Georgian Socialist-Federalist Revolutionary Party
Encyclopedia
The Georgian Socialist-Federalist Revolutionary Party was a bourgeois-nationalist party in Georgia
, founded in April 1904. The party demanded national autonomy for Georgia within the framework of the Russia
n bourgeois-landlord state. Mainly based in the rural areas, the party's membership was almost entirely drawn from the peasantry and the petty gentry. The political profile of the party had an appeal amongst moderately nationalist intellectuals, schoolteachers and students. The party strived that agricultural issues not be decided by central authorities, but by autonomous national institutions. The party published the periodical Sakartvelo (the Georgian
term for "Georgia").
According Boris Souvarine
, the party accepted arms from Japan
to fight against the Russian state during the Russo-Japanese war. The party was one of very few oppositional groups in the Russian empire to accept such aid. The party conducted a series of robberies in the Caucasus. In April 1906 the party managed to rob the Dusheti
treasury, taking a bounty of 315,000 rubles. The bulk of the stolen money stayed with Kereselizde, the organizer of the robbery, who took it with him as he went into exile.
In November 1904, the party took part in a conference of oppositional groups in Paris
, where the 'Paris agreement' of struggle against autocracy was adopted. The party was represented at the conference by Dekanozov and Gabuniya. Other participating organizations were the Socialist-Revolutionary Party
, the Polish Socialist Party
, the Polish National League, the Finnish Party of Active Resistance, the Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party
, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
, the Union of Liberation
. The conference adopted a declaration called for the establishment of a democratic regime in Russia (although not specifying if it was to be monarchic or republican), but could not agree on the formation of a joint central bureau for the oppositional forces. In April 1905, the Socialist-Federalists, the Socialist Union of White Russia and several of the groups that had participated in the Paris conference (Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Socialist-Revolutionaries, Finnish Party of Active Resistance, Latvian Social Democratic Workers Union) met in Geneva
and formed the General Fighting Committee, striving to establish constituent assemblies
for Russia, Poland and Finland.
In the first Duma election
, the Socialist-Federalist Iosif Baratov
won a seat from Tiflis
. The party had formed an electoral bloc ahead of the polls, together with the Georgian Democratic Party and the Radical Party
. Later, the party was able to capture the majority seats from Georgia in the Second Duma.
In 1907, the party adopted the policy of extraterritorial national-cultural autonomy, that an individual would enjoy cultural and national autonomy no matter where in the Empire he/she would reside.
After the 1917 October Revolution, the party formed an anti-Soviet bloc along with the Georgian Mensheviks
, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
("Dashnaks") and the Azeri
Musavat Party. The bloc received support from Germany
and Turkey
, and later, by the Anglo-French interventionists. The party later formed the Committee for Independence of Georgia
together with the National Democrats and Mensheviks, and attempted to launch an armed uprising against Soviet power in October 1923.
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...
, founded in April 1904. The party demanded national autonomy for Georgia within the framework of the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n bourgeois-landlord state. Mainly based in the rural areas, the party's membership was almost entirely drawn from the peasantry and the petty gentry. The political profile of the party had an appeal amongst moderately nationalist intellectuals, schoolteachers and students. The party strived that agricultural issues not be decided by central authorities, but by autonomous national institutions. The party published the periodical Sakartvelo (the Georgian
Georgian language
Georgian is the native language of the Georgians and the official language of Georgia, a country in the Caucasus.Georgian is the primary language of about 4 million people in Georgia itself, and of another 500,000 abroad...
term for "Georgia").
According Boris Souvarine
Boris Souvarine
Boris Souvarine was an Imperial Russian-born French socialist, communist activist, essayist, and journalist.-Early years:...
, the party accepted arms from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to fight against the Russian state during the Russo-Japanese war. The party was one of very few oppositional groups in the Russian empire to accept such aid. The party conducted a series of robberies in the Caucasus. In April 1906 the party managed to rob the Dusheti
Dusheti
Dusheti is a town in Georgia, situated in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, 54 km northeast of the nation’s capital of Tbilisi.Dusheti is located on both banks of the small mountainous river of Dushetis-Khevi at the foothills of the Greater Caucasus crest at an elevation of 900 m above sea level...
treasury, taking a bounty of 315,000 rubles. The bulk of the stolen money stayed with Kereselizde, the organizer of the robbery, who took it with him as he went into exile.
