Anti-State Policy of Ossetians Residing in Georgia in 1918-1921

Abstract

On May 26, 1918, adoption of the Act of Independence, which established the Democratic Republic of Georgia by the National Council, has been the most significant event in Georgia’s history. The First World War crisis and 1917 revolution incited nations, occupied by empire, to restore sovereignty. Georgia was one among these few. Georgia was declared as independent republic, governed by the national council, and soon after, most of European countries recognized its independence. Despite its short run, the first democratic republic had a fundamental impact on the history of Georgia. It was the only country from South Caucasus, where the Red Army failed to seize the power without fierce opposition. Georgians’ relentless resistance was fed by anti-Bolshevik attitude. Democratic, humanistic course, equality in development and striving to build democratic country, ethnic tolerance and acceptance of European values were reflected in the act of independence and late, in the constitution. Although Georgian government always tried to respectfully apply status of minor ethnic group - Ossetians within the legal and state framework, unfortunately state could not always manage it. Generally, Ossetians, migrated to Georgia, had never have ethno- political or ethnoterritorial entity before socialization. “South Ossetia” as a concept of Ossetian settlement in mountainous Shida Kartli was fabricated over period of time after Russian Empire had annexed Georgian Kingdom. The idea was unjustified and unacceptable but well-designed and profitable for the Russian Empire. Ossetian separatism had revealed its nature from the very first day of Georgian independence. Deep-rooted Russian threat towards the Caucasus has always endangered integration of Georgia within European family. Constant and unquenched desire to stir up conflicts in Georgia, among Caucasus countries, was generated in Russian Empire and later was successfully and methodologically inherited by Soviet Russia. This approach had been deliberately destroying Caucasus platform and becoming part of European family seemed as a disappearing dream. However, Georgia was determined to be among European countries and sometimes was winning battles. One of those wins was an election of Catholicos-patriarch in September 1917, an event, which paved the road toward independence. But in 1921, Georgia was occupied thus new era of dreadful existence had started for the country.