How Georgia became part of the Russian Empire. History of GeorgiaGeorgia ancient and modern

- a sore subject that causes a lot of controversy. They try to find either malicious intent or altruism in the actions of the Russian government, although in fact there was no unified political will on this issue in Russia. There were several groups, each of which pushed its own solution to the issue. The best people of the era were against joining, the worst were for it. It so happened that the second one won.

George XII

George, son of Erekle II, became king of Kartli and Kakheti on January 18, 1798. Kovalensky personally gave him the signs royal power. “Filled with reverent feelings for the sovereign, my lord,” said George, “I consider it possible to accept these signs of royal dignity only by taking an oath of allegiance to the emperor and recognition of his supreme rights over the kings of Kakheti and Kartli.” From that moment on, George ruled the country with the assistance of two Russian generals- Lazarev and Kovalensky.

The position of the Kartl-Kakhetian state at that time was very, very difficult. 75 years of friendship with Russia have restored everyone against Georgia - the Persians, the Turks, and the mountain peoples. Lezghin raids were problem number 1. George himself was seriously ill, and there was no agreement in his family. The main problem was Queen Darejan, who disliked friendship with Russia and promoted the interests of her own children. One of her sons, Alexander, eventually left his residence (in Shulaveri) for Iran, and then became friends with the Dagestani Omar Khan and decided, with his assistance, to win the Georgian throne for himself. The Iranians, under the pretext of helping Alexander, also began to prepare an invasion. To calm the population of Georgia, Tsar George asked to reinforce Lazarev's battalion with another, Kabardian, battalion of General Gulyakov.

In November, Omar Khan managed to gather 15 or 20 thousand people and, together with Alexander, entered Kakheti. Alexander's position was not easy - he seemed to have entered into an alliance with the historical enemies of his country. He even had to take an oath in Bodbe on the grave of St. Nina, officially confirming that the purpose of the campaign was not robbery, but the restoration of justice.

Lazarev withdrew both battalions from Tbilisi and led them through Sighnaghi to the Alazani valley. However, the Dagestanis bypassed his position and moved to Tbilisi. Lazarev organized a pursuit and overtook the Lezgins on the banks of the Iori River, near the village of Kakabeti (slightly east of the Manavi fortress). November 19, 1800 happened battle on Iori, reminiscent of the battles of the Anglo-Indian wars: the Dagestanis attacked the square of regular infantry in loose formation and suffered colossal losses. Due to the winter time, they could not return to Dagestan, but retreated to Ganzha, where they were partially killed locals. Upon learning of the outcome of the battle, the Iranians canceled the campaign. Alexander returned to Iran, where he died many years later.

This battle had some important consequence - it accelerated the process of Georgia's accession to Russia. The fact is that Russia was not particularly eager to help Georgia. The Treaty of St. George irritated the neighbors, while there was no real benefit from it - the Russian regiments either came to Georgia or left. Back in the summer of 1800, George decided that he needed to offer some the new kind Union, and agreed to cede everything to Russia in general, on the condition that the dynasty and autocephaly of the church be preserved. On June 24, 1800, this proposal was announced in St. Petersburg.

To understand Russia's reaction, one must understand the situation of that moment. In 1799, Massena thwarted Suvorov's campaign against Paris, then the joint Anglo-Russian expedition to France failed. Relations with England deteriorated and collapsed. They gradually collapsed throughout 1800. And only in the autumn the policy of Russia made a decisive turn - it was decided to fight with England and be friends with Napoleon. Paul I proposed to Napoleon a joint campaign against India. Russia undertook to put up 25,000 infantry and 10,000 Cossacks; 35,000 infantry were expected from France under the command of the same Massena.

The campaign was planned for the summer of 1801. The armies were to link up at Astrakhan, pass through Azerbaijan and Iran, and enter India.

In 1739 and 1740, Nadir Shah, or Tahmas Kuli Khan, set out from Degli with a large army on a campaign against Persia and the shores of the Caspian Sea. His path was through Kandahar, Ferah, Herat, Meshekhod, to Astrabad. /…/ What the truly Asian army did (that says it all) in 1739-1740, is it possible to doubt that the army of the French and Russians could not do that now!

When the Georgian ambassadors arrived in St. Petersburg in June, this project did not yet exist. But by autumn they were remembered. On November 27, 1800 (shortly after the Battle of Iori), the ambassadors were informed of the emperor's consent. December 6 ( November 23 Art. Art.) was signed by the official imperial rescript. I haven't seen any confirmation of a direct connection anywhere. Indian campaign with the annexation of Georgia, but the whole history of this annexation in the 18th century suggests that there must have been a connection.

And then the mystery begins. The Russian government is beginning to act very inconsistently. Apparently, the annexation project was submitted for discussion by the imperial council, and two groups arose in the council: supporters of legal annexation and supporters of annexation. The logic of the first can be understood. It is more difficult to understand the logic of the latter. Pavel did not seem to know which option to decide on. Unfortunately, we do not know the authors and inspirers of both projects and we do not know what arguments they put forward in defense of their proposal.

The ambassadors were voiced by project No. 1 (legal). It was announced that the emperor agreed to take Georgia into citizenship, “but not otherwise than when one of the envoys goes back to Georgia to announce to the king and the people there the consent of the Russian emperor, and when the Georgians again declare by letter of their desire to enter into citizenship of Russia ". Who did not understand - the ambassadors were asked for an official appeal of the Georgian estates. Such a document was necessary under the international law of the time.

But at the same time, a strange thing happened - project No. 2 was put into action. A secret order was sent to Russian officers in Georgia: in the event of the death of George, they were to prevent his son David from succeeding to the throne. Now it is difficult to understand why this was done. Many years later, the Russian diplomat and philosopher Konstantin Leontiev spoke on a different issue (regarding the liberation of the Balkan peoples) as follows:

Our protection is much more than their freedom - that's what was meant! The Sovereign himself considered himself entitled to subordinate the Sultan to himself, as a monarch to the Monarch, - and then, at his own discretion (at the discretion of Russia, as a great Orthodox Power), do for fellow believers what pleases us, and not what they wish for themselves themselves.

Hence the two projects. "Liberation in Georgian" and "Liberation in Russian".

On February 16, 1801, the manifesto was read at the Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi. On February 17, it was read in the Armenian church.

Oscillations of Alexander I

With the coming to power of Alexander I, something changed in Russian politics. Under Catherine and Paul, the state interest was primary. Alexander tried to be guided by the concepts of law. With all this, in the first year of his reign, he was not completely independent. This influenced the solution of the issue on Georgia.

