Freedom Square, Batumi
Encyclopedia
Freedom Square is a central square in Batumi
, Georgia
’s autonomous republic
of Adjara
. It is adjacent to Batumi’s Black Sea
port.
In the 19th century, the square was known as Aziziye Square after the cathedral mosque which stood there. Under the Soviet Union
, the mosque was demolished and the square was renamed after Vladimir Lenin
to whom a statue was erected there. After Georgia became independent again, the Lenin statue was removed and the square briefly bore President
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
’s name early in the 1990s. A common grave of the Georgian soldiers who fell fighting the Turkish troops in March 1921 was discovered in the vicinity of the square.
Batumi
Batumi is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia. Sometimes considered Georgia's second capital, with a population of 121,806 , Batumi serves as an important port and a commercial center. It is situated in a subtropical zone, rich in...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
’s autonomous republic
Autonomous republic
An autonomous republic is a type of administrative division similar to a province. A significant number of autonomous republics can be found within the successor states of the Soviet Union, but the majority are located within Russia. Many of these republics were established during the Soviet...
of Adjara
Adjara
Adjara , officially the Autonomous Republic of Adjara , is an autonomous republic of Georgia.Adjara is located in the southwestern corner of Georgia, bordered by Turkey to the south and the eastern end of the Black Sea...
. It is adjacent to Batumi’s Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
port.
In the 19th century, the square was known as Aziziye Square after the cathedral mosque which stood there. Under the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the mosque was demolished and the square was renamed after Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
to whom a statue was erected there. After Georgia became independent again, the Lenin statue was removed and the square briefly bore President
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia was a dissident, scientist and writer, who became the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era...
’s name early in the 1990s. A common grave of the Georgian soldiers who fell fighting the Turkish troops in March 1921 was discovered in the vicinity of the square.