikin, and the Georgians. On 7 November Georgian Communists make a failed coup attempt.

1920

On 2 May, the Communists make a second failed coup attempt. Shortly afterwards, Russia and Georgia sign a peace treaty. In exchange for Russian recognition, the Georgians legalise the Communist Party. The British forces complete their withdrawal from Georgia. The other two Transcaucasian republics, Armenia and Azerbaijan, fall under Soviet rule. In September, a delegation from the Second International arrives in Georgia.

1921

In February, the Russian army invades Georgia and after several weeks of fighting establishes Soviet rule, forcing the Georgian Republics leaders into exile. Sporadic rebellions break out against Soviet rule, most notably in the province of Svanetia.

1923

The Georgia Social Democratic Party is forced to dissolve but continues its existence underground. Key Georgian Menshevik leaders return covertly to the country from exile.

1924

Under the leadership of the Social Democrats, armed rebellion breaks out across the country. It is bloodily suppressed and Soviet rule firmly established.

1953

Stalin and Zhordania die.

1956

Following Khrushchevs secret speech at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in which Stalin was denounced, pro-Stalin demonstrations break out in Georgia and are bloodily suppressed.

1978

Demonstrations break out in Tbilisi following a Soviet constitutional reform that removed Georgian as the official state language; the regime concedes to the protestors demands.

1985

Mikhail Gorbachev begins a process of democratic reform in the Soviet Union, and names Georgian Communist leader Eduard Shevardnadze as his foreign minister, to preside over the end of the Cold War.

1989

Pro-independence demonstration in Tbilisi ends with twenty dead and hundreds wounded as Soviet troops open fire.

1990

Georgia holds its first free elections since 1919 as a pro-independence party wins and the Communists receive only 30% of the vote.

1991

On 9 April Georgia declares independence, reviving the 1921 Constitution and the national flag of that period. On 26 May, the 73rd anniversary of Georgian independence, presidential elections are held. The newly elected president, former dissident Zviad Gamsakhurdia, lasts barely seven months in power before being overthrown in a coup. Former Georgian Communist Party leader Shevardnadze comes to power the following year.