And with Georgia, everything was very strange. She was almost joined, but Alexander did not understand why. This fact indicates at least that not everyone in St. Petersburg understood the meaning of this political decision. Alexander brought this issue up for discussion in the State Council.

On April 11, 1800, the first meeting on the annexation of Georgia was held. And I must say that the State Council found itself in a difficult situation, because Alexander's simple question: “why?”, He could not clearly answer for six months. Arguments that are a little strange for the modern ear were expressed at the first meeting. Georgia must be annexed because of the rich mines, for the sake of the tranquility of the borders and in the name of the dignity of the empire.

These were weak arguments. Alexander was not convinced. On April 15, the second meeting of the State Council was held. This time, the advisers changed tactics. They presented the situation as a dilemma: complete freedom or complete submission. Left to itself, Georgia will inevitably perish, so it must be annexed.

But this argument also weakness. Georgia's inability to exist was, strictly speaking, not obvious. This issue was resolved radically - Count Knorring was sent to Georgia to report on the state of the country. It took Knorring 100 days to complete the mission.

Knorring, Karl Fedorovich. The man who decided the fate of Georgia.

The State Council of that time is the people of Catherine's time, whose era was a thing of the past, but they still could do something. The Council included the Zubov brothers, the same ones who once pushed the idea of ​​conquering Iran. It was an "imperial" party for which it was self-evident that the empire must expand. Just by definition. For them there was no question "why".

Meanwhile, around Alexander were grouped the best people of that time - they went down in history under the name "young friends". They formed the so-called The secret committee", who was engaged in" the reform of the formless building of the administration of the empire. These were Count Stroganov, Count V.P. Kochubey, Prince A. Czartorysky and N.N. Novosiltsev. These people believed that at the moment the expansion of the empire was a secondary issue, its internal arrangement was much more important. They correctly noted that the annexation of Georgia was always only part of the plan to conquer the Caspian regions. And these plans have already been canceled by the course of history. The secret committee believed that there would be no benefit from the annexation of Georgia, instead they proposed something like vassalage.

The opinion of these people was formulated in the report of Vorontsov and Kochubey, which was handed over to Alexander on July 24, 1801.

Kochubey Viktor Pavlovich The man who wanted everything to work out for the best.

Meanwhile, on May 22, Knorring arrived in Tbilisi, where he spent 22 days. In Tbilisi, he met General Tuchkov and a wonderful dialogue took place between them. Tuchkov was very surprised that the salvation of Georgia was still an unresolved issue, and Knorring came only "to find out whether the income would at least be commensurate with the costs of protecting her."

“And the given word and the duty of the sovereigns of Russia to defend Christians, especially those of the same faith, against the barbarism of the Mohammedans?” I dared to object. “Now everything is a different system,” he answered.

Tuchkov was naive. And Georgia was also naive. But no one explained to Georgia that now "everything is a different system."

Knorring saw Georgia as a mess and anarchy. His report to the State Council was unequivocal: this country is not viable. Only annexation can save it. The Knorring report will be the last decisive argument for the State Council. Georgia will be annexed, Knorring will become its de facto ruler, but in this position he will only aggravate the very anarchy, in the name of combating which, on his advice, Georgia is being annexed.

On July 28, 1801, Knorring's report will be delivered to the Emperor. On August 8, it will be read out at a meeting of the State Council, along with the report of Vorontsov and Kochubey. The State Council will once again speak in favor of annexation. Kochubey will deliver his last word, where he will draw attention to the injustice of the annexation from the point of view of monarchical principles. Alexander still hesitated, although he gradually leaned towards the side of the State Council. On August 13, the issue was discussed at a meeting of the Secret Committee. It is strange that against the backdrop of such heated debates, no one thought to ask the opinion of the Georgian delegation, which had been trying to draw attention to itself for half a year already.

On September 12, a manifesto was issued on the accession of Georgia. Kochubey lost, while the party of the Zubov brothers won. Even the text of the manifesto was personally compiled by Platon Zubov, which says a lot.

Knorring's board

The first representative of the Russian government in Georgia was the same Knorring. He arrived in Tbilisi on April 9, 1802 and brought with him the Cross of St. Nina from Moscow. The cross was solemnly handed over to the Sioni Cathedral, where it can be seen to this day. Tbilisi residents rejoiced, and nothing foreshadowed trouble.

In the same days, a new territory management system was formed. In fact, Knorring was appointed the chief for Georgia. The military administration was entrusted to General Ivan Lazarev, and the civil administration was entrusted to Peter Kovalensky (who for some reason signed the “Ruler of Georgia” in the documents). It was a very poor selection of personnel for the difficult task of integrating a new people. Knorring was deprived of diplomatic talents, Kovalensky was an intriguer, in Lazarev, according to General Tuchkov, "he tried to subdue parts of affairs that did not belong to him, sometimes interfered in them, did not tolerate those who were especially entrusted with those."

On April 12, a manifesto was read out, and the inhabitants of Tbilisi were rudely demanded to swear allegiance to the new sovereign. Knorring was a very bad diplomat, and in this situation “perverted the very meaning of the voluntary annexation of Georgia, giving it the appearance of some kind of violence”, as General Vasily Potto wrote later. The inhabitants refused to take the oath in such circumstances, and then Knorring gathered the Georgian nobility by force, demanded to take the oath, and arrested those who refused - which further spoiled the situation.

Things went from bad to worse. Lezgin raids became more frequent. Knorring generally left for the Caucasus, transferring all the affairs to Kovalensky. The highlanders by this moment had already actually rebelled, and Knorring made his way through the Daryal Gorge almost with a fight.

The failure of the new administration soon became clear even in St. Petersburg. On September 11, 1802, Knorring and Kovalevsky were deposed. Prince Tsitsianov was appointed the new commander-in-chief, and only Lazarev remained in his place.

This is how Knorring came to save Georgia from anarchy, but by his own actions he multiplied anarchy many times over. Surprisingly, the imperial rescript of September 12, 1801 explained to him in plain text:

... in the position of the first principles of the government, it is most necessary to gain the love and trust of the people, and that the establishment of the government, its organization and decent movement for the future depends very much on the first impression that the leaders make with their behavior in people, the management of their entrusted.

Knorring failed miserably in this responsible mission to create a first impression.

Mikhail Lermontov poetically described what Georgia’s accession to Russia brought in his poem “Mtsyri”: “And God’s grace descended on Georgia ...” Is this really so, and how did the accession to the Russian Empire take place?

