SOME ISSUES ON NATIONAL IDENTITY OF GEORGIAN MUSLIMS

Abstract

The southern region of Georgia, historical Meskheti which according to tradition was primary converted in Christianity even in the 1st century AD was occupied by Ottomans since 16th century AD. Only the territories of present Samtskhe-Javakheti and Ajara, approximatelyone third of ancient Messkheti are parts of modern state of Georgia being a part of the Russian Empire since 1829 and 1878 in sequence.It is interesting the different results, which occurred after the entire process. The Muslim inhabitants of Samtskhe-Javakheti, unlike of Ajarians, could not keep up the national consciousness and as of today it admits itself like ethnic Turks. There are some important reasons among which we should emphasize Ottoman ruling traditions and characteristics of Georgian political and cultural life in the 19th century. The case is that Samtskhe in the middle ages was the active political player unlike Ajara. It was one of the initiator of decentralization and because of this significantly the main victim of Ottoman occupation. In 16th-19th centuries Ottomans established their governance institutions definitely in this region and islamization, like to administrative centers in the Balkans, most profoundly is noticed there. On the other hand, in the 1830s when Samtskhe-Javakheti entered to Russian province inhabited by eastern Georgians, upper intellectual strata was in the process of formation. The tradition that prevented Muslims from perception of being Georgians, was still strong. Only later, in the 1870s Muslim population of Samtskhe-Javakheti were promulgated as Georgians by the request of Georgian society. It was late though, however such policies justified in newly joined Ajara. To say shortly, geographical conditions, faulty infrastructure and advanced ideas appeared in the second half of the 19th century in Georgia contributed to preservation of inhabitants of Ajara within the framework of the Georgian national identity.