Revaz Gabashvili
Encyclopedia
Revaz Gabashvili (November 6, 1882 – 1969) was a Georgian
politician and writer involved in the independence movement and revolutionary journalism in the early 20th century.
Gabashvili was born of a noble family in Tiflis (Tbilisi). His mother was a popular writer Ekaterine Gabashvili
. He abandoned his studies at the Montefiore Institute in Liège
, Belgium
, in 1905 to return to Georgia and take part in the revolution
against the Russian
rule. Briefly fleeing police persecution to Paris
, he returned in 1907 and enrolled in the University of St. Petersburg, from where he was excluded on charges of being involved in students’ disorders in 1910. On his return to Georgia, Gabashvili engaged in opposition journalism; he founded and edited the newspaper klde (კლდე; "Rock"). A group of Georgians collaborating with klde would formed the nucleus around which the Georgian National Democratic Party
organized. The party held its founding congress in June 1917, in the aftermath of the 1917 February Revolution
in St. Petersburg. After Georgia’s declaration of independence
(May 26, 1918), Gabashvili was elected to the Constituent Assembly
for the National Democratic Party. The 1921 Red Army invasion of Georgia
forced Gabashvili into exile to Paris
where he wrote for local press on the politics and society of Georgia and the book L’apport de la race caucasienne dans la civilisation mondiale (Paris, 1967). His resonant memoirs რაც მახსოვს (rats’ maxsovs; "What I Remember") – published in Munich
in 1959 – was highly critical of the Social Democratic leadership whom Gabashvili accused of incompetence and inability to respond Georgians’ national demands.
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...
politician and writer involved in the independence movement and revolutionary journalism in the early 20th century.
Gabashvili was born of a noble family in Tiflis (Tbilisi). His mother was a popular writer Ekaterine Gabashvili
Ekaterine Gabashvili
Ekaterine Gabashvili née Tarkhnishvili was a Georgian female writer and public figure.She was born into an aristocratic family in Gori, Georgia, then part of Imperial Russia. She authored several sentimental novels and stories about the sorrows of village schoolteachers and peasant life. In the...
. He abandoned his studies at the Montefiore Institute in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, in 1905 to return to Georgia and take part in the revolution
Russian Revolution of 1905
The 1905 Russian Revolution was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas of the Russian Empire. Some of it was directed against the government, while some was undirected. It included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies...
against the Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
rule. Briefly fleeing police persecution to 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...
, he returned in 1907 and enrolled in the University of St. Petersburg, from where he was excluded on charges of being involved in students’ disorders in 1910. On his return to Georgia, Gabashvili engaged in opposition journalism; he founded and edited the newspaper klde (კლდე; "Rock"). A group of Georgians collaborating with klde would formed the nucleus around which the Georgian National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Georgia)
The National Democratic Party is a political party in Georgia.At the last legislative elections, 28 March 2004, the party was part of the National Democratic Alliance....
organized. The party held its founding congress in June 1917, in the aftermath of the 1917 February Revolution
February Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
in St. Petersburg. After Georgia’s declaration of independence
Democratic Republic of Georgia
The Democratic Republic of Georgia , 1918–1921, was the first modern establishment of a Republic of Georgia.The DRG was created after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917...
(May 26, 1918), Gabashvili was elected to the Constituent Assembly
Constituent Assembly of Georgia
The Constituent Assembly of Georgia was a national legislature of the Democratic Republic of Georgia which was elected in February 1919 to ratify the Act of Independence of Georgia and enact the Constitution of 1921...
for the National Democratic Party. The 1921 Red Army invasion of Georgia
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...
forced Gabashvili into exile to 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 he wrote for local press on the politics and society of Georgia and the book L’apport de la race caucasienne dans la civilisation mondiale (Paris, 1967). His resonant memoirs რაც მახსოვს (rats’ maxsovs; "What I Remember") – published in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1959 – was highly critical of the Social Democratic leadership whom Gabashvili accused of incompetence and inability to respond Georgians’ national demands.