Reasons for joining Georgia to Russia

Since the Middle Ages, Russia and Russia have established very friendly relations, which were kept, first of all, on the common Christian faith for the two states. It was she who became the factor on which, first of all, the ties were kept. However, until the beginning of the 19th century, official accession did not occur.

The reasons are quite clear. Russia during the time of Ivan the Terrible was only just increasing the pace of its development and was occupied, first of all, with the development of Siberia and complex relationships with Western countries. At the same time, Georgia was undergoing serious difficulties, as the whole country was under the most serious pressure Ottoman Empire and Persia (that is, Turkey and Iran).

As a result of the aggressive actions of these militant neighbors, the Georgian borders have repeatedly changed. The struggle of the Georgians with the Persians and Turks exhausted the country, so the beginning of the annexation of Georgia to Russia was laid at the end of the 16th century. Then the local princes, realizing that on their own to fight off such powerful eastern empires they could not, turned to the Russian Tsar with a request for help and acceptance into citizenship.

The country was very afraid of the complete loss of sovereignty and the imposition of Islam instead of Christianity. Moscow responded to this request and sent troops in 1594. But the path ran through, eh Russian army there were too few to withstand the mountain barriers. At the same time, the Georgians themselves showed indecision and were in no hurry to break through the “corridor” from their side. The campaign ended in failure.

Thus, the main reasons for joining were:

• isolation of Georgia in the ring of unfriendly countries;
• fear of losing the Christian faith;
• the risk of losing sovereignty under pressure from Iran and Turkey.

Unfortunately, as shown further developments, the military and economic weakness of both sides led to the fact that Georgia could not (or did not want to) come under the rule of the Russian tsars.

Beginning and main stages of entry

It is unequivocally difficult to answer the question of how the accession took place, since this process was quite lengthy. Left without an ally, Georgia was practically doomed to disintegration, and in the 18th century it split into separate principalities. However, over all of them retained some power ancient dynasty Bagrationov. Meanwhile, the question of vital necessity accession to Russia, still rose from time to time in the Georgian society.

The second attempt on the part of Russia was made during the reign of Peter I, who started Persian campaign. However, during the preparations, it turned out that his army was not yet ready for such feats.

Only during the reign of Catherine II, in 1769, did the Russian army finally find itself in the Georgian territories. This happened because Heraclius, the prince of Kartli-Kakheti, and Solomon, the prince of Imereti, concluded an agreement with the Russian empress on alliance in the war with Turkey. The Kyuchuk-Kaynarji peace treaty, signed in 1774, liberated Imereti from the Turks. The country received a respite, and Russia strengthened its position in the Crimea and the Black Sea with this treaty.

At the same time, the Russian Empire did not intend to exercise sovereignty over the Georgian territories. Therefore, when a few years later, in 1783, the same Prince Heraclius again turned to Catherine, asking to take Kartli-Kakheti under her protection, the empress offered to conclude an agreement that implies a vassal option.

Thus, the accession of Eastern Georgia was regulated by the Treaty of Georgievsk. The document indicated that Russia would protect these territories in the event of an attack, keep two infantry battalions here on a permanent basis, and Heraclius pledged to serve the empress. As a result, a Russian protectorate was established there, and Turkey and Persia lost the opportunity to conquer this territory.

The next step was the year 1800, when the Georgian elites decided that the time had come to unite even more closely with the empire. Therefore, a delegation was sent to St. Petersburg from the Georgian ruler George XII, who asked for Russian citizenship for his country forever. Emperor Paul I accepted the petition and promised George to leave him the title of king for life. In December 1800, the Manifesto was signed on the accession of Georgia to Russia, which was announced in February of the following year.

However, the actual consideration of the issue of accession proved to be protracted. During this period, the Russian emperor had just changed, and instead of Paul, Alexander I ascended the throne. The problem was that Catherine's Treaty of St. George meant only a protectorate, and Paul's manifesto violated the principles of this document. The government intended after the death of George to plant its governor in Georgia, and make Georgia itself one of the Russian provinces.

Alexander greatly disliked this plan, as he considered it "dishonest". Therefore, the final consideration of the issue was postponed, and the history of the annexation of Georgian lands to the Russian Empire could drag on for a long time. The Georgians waited, the party in power insisted on accepting the already read manifesto, and, finally, the emperor signed a decree on accession.

Consequences of Georgia joining the Empire

It cannot be said that the entry of Georgia in 1801 was so necessary for Russia. No wonder the "Unspoken Committee" warned the emperor against such a decision, pointing out that he needed, first of all, to deal with internal affairs. However, Alexander I nevertheless went for it, realizing that such a step makes the country itself stronger, and Georgia will begin to restore the process of social development.

Documentally, the year of accession was 1802, when the manifesto was read out in Tbilisi. At the same time, all the Georgian elites were sworn allegiance. The result of this was a gradual flourishing, as it was now free from the threat of external interference in its internal affairs.

Apparently, the great Russian poet was right when he said that after the annexation of Georgia to Russia, the country "bloomed, without fear of enemies, beyond friendly bayonets." Of course, along with the acquisition of protection, the country lost some of its sovereignty, but the majority of the people supported the Accession Manifesto, as evidenced by numerous documents of that era.

- (in Georgian - Sakartvelo, Sakartvelo; in eastern languages ​​- Gurjistan) - ancient state in the Caucasus. Georgia, as well as historical lands- state formations, for the three thousand-year history of statehood are known as the Kingdom of Colchis (Egrisi), Iveria, or Iberia (Kartli, Kartalinia), the Laz kingdom, or Lazika (Egrisi), the Abkhazian (Western Georgian) kingdom, the Georgian kingdom (Sakartvelo), principalities Abkhazia, Guria, Megrelia (Mingrelia, Odishi), Samtskhe-Saatabago and Svanetia. With the accession of the Kartalian-Kakhetian kingdom to the Russian Empire (1801), the abolition of Georgian state formations and the inclusion of their territory directly into Russia began. After the collapse of the Russian Empire (1917), an independent statehood was recreated - the Georgian Democratic Republic (1918 - 1921). Formed after the Bolshevik occupation (1921), the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic existed until 1990. After the collapse of the USSR (1991), Georgia became an independent state again: the Republic of Georgia.

Georgians (self-name - Kartvels) and Abkhazians (self-name - Apsua), as well as representatives of the Azerbaijani, Armenian, Assyrian, Greek, Jewish, Kurdish, Ossetian, Russian, Ukrainian and other peoples live in Georgia. The Georgian language (together with Megrelian and Svan) is included in the Kartvelian group of Ibero-Caucasian languages, the language is in the Abkhaz-Adyghe group of Ibero-Caucasian languages.

