Georgia Marks 104 Years Since Russian Red Army’s Seizure of Tbilisi

Flags on the government buildings fly at half-mast today as the country commemorates the 104th anniversary of the Russian Army invasion that led to the fall of the Georgian Republic on February 25, 1921. The annual event, which has been officially commemorated since 2010, serves as a sombre reminder of the Soviet occupation and of the wider struggle for national sovereignty – a struggle that is still ongoing.

On February 25, 1921, after days of fierce battles around the capital, the Russian Red Army captured Tbilisi, sealing the fate of Georgia’s short-lived independence. The invasion, which began on the night of February 11-12 from Armenia, which had already been taken by Bolshevik Russia. Georgia managed to repel many of the Soviet attacks around Tbilisi. However, to avoid encirclement, General Giorgi Kvinitadze ordered a retreat on February 24, leading to the city’s fall the following day. The occupation came despite Russia’s formal recognition of Georgia’s sovereignty just nine months earlier, in May 1920, and its de jure recognition by the Entente powers on January 27, 1921. Notably, Georgia had adopted its first constitution only days before, on February 21, 1921.

The Soviet occupation of Georgia lasted until April 9, 1991, when the country finally restored its independence from the USSR. This date is now celebrated annually as a national holiday in Georgia, marking the country’s hard-fought freedom from Soviet rule.

The three years of independence left a lasting legacy and served as a foundation of and an inspiration for the modern Georgian statehood after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991.

But today, although Soviet rule formally ended on April 9, 1991, when Georgia regained its independence, many in the country see Moscow’s influence as far from over. Today, 20% of Georgia’s territory remains under Russian occupation, with Kremlin-backed regimes installed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) government is widely seen as aligned with Moscow’s and undermining Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations after 34 years of independence, especially following the November 28 statement by the PM Irakli Kobakhidze saying Georgia will not put on the agenda EU accession negotiations till 2028.

Today, on February 25, GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, GD Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, GD Tbilisi mayor Kakha Kaladze, other members of GD parliament, as well as, opposition leaders laid a wreath at the Cadet memorial in Kojori. Georgia’s fifth President Salome Zurabishivli also laid wreath on the memorial honoring the fallen defenders of the Georgian state.

We have collected some remarks of politicians made on the occasion.

President Salome Zurabishvili noted, “”February 25 is a very difficult day for us, for everyone, but at the same time, a day of great hope. It is a symbol that Georgians do not give up either independence or freedom, no matter how difficult the circumstances are… If we are free and independent today, we are the heirs of that struggle, that determination, that devotion to the country that brought us to this day. It was like that centuries ago, and it will be like that centuries later. So, the fight is always worth it, the fight is to the end. February 25 is a symbol of this struggle, not of kneeling.”

Georgian Dream Leaders

Kobakhidze stated: “On the one hand, today is a tragic day – the day of the occupation of our country. On the other hand, this day reminds us of the heroism of the Georgian people, their selfless struggle for independence. This day should remind us that the struggle for independence is an ongoing process, that we must constantly fight to preserve the sovereignty and independence of our country, and that we must follow the example of our heroes.”

Papuashvili paid tribute to those who died defending Georgia’s independence, but warned that internal and external forces had always challenged the country’s sovereignty: “At that time too, there were countries and groups from abroad who promised us support and help, but when push came to shove, this country had to be protected by our cadets and soldiers, and unfortunately, our country could not cope with this great power at that time.”

He criticized those who three years ago pushed for sanctions and border closures against Russia following its invasion in Ukraine and likened them to “21st century Orjonikidzes” – a reference to the Bolshevik leader Sergo Orjonikidze, who played a key role in the sovietization of Georgia. Papuashvili claimed that Georgia’s decision to avoid direct confrontation in 2022 had preserved its independence, he said that “today we know” that the Russia-Ukraine war could have been avoided, citing the U.S. administration. “We also know that if not for the right position of [our] authorities at the time, we also would have had war here, and it would be the second Ukraine,” he said.

GD City Mayor Kakha Kaladze mentioned the profound impact of February 25, calling it “the most difficult date in the history of our country.” Kaladze emphasized that this anniversary serves as a reminder of the suffering caused by occupation and the importance of protecting Georgia’s sovereignty, urging the nation to strengthen and safeguard its greatest achievement—independence.

GD President Mikheil Kavelashvili wrote on Facebook: “February 25, 1921 left a heavy mark on the history of the Georgian people and Georgia. Despite the enemy’s great superiority, Georgian fighters did their utmost to defend their homeland. It was the heroic dedication of these people that saved the idea of ​​an independent and free Georgia, which withstood many years of occupation and ultimately manifested itself in the restoration of Georgia’s independence. We pay tribute to each fighter who died in the fight for Georgia’s independence, whose sacrifice is truly priceless. The pain of today should always remind us of how precious the independence of our country is and how much caution and responsibility each of us owes.”

Opposition Leaders

One of the leaders of opposition coalition Strong Georgia, Badri Japaridze remarked, that “Today, we honor the memory of the cadets who sacrificed themselves for the freedom of our country. Their sacrifice, their self-sacrifice, is what has brought our state to this day. The fight for freedom always makes sense, no matter how superior the enemy is in numbers.”

“Our ancestors showed us an example of heroism in the relentless struggle against the Russian Empire, and today, we are at the crucial stage of this struggle, when the evil Russian empire must finally be defeated in Georgia, it must finally be defeated in Ukraine, Moldova and other countries,” said Irakli Pavlenishvili, one of the members of Unity-UNM. “The era of the Russian Empire must be a thing of the past, including in Georgia. It is very important to see off the last remnants of the Russian Empire, to complete the path that our ancestors so heroically walked.”

Ana Buchukuri, from Gakharia For Georgia party, said “It is truly a tragedy that after 104 years we are still fighting repression…” adding “This country does not deserve this, and since it does not deserve this, we are fighting too.”

Also Read:

• 25/02/2024 – Georgia Marks 103 Years Since Soviet Occupation by Russia
• 25/02/2023 – Georgia Marks 102 Years Since Soviet Russia Took Over Tbilisi

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)