Within Which Boundaries Did the League of Nations Recognize Georgia?

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On January 20, 2021, a former MP Demur Giorkhelidze published a photo of a map of Georgia on Facebook with the borders, recognized by the League of Nations, according to the author. As the photo claims, the French map was hitherto unknown and it was discovered in Göttingen Library in Germany. The photo indicates a Facebook page „ცოდნა ძალაა“ (Knowledge is power) as the source. Reportiori.ge also published an identical material in 2015.

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The widespread information that the League of Nations recognized Georgia within the presented boundaries is false: although the Georgian delegation was asking to recognize its independence within the boundaries indicated on the map, but the League of Nations did not recognize Georgia’s independence in these borders.

The Georgian delegation was asking to recognize its independence within the borders presented on the map

After the end of the World War I, the winning Entente nations called a peace conference in Paris that lasted between January 18, 1919 and January 21, 1920. The conference aimed to agree the truce details with the losing nations and formalizing them. Georgia was also represented on this conference.

Representatives from Georgia presented a special map at the conference that included various historical territories. Ivane Javakhishvili was also a part of the delegation in order to confirm the historical-ethnographic legitimacy of the Georgian borders shown on the map. The map was a part of the Memorandum on the Democratic Republic of Georgia – a document of statewide importance. It asked to recognize the independence of Georgia precisely within the borders indicated on the map.

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The map presented by the Georgian delegation at the Paris Peace Conference
Source

It is noteworthy that Georgia exercised control over Artvin and Ardahan territories prior to the occupation by Bolsheviks. In Sochi, Denikin’s army was already present in 1919 and Georgia had to give it up based on a subsequent agreement with the Bolshevik Russia from May 7, 1920, as the border passed over Psou River. Denikin also occupied Gagra, however, the Georgian side managed to free Gagra and stayed there. Zaqatala territory was also disputed in the given period, whereas Lore territory (southern part of the Borchalo uyezd) was recognized as a neutral territory.

The map, published by Demur Giorkhelidze, also includes Lazistan and the border of Georgia starts at the south of what is modern-day Rize, Turkey. Akaki Chkhenkeli was writing about this fact in that period:

“In our demands, we are already placing Lazistan below Rize.”

The League of Nations has not recognized Georgia in the borders presented in the post. It did not accept Georgia as a member and made a statement, according to which the state had not solved its border issues.

The territory shown on the photo was indeed a part of Georgia in the original map, as the Georgian delegation asked to recognize the country in these borders, but the country was recognized in these borders neither at the Paris Peace Conference, nor by the member states of the League of Nations.

Georgia applied for the League of Nations membership in 1920. The creation of the League of Nations followed the Paris Peace Conference. The first meeting of the Council of the League of Nations took place on January 16, 1920. Its first assembly gathered on November 15, 1920. The main topic for the assembly was the membership of several countries, including Georgia. The statement, issued by the League of Nations in December, reviewed the history of Georgia and its membership perspectives in the League of Nations. The statement also concerned the borders and mentioned that Georgia had not resolved its border issues. It also read that an agreement had been reached with Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the League of Nations expressed doubts as to whether the agreement would be executed:

“The unsettled condition of the Caucasus generally leaves […] some doubt as to the ultimate execution of these agreements.”

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The document by the League of Nations mentioning these borders.

Finally, the League of Nations did not accept Georgia’s membership application. Fourteen countries voted against Georgia’s membership, 10 voted in favor, while 18 countries abstained. Georgia needed 16 votes for membership.

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The document by the League of Nations showing which countries supported/not supported Georgia’s membership.

As a historian, Dimitri Silakadze, states in his interview with an online edition at.ge, the borders were not being determined during a de-jure recognition, while the given map was simply a wish, not the reality of that period:

Dimitri Silakadze, historian: “The League of Nations did not accept Georgia into its ranks, but the Georgian state had certain communication with the League and participated in some of its activities. As for the map, this was a wish for the League of Nations to recognize us in such borders, but such a thing never happened. When some country de-jure recognized us, it would not be specified, within which borders was Georgia recognized.”

From the requested territories, Georgia was in fact not controlling the territory of Lazistan, the city of Rize, and the territory to its south. From modern-day Turkey it only controlled Artvin, which was given to Turkey after the Soviet occupation.

Real territory and its map Requested territory and its map
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Dimitri Silakadze also states that the real map is in the agreement signed with the Bolshevik Russia in 1920. The given map is protected in the National Archives of Georgia.

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The map of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, 1920. The map is protected in the National Archives of Georgia.

From the requested territories, Georgia was in fact not controlling the territory of Lazistan, the city of Rize, and the territory to its south. From modern-day Turkey it only controlled Artvin, which was given to Turkey after the Soviet occupation. Disputed Lore was given to Armenia, while Azerbaijan received Zaqatala territory.


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Topic: History
Violation: Disinformation
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