The main part of the population of Georgia professes Orthodoxy, part - Catholicism, Gregorianism, part - Islam (Adjarians, Lazians, Ingiloys, part of the Meskhs). Part of the Abkhazians (mostly Abzhuys) profess Orthodoxy, and part - Islam (mostly Bzyb).

At the turn of II and I millennia BC. in southwestern region historical Georgia, two large associations were formed - early class states: Dia-okhi (Taokhi, Tao) and Kolkha (Colchis). At the beginning of the 7th century BC. Dia-ohi was defeated by the state of Urartu. In the 30s - 20s. 8th century BC. the ancient Colchis state, which is remembered in the ancient Greek legend of the Argonauts, was defeated by the Cimmerians invading from the north.

In the VI century. BC. Colchian tribes formed an early slave-owning state - the Kingdom of Colchis (Kolkheti, Egrisi). The development of urban life and trade in Colchis was facilitated by the emergence of Greek colonies (Phasis, Dioscuria, Gyuenos, etc.). From the 6th century BC. in Colchis, silver coins were minted - “Colchis tetri” (“Colchis”). At the end of the VI century. and the first half of the 5th c. BC. The Colchis kingdom was dependent on the Achaemenid Iran. At the end of the IV century. BC. the ruler of Colchis Kudzhi, together with the Kartli king Farnavaz, led the movement for the creation of a united Georgian state. At the end of the II century. BC. The Colchis kingdom was subordinated to the Pontic kingdom, and in the 1st century. BC. - Rome.

In the VI - IV centuries. BC. intensive consolidation of the Kartli (East Georgian) tribes in the east and south of historical Georgia, which culminated in the formation of the Kingdom of Kartli (Iberia) with the center in the city of Mtskheta. Ancient Georgian sources date this event to the end of the 4th century. BC. and is associated with the victory won by the descendant of the Mtskheta elders (mamasakhlisi) Farnavaz (farnaoz) over the son of the king of Arian-Kartli Azo. Pharnavaz achieves the independence of the kingdom and becomes the founder of the Pharnavazian dynasty. The historical tradition connects with the name of Pharnavaz the creation Georgian writing. In the III century. BC. under Saurmag and Mirian, who reigned after Pharnavaz, Kartli became a vast and powerful state, which already included a significant part of Western Georgia (Adjara, Argveti), Egrisi recognized the supremacy of the Kartli rulers. Kartli managed to establish its control over the highlanders, who inhabited both slopes of the Caucasus Range.

In the 1st century BC. Iberia for some time submitted to Rome. The appearance of the first Georgian Christian communities in the 1st c. AD At the beginning new era The kingdom of Kartli grew stronger and stronger, and during the reign of Faraman II (30-50s of the 2nd century AD) it reached great power and expanded its borders. From the 3rd century The kingdom of Kartli falls under the influence of Sasanian Iran.

At the turn of the I - II centuries. on the site of the collapsed Colchis kingdom, the Laz kingdom arose - Lazika (Egrisi - Georgian sources), which eventually spreads its attention to the entire territory of the former Colchis kingdom, including Apsilia, Abazgia and Sanigia.

At the beginning of the early Middle Ages, there were two states on the territory of Georgia: the East Georgian kingdom of Kartli (Iberia), which stretched from the Caucasus Mountains south to Albania and Armenia, and Egrisi (Lazika), covering the entire West with its capital in Tsikhe-Goji (Archeopolis, Nokalakevi) .

Around 337 under King Mirian and Queen Nana state religion The Kingdom of Kartli is declared to be Christianity. This fateful event for Georgia is closely connected with the name of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino, the hierarch of Georgia. In the Laz kingdom, Christianity becomes the state religion under King Tsate in 523.

The King of Kartli Vakhtang I Gorgasal (second half of the 5th century), striving for the centralization of Georgia and the elimination of vassal dependence on Iran, leads a large united uprising of Georgians, Albanians and Armenians against Iran, pacifies the Caucasian highlanders, significantly expands the boundaries of the kingdom (which already covers almost all of Georgia ), conducts church reform, founded the city of Tbilisi, where the capital of the Kingdom of Kartli was soon transferred. Under Vakhtang I, the Eastern Georgian Church received autocephaly from the Patriarchate of Antioch, and the Georgian Church was headed by the Catholicos (later the Catholicos-Patriarch).

The heirs of Vakhtang I Gorgasal continued the struggle against Iran. But the uprising of 523 led by King Gurgen was defeated. The royal power in Kartli was soon abolished, and a ruler, a marzpan, was placed at the head of the country by Iran. In the 70s of the VI century. in Kartli, the power of a representative of the noble nobility, “the first among equals,” whom the sources call erismtavar, was established. The family chronicle considers the Erismtavars of Kartli to be representatives of the clan (Bagrationov).

From the middle of the VI century. Laz kingdom, and from the beginning of the 7th century. - Kartli fell under the rule of Byzantium. From the middle of the 7th century by the ninth century a significant part of the Georgian lands was captured by the Arabs.

In the 8th century in Western Georgia, the Abkhazian eristavi is being strengthened. The Abkhaz eristavs skillfully use the Arab-Byzantine contradictions, with the help of the Khazars they free themselves from Byzantine rule and unite all of Western Georgia. Abkhazian Leon II receives the king. Origin royal dynasty and the leading role of the Abkhazian eristavstvo, the new Western Georgian political association was called the Abkhazian kingdom, but out of eight of its eristavstvos, Abkhazia itself was represented by two (Abkhazian and Tskhum). Kutaisi became the capital of the kingdom. The Western Georgian church dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople are resubordinated to the Mtskheta Catholicos.

From the end of the 8th century - the beginning of the 9th century. The territory of Georgia covered: the Principality of Kakheti, the Principality of Kartvelian Kuropalate (Tao-Klarjeti), the Kingdom of Hereti, the Kingdom of Abkhazia and the Tbilisi, or Kartli, Emirate, originally ruled by the governors of the Arab caliphs. During the IX - X centuries. between these political associations, with varying success, a tense struggle was waged for mastering the central part of Georgia - Shida Kartli - the traditional political, economic and cultural center of Georgian statehood. This struggle ended with the unification of Georgia and the creation of a single Georgian feudal state. The Georgian nobility, led by the eristavi Ioane Marushisdze, offered David III the Kuropalate of the dynasty, a powerful ruler Southern Georgia, “come out with your own forces, capture Kartli and take the throne yourself or hand it over to Bagrat, the son of Gurgen”, who also came from the Bagrationi house. Bagrat, the adopted son of the childless Kuropalat, inherited the kingdom of Kartvel (on his father's side) and the Abkhazian kingdom (on the side of his mother Gurandukht, sister of the childless Abkhazian king Theodosius). In 975 Bagrat Bagrationi received Shida Kartli. In 978, Bagrat was elevated to the Western Georgian (Abkhazian) throne with the title of “King of the Abkhazians”. In 1001, after the death of David III, Kuropalate received the title of Kuropalate, and in 1008, after the death of his father, the title of “King of Kartvels” (Georgia). In 1008 - 1010. Bagrat III annexes Kakheti, Hereti and Rani. “King of the Abkhazians, Kartvels, Rans and Kahs” Bagrat III Bagrationi carried out the unification of all Georgia begun under Farnavaz and continued under Vakhtang I Gorgasala single state; the concept of “Sakartvelo” appears to refer to the whole of Georgia.

