THE EVENTS OF MARCH 18-20, 1921 IN BATUMI

Abstract

The historical events, that took place in March 1921 in Batumi, preserved this region to Georgia. If not those great self-secrifysing battles, where the local Muslims and the Guardsmen took part, under the famous, chief of the Cavalry, Giorgi Mazniashvili`s Command, we would have had quite different circumstances at present.
102 years have passed since the battles for liberation of the city. According to the agreement achieved between the head of government of the democratic republic of Georgia Noe Zhordania and chairmen of revolutionary committee Sergo Kavtaradze, on March 17, 1921, general Giorgi Mazniashvili (1873-1937) gathered the scattered soldiers and officers of the Georgian army and, together with local volunteers, created military subdivision, which, after several hours of fighting, liberated Batumi from foreign conquerors.
The Georgian government, which was in international isolation, showed weakness, left Tbilisi almost without a fight, retreated to Batumi, and arranged the last line of defense along the river Rioni.
The government of Georgia, being in a helpless situation, made another fatal mistake when accepted the proposal of the government of Turkey to protect Batumi from the Bolshevik invasion with the help of Turkish troops. Soon more than 3,500 soldiers were gathered in the vicinities of Batumi under the command of Colonel Kiazim Bey.
There were about 3,000 Georgian soldiers in Batumi at that time, but the general confusion was spread over them as well. In such a situation, the Turks became more active. On March 16, their patrol appeared in the streets of Batumi. They gradually occupied the city post-telegraph, the militia, and the radio stations. They also began to seize the forts of Batumi. That same evening, Kiyazim Bay proclaimed himself as General Governor of the Batumi district and promulgated Order №1, by which the region should have joined Turkey.
It became clear to the government of Georgia that the territorial integrity of the country was in danger. That is why Noe Zhordania chose to agree with the Bolsheviks to accelerate the moving of their troops to Batumi, in order to prevent the loss of Adjara. For this purpose, he sent his deputy Grigol Lortkipanidze from Batumi to Kutaisi to negotiate with the Bolshevik Revkom of Georgia and sent empty echelons to Sajavakho. The Bolsheviks, led by Sergo Kavtaradze, were also released from Batumi prison in order to declare themselves Soviet government and prevent Kiazim Bey’s adventure.