A tribute to the heroes of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia
The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, paid tribute to the memory of the young military cadets who fell defending the country during the February 1921 Red Army invasion that put an end to the three-year First Democratic Republic of Georgia. The President laid wreaths on the cadets’ memorial in Kojori and the cadets’ memorial plaque on the facade of the Parliament Palace.
The cadets were among the most valiant defenders of Georgia’s independence and sovereignty, as they fought against the overwhelming forces of the Soviet Russia that sought to annex the country into the Soviet Union. During the clashes that followed the invasion, Georgian cadets won a defensive battle near the village of Tabakhmela, outside the capital Tbilisi, while seeing 118 of their ranks killed. In the overall campaign, the Red Army ultimately prevailed through a multi-pronged assault that occupied the capital and the rest of the country, and forced its Government into exile.
A snub from the Parliament
The President’s tribute, however, was not welcomed by the Parliament, which did not invite her to attend the memorial service for the spirit of the cadets in the Khareba chapel located in the courtyard of the Parliament. The President’s administration issued a statement expressing regret over this exclusion, which it said was a sign of disrespect for the memory of the cadets and the history of the country.
The Parliament, on the other hand, claimed that the President was not invited because she had not attended the previous sessions of the Parliament, and that her presence would have been a formality and a hypocrisy. The Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, also paid homage to the cadets fallen during the 1921 Red Army invasion, and said that the Parliament was the true heir of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia.
A historical legacy
The First Democratic Republic of Georgia was established on May 26, 1918, after the collapse of the Russian Empire. It was the first modern attempt to create a democratic and secular state in the region, with a progressive constitution that granted universal suffrage, civil rights, and cultural autonomy to its diverse population. The republic also faced many challenges, such as territorial disputes, economic difficulties, and foreign interventions.
The republic lasted for only three years, until it was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Russia in February-March 1921. The Government of the republic went into exile and continued to operate until 1930, when it was dissolved. The republic’s legacy, however, remained as a source of inspiration and aspiration for the Georgian people, who regained their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
A commemoration of the centennial
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Red Army invasion and the end of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia. The Government of Georgia has planned various events and activities to commemorate this historical milestone and to honor the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom and dignity.
Some of the events include:
- A documentary film about the First Democratic Republic of Georgia and its leaders, produced by the Georgian Public Broadcaster
- A series of lectures, exhibitions, and publications on the history and culture of the republic, organized by the National Archives of Georgia
- A musical performance based on the poems of the Georgian poet Galaktion Tabidze, who witnessed the Red Army invasion and wrote about the tragedy of his homeland
- A special session of the Parliament dedicated to the centennial of the republic, with the participation of the representatives of the Government, the diplomatic corps, and the civil society
The President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, has also declared 2021 as the Year of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia, and has urged the Georgian people to celebrate the achievements and remember the lessons of the republic.
