Tetri Giorgi (organization)
Encyclopedia
Tetri Giorgi has been a name of several political and paramilitary organizations as well as non-political foundations operating in Georgia
or by Georgians abroad. It is derived from the cult of Tetri Giorgi
, one of the Georgian identities of St. George, whose equestrian image was used in the national heraldry in pre- and post-Soviet Georgia.
who had left their homeland after its forcible Sovietization
in 1921. This organization, at times tilting towards right-wing nationalism, was led by Leo Keresselidze, a World War I
veteran, and Mikheil Tsereteli
, a prominent scholar of the Middle East
. Among notable members were Colonel Shalva Maglakelidze and intellectuals such as Alexander Manvelishvili, Grigol Robakidze
, Viktor Nozadze, and Kalistrate Salia. The party sought to secure European support for Georgia’s independence cause. During World War II
, the organization obtained a German
patronage. It absorbed, in 1942, a Georgian National-Socialist
group led by Guiorgui Magalachvili and was renamed into the Georgian National-Socialist Party of Tetri Giorgi. Driven by practical consideration and cooperating with the Wehrmacht
, the party did not share ideology with the German National Socialist Party. Its leader, Professor Tsereteli, resolutely opposed to adoption of the party’s statute in emigration, calling for taking local Caucasia
n peculiarities into account once the party was moved in Georgia freed from the Soviet control.
With the German defeat in the war, the Georgian émigré activities waned and Tetri Giorgi went in obscurity. Under its influence, 3 homonymous conspiracy groups were formed in Soviet Georgia, one – led by the lawyer Evgen Gvaladze – in 1926-1937; 2nd - led by the Colonel of the Georgian National Army (1918-1921) Alexander Chavchavadze - in 1928-1930 and the 3rd – of which the subsequently conspicuous writer Chabua Amirejibi
was a member – in the 1940s. Both of these were promptly neutralized and their members were repressed by the Soviet secret police.
period early in the 1990s. Formed by officers loyal to Zviad Gamsakhurdia
’s government, it split from the defiant Mkhedrioni
militia late in 1990 and joined Gamsakhurdia–led “Round Table” political organization as its armed faction.
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...
or by Georgians abroad. It is derived from the cult of Tetri Giorgi
Tetri Giorgi
Tetri Giorgi is one of the local names of Christian Saint George in Georgia, specifically in the country’s northeastern highland districts. The popularity of the cult led to establishment of Tetri Giorgi as a national symbol, part of Georgia's coat of arms in the years 1918-1921 and 1991-2004...
, one of the Georgian identities of St. George, whose equestrian image was used in the national heraldry in pre- and post-Soviet Georgia.
Émigré organization
The political organization Tetri Giorgi was formed in 1925 by Georgian émigrés in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
who had left their homeland after its forcible Sovietization
Red Army invasion of Georgia
The Red Army invasion of Georgia also known as the Soviet–Georgian War or the Soviet invasion of Georgia was a military campaign by the Soviet Russian Red Army against the Democratic Republic of Georgia aimed at overthrowing the Social-Democratic government and installing the Bolshevik regime...
in 1921. This organization, at times tilting towards right-wing nationalism, was led by Leo Keresselidze, a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veteran, and Mikheil Tsereteli
Mikheil Tsereteli
Prince Mikheil G. Tsereteli was a Georgian historian, philologist, sociologist and public benefactor, Dr.Sci., Professor....
, a prominent scholar of the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Among notable members were Colonel Shalva Maglakelidze and intellectuals such as Alexander Manvelishvili, Grigol Robakidze
Grigol Robakidze
Grigol Robakidze was a Georgian writer, publicist, and public figure primarily known for his exotic prose and anti-Soviet émigré activities....
, Viktor Nozadze, and Kalistrate Salia. The party sought to secure European support for Georgia’s independence cause. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the organization obtained a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
patronage. It absorbed, in 1942, a Georgian National-Socialist
National Socialist Party
Parties in various contexts have referred to themselves as National Socialist parties. Because there is no clear definition of national socialism, the term has been used to mean very different things...
group led by Guiorgui Magalachvili and was renamed into the Georgian National-Socialist Party of Tetri Giorgi. Driven by practical consideration and cooperating with the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, the party did not share ideology with the German National Socialist Party. Its leader, Professor Tsereteli, resolutely opposed to adoption of the party’s statute in emigration, calling for taking local Caucasia
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
n peculiarities into account once the party was moved in Georgia freed from the Soviet control.
With the German defeat in the war, the Georgian émigré activities waned and Tetri Giorgi went in obscurity. Under its influence, 3 homonymous conspiracy groups were formed in Soviet Georgia, one – led by the lawyer Evgen Gvaladze – in 1926-1937; 2nd - led by the Colonel of the Georgian National Army (1918-1921) Alexander Chavchavadze - in 1928-1930 and the 3rd – of which the subsequently conspicuous writer Chabua Amirejibi
Chabua Amirejibi
Mzechabuk "Chabua" Amirejibi, is a Georgian novelist and Soviet-era dissident notable for his magnum opus, Data Tutashkhia, and a lengthy experience in Soviet prisons.- Early life and career :...
was a member – in the 1940s. Both of these were promptly neutralized and their members were repressed by the Soviet secret police.
Paramilitary unit
Tetri Giorgi was also a name of a paramilitary group of the Georgian Civil WarGeorgian Civil War
The Georgian Civil War consisted of inter-ethnic and intranational conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia , as well as the violent military coup d'etat of December 21, 1991 - January 6, 1992 against the first democratically elected President of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia and his...
period early in the 1990s. Formed by officers loyal to 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 government, it split from the defiant Mkhedrioni
Mkhedrioni
The Mkhedrioni was a paramilitary group and political organisation in the Republic of Georgia, outlawed since 1995 but subsequently reconstituted as the Union of Patriots political party....
militia late in 1990 and joined Gamsakhurdia–led “Round Table” political organization as its armed faction.