XI - XII centuries. were periods of greatest political power, the flourishing of the economy and culture of feudal Georgia. Under King David the Builder (1089 - 1125), important transformations were carried out aimed at strengthening central government and the unity of the state military reform. In the first quarter of the XII century. Georgia repelled the invasion of the Seljuk Turks and liberated a significant part of Transcaucasia from them - Shirvan and Northern Armenia were included in the Georgian state.

During the reign of George III (1156 - 1184) and Tamar (1184 - c. 1213), Georgia's influence extended to the North Caucasus, Eastern Transcaucasia, Iranian Azerbaijan, all of Armenia and the southwestern Black Sea region (Trapezund Empire). Georgia has become one of the strongest states in the Middle East. External links Georgia expanded not only to the east, but also to the north, in the XII century. established cultural and economic ties with Kievan Rus.

In the second quarter of the XIII century. Georgia was conquered by the Tatar-Mongols. Tamerlane's invasions in the second half of the 14th century. ruined the country. In the second half of the XV century. As a result of continuous invasions of foreign invaders and economic decline, the unified Georgian state broke up into the Kartli, Kakheti and Imereti kingdoms and the principality of Samtskhe-Saatabago.

In the XVI - XVII centuries. Odish (Megrelian), Abkhazian (according to the 17th century included in) and Svan principalities separated from the Imeretian kingdom, only nominally continuing to recognize the supremacy of the Imeretian king.

In the XVI - XVIII centuries. Georgia has become the arena of the struggle between Iran and Turkey for dominance in the Transcaucasus. Georgian rulers have repeatedly asked Russia for military assistance - they also raised the issue of joint actions against Turkey and Iran. AT late XVII in. a Georgian colony appears in Moscow. King Vakhtang VI of Kartli (1703 - 1724) puts in order state government, feudal order, issues legislative acts, develops construction work and restores the irrigation system, however, under the conditions of Turkish and Iranian dominance, he is forced to leave the throne and, together with many Georgian political and cultural figures, finds refuge in Russia.

From the second half of XVIII in. the balance of power in Transcaucasia has changed significantly: the king of Kartli and his son, the king of Kakheti, became so politically strong that in 1749 - 1750. The Yerevan, Nakhichevan and Ganja khanates became tributaries of Georgia. Heraclius II defeated the ruler of Tabriz Azat Khan and the Dagestan feudal lords. After the death in 1762 of Teimuraz II, who was in St. Petersburg in search of support, having inherited the Kartalin throne, Erekle II proclaimed himself king of Kartli-Kakheti, uniting Eastern Georgia. On July 24, 1783, a Russian-Georgian treaty was signed in Georgievsk, ratified on January 24, 1784. Under the terms of the treaty, the Russian Empire took under the protection of the Kartalinsko-Kakhetian kingdom, guaranteed its integrity, undertook the obligation to return the lands seized by enemies to Georgia, and retained the royal throne for Heraclius II and his descendants, did not interfere in the internal affairs of the kingdom. For his part, Heraclius II recognized supreme power Emperor of Russia.

Turkey, incited by France and England, tried in every possible way to prevent the implementation of the terms of the treaty - it set the neighboring Muslim rulers against Georgia. In 1785, the Avar ruler Omar Khan invaded and devastated Eastern Georgia. In July 1787, Turkey presented an ultimatum to Russia, demanding the removal of Russian troops from Georgia and recognition as a Turkish vassal. In August of the same year, Turkey declared war on Russia. Russia did not dare to open a second, Caucasian front (along with the Balkan one) and in September withdrew its troops from Georgia - thereby Georgievsky treatise were violated. In 1795, Agha Magomed Khan, who united almost all of Iran, invaded and devastated Tbilisi. In 1798 Tsar Erekle II died.

Under George XII (1798 - 1800), the struggle for possession of the throne between the numerous sons and grandsons of Heraclius II and George XII intensified. Groups warring among themselves formed around the applicants. The issue of foreign policy orientation was acute. George XII, being seriously ill, began to seek the restoration of the terms of the treaty of 1783 and the approval of his son David as heir to the throne. Emperor Paul I formally granted the request of the king, in 1799 he transferred a regiment of Russian troops to Georgia, but decided to abolish the Kartalin-Kakhetian kingdom and annex it to Russia. Representatives of the emperor at the Kartalin-Kakheti court received secret order: in the event of the death of King George XII, prevent the accession to the throne of Prince David. On December 28, Tsar George XII died. On January 18, 1801, in St. Petersburg, and on February 16, in Tbilisi, the manifesto of Paul I on the annexation of Georgia to Russia was published. The final abolition of the Kartalian-Kakhetian kingdom and the accession to the Russian Empire were approved on September 12, 1801 by the manifesto of Emperor Alexander I. Members of the Georgian royal family were forcibly taken to Russia. In 1811 the independence of the Georgian Church was abolished.

The history of the Imereti kingdom is marked by constant feudal unrest. King Solomon I (1751 - 1784) managed to strengthen the royal power, prohibit the slave trade encouraged by Turkey, defeat the Turks (1757) and create a military alliance with Kartli-Kakheti. Imereti kings repeatedly turned to Russia for help, but the requests were rejected in order to avoid complications with Turkey. After 1801, the King of Imereti Solomon II tried to unite all of Western Georgia, to lead the struggle for the restoration of the Kartalin-Kakhetian kingdom. However, Russia, having supported the separatism of the Megrelian, Abkhazian, Gurian and Svan rulers, doomed the struggle of Solomon II to defeat and in 1804 forced him, according to the Elaznaur Treaty, to accept the patronage of Russia. In 1810, Russian rule was also established in Imereti.

