LITTLE LIAKHVI GORGE AS A PART OF SO-CALLED SOUTH OSSETIAN AUTONOMOUS OBLAST AND GROWING PROTEST

Abstract

Russia started implementing its imperial policy with scrupulous and methodical planning. The aim of the policy was to integrate all parts of Georgia with Russia thus, total assimilation of Georgian Population. The goal of Russian Empire was to create military-political enclaves and first step to fulfill their scheme was to create separate administrative entities for mountainous people or Ossetians, re-located from North Caucasus to mountainous parts of Shida Kartli. In 1843, obeying Minister of Military, Chernishev’s order, viceroy of the Caucasus established two administrative entity for mountainous people of east Georgia, that had lived in Gori, Tbilisi and Telavi uyezds: Tush-Pshav-Khevsureti and Ossetian Okrug. Teritories of Mtiuls and Mokhevs, who lived near the military road, were included in Ossetian Okrug. In September of 1842, Golovin visited Kvesheti, the center of Ossetian Okrug. It was obvious that, there would be difficulties to have total control on upper side of Greater Liakhvi Gorge population, Ossetins who lived in Java, Maghan-Dvalet, and Nar-Mamison, for this reason they created one more Mountain okrug. In 1843, Ossetian Okrug was divided into three parts: Java, Little Liakhvi and Nar. Ossetian and Pshav-Tush-Khevsur okrug chiefs were subordinates of Mountin Okrgu Chief, in accordance of special instructions. Ardon Gorge (Dvaleti), with its center Java, was under Ossettian Okrug jurisdiction. Ossettian military okrug became part of a new left wing of Caucasus line, established on April 3, 1858. Soon Nar district was under this administrative entity because of its location and Dvaleti, which had never been separated from Georgian territories before, was finally beyond Georgian jurisdiction. Java and Little Liakhvi police districts, once under Tiflis Governorate, now became under the jurisdiction of Gori uyezd. Over the time, Ossetins mastered the audacity to declare their new home as their paternal home, this tendency soon turned into Separatist movement. The very first claw of the movement was shown in December, 1917. The second South Ossettian congress, which was held in December 15-17, 1917, in Tskhinvali, formed the South Ossettian National Council. Georgian Council had close work relationship with Sauth Osettian National Council but separatists were eager to sabotage and damage relationship between two councils.
As L. Toidze writes: “It was an ugly mixture of Social, National and Separatist Motives”. On March 19, 1918, a horrific crime was done by Ossetian gangs in Tskhinvali, they slaughtered Georgian delegation, ready for the negotiation, and assaulted peaceful population. Their rebellion and vicious crimes were neutralized by National Army of Georgia.
Although, Ossetin outbursts of violence against Georgia, instigated by Bolsheviks, continued years. Especially after annexation of Georgia on February 25, 1921. Kremlin officially declared South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast as an independent entity on April 20, 1922. They issued a decree (N2), signed by P. Makharadze, S. Kavtaradze and T. Kalandadze. Population of old Georgian villages were forced to enter in the Oblast. There is a geographical line described in the decree, which shows Georgian villages, separated from Georgian territory. One part went through the south of Little Liakhvi villages, situated upper part of the gorge, the line went along village Eredvi from the south of Tskhinvali, crossed river Little Liakhvi from the north as it went along Charebula’s Mereti and over Koshka from southeast and finally went downward. As the document tells us “ From the south: border line will continue through Chorchan-Tsneleti road, cross river Lopan from Tsneli, turn to north -east , go above village Atsotsi, cross river Prona from village Okoni, go to the south, east side of river Proni, cross left tertiary of river Proni, near village Kvatetri, then cross river Proni (Kornisa) above village Dvana; go parallel to Dvani-Gujabauri road from north-west, cross river Greater Liakhvi, below Tskhinvali and above Ergneti, go near village Eredva; cross river Little Liakhvi, above village Arbo, river Charebula, village Mereti and Koshka, turn to south east, cross river Otrefa above village Plavisman and river Adzura and Mejuda”.
Despite utmost discontentment and resentment of Georgian population, 40 Georgian villages were controlled by concocted South Ossetian Autonomous Region, among them were villages, situated in the upper part of Little Liakhvi. According to 2015 census of population, South Ossetti was divided in 4 regions: Tskhinvali, Leningori (Akhalgori), Znauri (Kornisi) and Java. Villages of Little Liakhvi, occupied after 2008 war, went under Tskhinvali jurisdiction and changed the status to rural administrative entity, De-Facto Government changed the names of the villages as they are determined to erase all traces of Georgian origin.