In November 1904, the party took part in a conference of oppositional groups in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where the 'Paris agreement' of struggle against autocracy was adopted. The party was represented at the conference by Dekanozov and Gabuniya. Other participating organizations were the Socialist-Revolutionary Party
Socialist-Revolutionary Party
thumb|right|200px|Socialist-Revolutionary election poster, 1917. The caption in red reads "партия соц-рев" , short for Party of the Socialist Revolutionaries...
, the Polish Socialist Party
Polish Socialist Party
The Polish Socialist Party was one of the most important Polish left-wing political parties from its inception in 1892 until 1948...
, the Polish National League, the Finnish Party of Active Resistance, the Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party
Communist Party of Latvia
Communist Party of Latvia was a political party in Latvia.- Latvian Social-Democracy prior to 1919 :The party was founded at a congress in June 1904. Initially the party was known as the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party . During its second party congress in 1905 it adopted the programme of...
, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
, the Union of Liberation
Union of Liberation
The Union of Liberation was a liberal political group founded in St. Petersburg, Russia in January 1904. Its goal was originally the replacement of the absolutism of the Tsar with a constitutional monarchy...
. The conference adopted a declaration called for the establishment of a democratic regime in Russia (although not specifying if it was to be monarchic or republican), but could not agree on the formation of a joint central bureau for the oppositional forces. In April 1905, the Socialist-Federalists, the Socialist Union of White Russia and several of the groups that had participated in the Paris conference (Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Socialist-Revolutionaries, Finnish Party of Active Resistance, Latvian Social Democratic Workers Union) met in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and formed the General Fighting Committee, striving to establish constituent assemblies
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
for Russia, Poland and Finland.
In the first Duma election
Russian legislative election, 1906
Legislative elections were held in the Russian Empire in March 1906. At stake were the 478 seats in the State Duma of the Russian Empire, the legislative assembly. Election for the First State Duma, a session which only ran from April 27 to July 21 1906, returned a significant bloc of moderate...
, the Socialist-Federalist Iosif Baratov
Iosif Baratov
Iosif Baratov was a Georgian politician. He belonged to the Georgian Socialist-Federalist Revolutionary Party. In the first Duma election in 1906, Baratov won a seat from Tiflis....
won a seat from Tiflis
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. The party had formed an electoral bloc ahead of the polls, together with the Georgian Democratic Party and the Radical Party
Radical Party
-France:*Radical Party *Radical Party of the Left -Italy:*Radical Party *Radical Party *Italian Radicals *Radicals of the Left -Luxembourg:*Radical Party...
. Later, the party was able to capture the majority seats from Georgia in the Second Duma.
In 1907, the party adopted the policy of extraterritorial national-cultural autonomy, that an individual would enjoy cultural and national autonomy no matter where in the Empire he/she would reside.
After the 1917 October Revolution, the party formed an anti-Soviet bloc along with the Georgian Mensheviks
Georgian Social Democratic (Menshevik) Party
200px|thumb|Menshevik Flag of Georgia, created by Iakob NikoladzeThe Social Democratic Labour Party of Georgia was a political party in Georgia. It was founded as the Georgian branch of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party separated itself from the Russian mother-party.The party dominated...
, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
("Dashnaks") and the Azeri
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
Musavat Party. The bloc received support from Germany
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...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and later, by the Anglo-French interventionists. The party later formed the Committee for Independence of Georgia
Committee for Independence of Georgia
The Committee for the Independence of Georgia or the Parity Committee was an underground anti-Soviet organization active in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic in the early 1920s. It is commonly known as "Damkom"...
together with the National Democrats and Mensheviks, and attempted to launch an armed uprising against Soviet power in October 1923.