Principality of Samtskhe-Saatabago with early XVI in. became a vassal of Turkey. In the 30s - 90s. 16th century the Turks began to seize the territory of Samtskhe-Saatabago, create their own administrative units, and in the 20s and 30s. 17th century eliminated the remnants of the independence of the principality. The methodical Muslimization of the population began.

The Megrelian (Mingrelian) principality (Odishi) gained independence around the middle of the 16th century, and since 1550 its rulers, from the clan, recognized the power of the Imeretian kings only nominally. Until the beginning of the XVII century. Abkhazia was also part of the Megrelian principality. At the end of the XVII century. in Odishi, the Lechkhumi (nobleman) Katsia Chikovani strengthened, overthrowing the dynasty that had previously ruled there. His son George took the title and surname of the former rulers of the Megrelian principality - Dadiani. The sovereign prince Grigol (Gregory) I Dadiani in 1803 passed into the citizenship of the Russian Empire, retaining autonomy in civil affairs. After the death of the ruler David Dadiani (1853), due to the infancy of the heir, Prince Nikolai, until 1857, the principality was ruled by his mother, Princess Ekaterina Alexandrovna Dadiani (nee princess). In 1857, the governor of the Caucasus, Prince. Baryatinsky, taking advantage of the turmoil as a result of peasant unrest in Odishi, introduced a special administration of the principality. In 1867, the Mingrelian Principality legally ceased to exist and became part of the Russian Empire.

The Gurian principality separated from the Imeretian kingdom in the 16th century. Adzharia was also under the rule of rulers from the clan (descendants of the Svan eristav Vardanidze). Frequent civil strife among the Georgian feudal lords and a hard struggle against the Turkish invaders led the principality into decline. In the 17th century Adzharia was conquered by the Turks and began to actively promote Islam. The owners became vassals of the kings of Imereti and in 1804, as part of the Imereti kingdom, they came under the protection of Russia. In 1811 The principality of Guria, with the preservation of internal autonomy, was annexed to the Russian Empire, and in 1828 it was finally abolished.

The Abkhaz principality took shape in early XVII in. and entered into direct vassal dependence on the Imeretian king. The eastern border of the principality moves to the Kelasuri River, along which the ruler of Megrelia Levan II Dadiani builds the western part of a large defensive wall. At the end of the XVII - early XVIII centuries, having captured part of the territory of the Megrelian principality, the Abkhaz rulers from the clan (Chachba) expanded their borders to the Inguri River. Islam is actively spreading in Abkhazia and dependence on Turkey is growing.

On the basis of the appeal of the ruler of Abkhazia George (Safar Bey) (Shervashidze) manifesto Alexander I dated February 17, 1810. was annexed to the Russian Empire while maintaining the limited power of the owner. The Samurzakan rulers Manuchar and Levan Shervashidze took the oath of “loyalty” as early as 1805. provinces.

After the collapse in the XV century. united Georgian state, part became part of the Megrelian principality. The rest was formally subordinate to the Imeretian king and was divided into Free Svanetia and the Principality of Svanetia (possession of princes, then princes). The princely power in Svaneti was abolished in 1857-1859, after the last sovereign prince Konstantin Dadeshkeliani in 1857, while trying to arrest, personally killed the Kutaisi governor Prince Gagarin and three of his servants, and also wounded several soldiers. Prince Dadeshkeliani was shot in 1858 by a court-martial.

During the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The Russian Empire, with the active support of the Georgian nobility and peasantry, recaptured some of those captured in different periods time of Turkey Georgian historical lands. Tavads and aznauris (princes and nobles) of the Georgian kingdoms and principalities were recognized in the princely and noble merits of the Russian Empire.

Russian Empire. In the future, until the end of the existence of the empire in 1917 and the collapse of the state in 1918, Georgia remained part of Russia. Russian rule established peace in Georgia and protected it from external threats. At the end of the 19th century, dissatisfaction with the Russian authorities led to the creation of a growing national movement. Russian rule led to unprecedented changes in the social structure and economy of Georgia, made it open to European influence. The abolition of serfdom freed the peasants, but did not give them property. The growth of capitalism led to a sharp increase in the urban population and the mass creation of workers, which was accompanied by uprisings and strikes. The culmination of this process was the revolution of 1905. leading political force in the last years of Russian rule, the Mensheviks became. In 1918 Georgia became independent for a short time.

background

Georgian-Russian relations until 1801

Accession of Georgia to Russia

Main article: Accession of Georgia to the Russian Empire

The rulers of Georgia believed that they had no other choice. After the death of Heraclius II, a war for succession to the throne began in Georgia, and one of the contenders turned to Russia for help. On January 8, 1801, Paul I signed a decree on the annexation of Kartli-Kakheti to the Russian Empire. After the assassination of Paul, the decree was confirmed by his heir Alexander I on September 12 of the same year. In May 1801, General Karl Bogdanovich Knorring in Tbilisi overthrew the Georgian pretender to the throne, David, and installed the government of Ivan Petrovich Lazarev. The Georgian nobility did not recognize the decree until April 1802, when Knorring gathered everyone in the Zion Cathedral of Tbilisi and forced them to take the oath Russian throne. Those who refused were arrested.

Politics tsarist government pushed away part of the Georgian nobility. A group of young nobles, inspired by the Decembrist uprising of 1825 and the Polish uprising of 1830, organized a plot to overthrow the royal power in Georgia. Their plan was to invite all representatives of the royal power in Transcaucasia to a ball and kill them. The conspiracy was revealed on December 10, 1832, all its participants were deported to remote regions of Russia. In 1841 a peasant uprising took place. After the appointment of Prince Vorontsov as governor of the Caucasus in 1845, the policy changed. Vorontsov managed to attract the Georgian nobility to his side and Europeanize it.

Georgian society

Education

Abolition of serfdom

Serfdom in Russia was abolished in 1861. Alexander II also planned to abolish it in Georgia, but this was impossible without losing the newly acquired loyalty of the Georgian nobility, whose well-being depended on serf labor. The task of negotiating and finding a compromise solution was entrusted to the liberal Dimitri Kipiani. On October 13, 1865, the tsar signed a decree on the release of the first serfs in Georgia, although completely serfdom disappeared only in the 1870s. The serfs became free peasants and were able to move freely, marry of their choice, and take part in political activities. The landowners retained the right to all their land, but only part of it remained in their full ownership, while the former serfs who had lived on it for centuries received the right to rent. After paying a sufficient amount as rent to compensate for the loss of land to the owners, they received the land as their property.

The reform was met with disbelief by both landowners and peasants, who had to buy back the land, which was to take decades. Although the conditions created by the reform for landowners were better than for landlords in Russia, they were still dissatisfied with the reform, as they lost part of their income. In subsequent years, dissatisfaction with the reform influenced the creation of political movements in Georgia.

