The Consistuent Assembly of Georgia and Issues of Russian-Georgian Relations (April-May 1920)

Abstract

The article depicts the attitude of the Consistuent Assembly, the Supreme Legislative Body of the Democratic Republic of Georgia to events taking place between the Soviet Russia and Georgia in April-May 1920: At the end of April 1920, the Soviet regime was almost invigorated in Azerbaijan, there was revealed union of the Soviet Russia and Turkey of Mustafa Kemal, which, according to Georgian politicians, resembled the "Brest-Litovsk New Deal" for division of the South Caucasus.
The threat of Bolshevism actually threatened Georgia as well. In this situation, the Democratic Republic of Georgia expressed its readiness both to defend itself and negotiate with the Soviet Russia. The developments showed that both of these proved to be necessary: By the beginning of May 1920, Red Army units invaded the territory of Georgia from within Azerbaijan. The Georgian Armed Forces repulsed the enemy and forced them to retreat.
Negotiations with the Soviet Russia on May 7, 1920 also led to the conclusion of a peace treaty between the two countries in Moscow. Under the treaty, Russia unconditionally acknowledged Georgia’s state independence and recognized it within its historical borders.
There are revealed unknown before details of the negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Georgia and the Soviet Russia in May 1920 in Moscow; are covered the views of the Georgian political spectrum within the Consistuent Assembly on Bolshevism as a political regime of the Soviet Russia, its imperialist nature and ideology; There is analyzed the work of the sessions of the Supreme Legislative Body of Georgia on April 30, 1920 and May 11, 1920, dealing with critical issues concerning the regulation of relations between Russia and Georgia