Immigration

Cultural and political currents

Incorporation into the Russian Empire changed the political and cultural orientation of Georgia: if it had previously followed the Middle East, it now turned towards Europe. Accordingly, Georgia became open to new European ideas. At the same time, many social problems Georgia were the same as in Russia, and political movements, which arose in Russia in the 19th century, found followers in Georgia.

Romanticism

In the 1830s, Georgian literature was seriously influenced by romanticism. The largest Georgian poets - Alexander Chavchavadze, Grigol Orbeliani and in particular Nikoloz Baratashvili - were representatives of this trend. A recurring theme in their work was the appeal to the historical past in search of a golden age. Baratashvili's (only) poem, "The Fate of Georgia" ("Bedi Kartlis") expresses his ambiguous feelings towards the union with Russia. It contains a line Naked freedom like a nightingale Still sweeter than a golden cage(translated by Boris Pasternak).

Georgia was also a frequent theme in the works of Russian romanticism. In 1829, Pushkin visited Georgia; Georgian motifs are clearly seen in a number of his works. Most of Lermontov's works contain Caucasian themes.

Nationalism

Socialism

By the 1870s, a third, more radical political force had emerged in Georgia. Its members paid attention to social problems and identified themselves with similar movements in the rest of Russia. The first was Russian populism, but it did not gain sufficient popularity in Georgia. Socialism, especially Marxism, has been much more successful.

AT late XIX century, Georgia, especially the cities of Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi, experienced industrialization. Large factories arose, railways were laid, and with them the working class appeared. In the 1890s, members of the third generation of Georgian intellectuals, "Mesame-dasi", who considered themselves social democrats, turned their attention to him. The most famous of them are Noy Zhordania and Philip Makharadze, who got acquainted with Marxism in Russia. After 1905 they were the leading force in Georgian politics. They believed that the tsarist regime should be replaced by a democratic one, which in the future would lead to the construction of a socialist society.

The last years of Russian rule

Growing tension

In 1881, after the assassination of Alexander II, his successor Alexander III began to pursue a much tougher policy. In particular, he viewed any ideas of national independence as a threat to the existence of the empire. To strengthen centralization, he abolished the Caucasian governorship, relegating Georgia to the status of an ordinary Russian province. The study Georgian language was not welcomed, and even the name "Georgia" was forbidden to be used in the press. In 1886, a Georgian seminarian killed the rector of the Tbilisi Seminary in protest. When the already old Dmitry Kipiani decided to criticize the head of the Georgian church for attacks on seminarians, he was exiled to Stavropol, where he was killed at mysterious circumstances. Many Georgians believed that his death was the work of the Okhrana. Kipiani's funeral turned into a big anti-Russian demonstration.

At the same time, ethnic tensions between Georgians and Armenians grew. After the abolition of serfdom, economic situation Georgian nobility deteriorated. Many, unable to adapt to the new economic order, sold their lands and entered the public service or moved to cities. The winners were the Armenians, who bought a significant part of the land. In cities, especially in

January 18, 1801 (January 31). - Voluntary entry of Georgia into the Russian Empire

Grateful Georgia as an Orthodox Outpost of America

Georgia - the closest people to Russia in Transcaucasia due to the common with us Orthodox faith. The coat of arms of Georgia depicts its patron, striking a serpent with a spear (hence the name of Georgia in European languages). From the 15th to the 18th centuries, Georgia was fragmented, located between Muslim Iran and Turkey, and sought the intercession of Russia. This became possible as a result of the Russian-Turkish wars in the reign.

In Soviet times Georgian SSR both during and after it, enjoyed the most favored nation in terms of living standards in comparison with other union republics. This is how the overall picture looked like (the top figure is production, the bottom figure is consumption of GDP per capita per year in thousands of dollars):

Republic	1985	1987	1989	1990
RSFSR	14,8 12,5	15,8 13,3	17,5 12,8	17,5 11,8
Belarus	15,1 10,4	16,1 10,5	16,9 12,0	15,6 12,0
Ukraine	12,1 13,3	12,7 13,2	13,1 14,7	12,4 13,3
Kazakhstan	10,2 8,9	10,9 10,4	10,8 14,8	10,1 17,7
Uzbekistan	7,5 12,0	7,2 13,9	6,7 18,0	6,6 17,4
Lithuania	13,0 23,9	14,6 22,2	15,6 26,1	13,0 23,3
Azerbaijan	11,0 7,4	10,8 12,7	9,9 14,0	8,3 16,7
Georgia	12,8 31,5	12,8 30,3	11,9 35,5	10,6 41,9
Turkmenistan	8,6 13,7	8,8 18,8	9,2 20,0	8,6 16,2
Latvia	17,0 22,6	17,3 19,0	17,7 21,7	16,5 26,9
Estonia	15,4 26,0	17,6 27,8	16,9 28,2	15,8 35,8
Kyrgyzstan	8,3 8,8	7,8 10,2	8,0 10,1	7,2 11,4
Moldova	10,5 12,8	11,2 13,5	11,6 15,8	10,0 13,4
Armenia	12,7 32,1	12,4 30,1	10,9 30,0	9,5 29,5
Tajikistan	6,5 10,7	6,2 9,5	6,3 13,7	5,5 15,6

As you can see, the "donors" were the RSFSR and Belarus, part of whose income was withdrawn for subsidies to other republics, in 1990 most of all - Georgia (31.3 thousand dollars per capita per year), Armenia (20), Estonia (20) , Uzbekistan (10.8), Latvia (10.4), Lithuania (10.3). Even at the end Soviet period, with regional cost accounting, subsidies national republics amounted to about 50 billion dollars a year.

This is confirmed by the CIA Book of World Facts based on purchasing power data published by the United Nations International Comparison Program. GDP of the former Soviet republics rated by the following figures:

So the propaganda cries about Moscow's colonial exploitation of the outskirts, which allegedly fed the center, it's time to stop long ago. It is impossible not to see that the Commonwealth of Independent States proclaimed in 1991 was a form of deception of our peoples and a disguised destruction of the geopolitical space.

No positive ideology was put at the basis of the CIS by its founders, except for the common nomenklatura past of the leaders; socio-economic ties every year weakened and were replaced by foreign ones. The United States, as an alternative to the CIS, encouraged the creation of the anti-Russian bloc GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova). And if until 1999 Russian influence still remained in Central Asia and Transcaucasia (based on the personal connections of millions of people, the former economic infrastructure, common educational, industrial and military standards), then under Putin the role of the United States in the CIS has increased dramatically, up to the creation of a chain of military bases. Even the US aggression in Iraq was supported by Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and, of course, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

After 1991, the narrow nationalism of President Z. Gamsakhurdia, and then the US-backed Shevardnadze regime, prevented friendly relations with Russia (we note that Shevardnadze's coup d'état was also supported by the Yeltsin authorities). The US took control of the Georgian state security, the army and turned Georgia into a pillar of its policy in the Caucasus; Chechen fighters are supplied with weapons and money through Georgia. At the same time, the Georgian economy suffered complete bankruptcy.

Russia could take advantage of this and call on the Georgian people to remove Shevardnadze from power, especially since he seized it through a bloody coup. However, the Russian Federation continued to supply energy resources to Shevardnadze on credit, agreed to the early liquidation in 2001 of two Russian military bases - in Vazian and Gudauta.

And it was not Russia that took advantage of the mass discontent of the Georgians who hated Shevardnadze to help friendly forces come to power (even many Georgian officers refused to serve under American command), but again the United States, which staged a pre-emptive "Rose Revolution" in late 2003 to replace the Moor who worked his way out with more "intelligent" puppets. The new President M. Saakashvili immediately demanded the closure of the remaining Russian bases and asked extra help United States to strengthen the army and security services. A French citizen (former French Ambassador to Georgia) was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. Georgia made every effort to ensure that Azerbaijani and Central Asian oil was transported to the West through its territory through Turkey, bypassing the Russian Federation. A brutal suppression of conservative Orthodox circles began.

Our readers know about further provocations and crises with the demonstrative expulsion of "illegal" Georgians from the Russian Federation from very recent news.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia do not want to be part of Georgia and seek to reunite with Russia. The vast majority of their population demonstrates this by taking Russian citizenship. This problem can be solved in two ways: by the reunification of all Orthodox Georgia with Russia, or, in case of her unwillingness, by the reunification of these territories on the basis of a plebiscite. Ossetians are also a divided people whose right to unity should be respected. The vast majority of the population of both territories are citizens of Russia and can no longer be abroad for it.

Discussion: 9 comments

A few notes.

/Georgia is the people closest to Russia in Transcaucasia due to the common Orthodox faith with us./

It's time to get rid of the myth of the "fraternal people". Georgians are one of the most chauvinistic peoples on the territory of the former Russian Empire. And the traditions of Georgian Russophobia have a long history. In 1917, the Georgians behaved the same as in 1991. They tried to carry out the genocide of the Ossetians, expelled the Russians, quarreled with all their neighbors.

/South Ossetia and Abkhazia do not want to be part of Georgia and seek to reunite with Russia./

Abkhazia does not want any "reunification". They want their "nezavysymy Apsny". First, they expelled all the Georgians, now the Russians are intensively surviving, I am taking away their housing. And all this on Russian subsidies. Next in line is the Armenian community.

/For Orthodox Russia, the establishment of fraternal relations with Orthodox Georgia will be quite possible on the basis of general defense from the New World Order./

Yes. In what way is it interesting? Georgia itself has been offering itself to this NWO for twenty years now as a base for combating the "Russian threat". And the Georgian patriarch has always supported all adventures - even Gamsakhurdia, even Shevardnadze, even Saakashvili.

Putin-Medvedev's policy towards Georgia is hostile to Russia.

For the benefit of Russia and the entire Caucasus, Georgia should be divided into its component parts. In reality, there are no "Georgians"; 14 different peoples who should be assisted in gaining independence.

The verbiage that all nations are brothers begins to cause toothache. So what if Georgians consider themselves Orthodox? I know a lot of moral freaks who wear a cross around their neck, so they are my brothers too? Can we start judging people by their deeds? That's something ethnic gangs of Swedes or French do not terrorize the inhabitants of neighboring states, but why go far there, who has heard of Belarusian thieves in law? Even in our first catastrophe in 1917, the Georgians showed their true face, and it was not a face, but an animal muzzle, when they began to take out their stupid hatred on the Russians and even moved troops to the Kuban. In 1991, everything happened again. My experience of communicating with godless non-brothers Germans and Swedes tells me that they are much closer to me than the Orthodox Georgian people closest to us, from whom, like other Caucasians, every Russian would like to fence himself off with minefields and barbed wire.

/Putin-Medvedev's policy towards Georgia is hostile to Russia./

Putin and Medvedev are themselves hostile to Russia.

/ For the benefit of Russia and the entire Caucasus, Georgia should be divided into its component parts. In reality, there are no "Georgians", there are 14 different peoples living on the territory of Georgia, which should be helped in gaining independence./

This is practically unrealistic and harmful. Firstly, it will be Afghanistan in the Caucasus, and secondly, the Georgian elite consists of minorities (Mingrels, Svans, etc.. Will they "free themselves" from themselves? In addition, the process of folding a single Georgian nation under Saakkashvili is going by leaps and bounds The Adjarians have already been practically assimilated, and the loss of Abkhazia and South Ossetia even helped successful nation-building.

I wonder if Georgia will be happy about the loss of territory? especially her western parts? after all, the advantage of the EGP in relation to sea routes is indisputable, And then what? small part of the output? build new ports? (if it is still possible). Giving Ossetia Georgia will only push the siparants to other rebellions and protests. They say they were released, the worse we are. Yes, and through Ossetia there is a railway, without which communication with the north is difficult ... So let's not decide who should be divided and when, this is not a birthday cake.

And America sleeps and sees how to enslave Georgia. Let NATO put in a couple of installations and Russia will be strangled in a circle. An hour and a rocket over Moscow ... if not less. Although, you won’t even understand what happened, you won’t have time. So let's hope that there are people who calculate all the actions a hundred steps ahead.

I agree, just look how arrogant they are, they do not recognize anyone but themselves.
About the genocide of Ossetians and Abkhazians - this is not subject to discussion at all - boil people in pipes so that they suffocate and die there without air, water and food and colds, but the shooting of churches in Ossetia - how is that? - very orthodox? Or is that what believers do? - it is doubtful to talk about their faith after that.
In general, the Kartli, an alien people in the Caucasus, only know how to wave their hands.
Yes, and through their own fault, our ambassador to Persia, Griboedov, also died - they also made efforts there.

One of the reasons for joining Russia was the constant attack of the Chechens. And it was to protect against their robberies that the Caucasian War was started.
We are still dealing with the consequences today. Georgia became an enemy, like Poland, and the Caucasian peoples of Semitic origin became a headache for the entire population of the country. There was nothing to meddle in other people's business.