redaqtoris sveti

qarTul istoriografiaSi sruliad axali etapis dawyeba pirveli qarTuli

universitetis damaarseblis ivane javaxiSvilis saxels ukavSirdeba. man
mecnieruli moRvaweobis kredod airCia istoriuli wyaroebisadmi kritikuli
analizis principi, ramac istoriuli procesebis Sesaxeb, Seulamazebeli
daskvnebis gakeTebis saSualeba misca. ivane javaxiSvils ekuTvnis sityvebi
_ `yoveli ganaTlebuli erovnebisTvis, romelsac TviTSemecneba moepoveba,
aucileblad saWiroa icodes Tavisi warsuli sazogadoebrivi cxovrebis
istoria; unda icodes, rasakvirvelia, utyuari, WeSmariti istoria da ara
gazviadebuli, yalbi~. aTeuli wlebis ganmavlobaSi sabWoTa istoriografia
xSirad amaxinjebda faqtebsa Tu movlenebs, raTa gaemarTlebina mmarTveli
politikuri elitisa Tu rusuli saokupacio reJimis mier ganxorcielebuli sisxliani represiebi.
daxuruli arqivebis gaxsna SesaniSnavi SesaZleblobaa specialistebisa da dainteresebuli pirebisaTvis
axleburad gaiazron Cveni qveynis uaxlesi istoria. Jurnali `saarqivo moambe~ sazogadoebas aZlevs saSualebas,
gaecnos iseT faqtebs, romelic uaxles istoriul warsuls TvalsaCinos xdis. am nomerSi gamoqveynebuli
masalebi mTlianad qarTvel inteligencias eZRvneba, mtris samiznec _ eris inteleqtualuri nawili iyo,
zogs fizikurad anadgurebda, zogs aiZulebda, sakuTari mrwamsisTvis eRalata. im avbediTi sabWoTa reJimis
pirobebSic arsebobdnen adamianebi, romlebic sakuTari sicocxlis fasad arasodes eguebodnen Tavisuflebis
dakargvasa da siyalbes. amgvar sazogado moRvaweTa Soris iyo Tbilisis saxelmwifo universitetis araerTi
profesori da studenti. Cveni saswavleblis erT-erTi damfuZnebeli, TvalsaCino mecnieri da sazogado moRvawe
Salva nucubiZe araerTxel gamxdara gasuli saukunis sabWoTa represiebis msxverpli. darwmunebuli var,
mkiTxvelTaTvis uaRresad saintereso iqneba Sinagan saqmeTa saministros arqivSi daculi masalebis mixedviT
aRdgenili istoria, romelic ara marto Salva nucubiZes exeba.
mjera, ivane javaxiSvilis saxelobis Tbilisis saxelmwifo universitetis profesor-maswavlebelTa
da axalgazrda mkvlevarTa araerT saintereso naSroms daedeba safuZvlad saqarTvelos Sinagan saqmeTa
saministros saarqivo dokumentebi.
aleqsandre kvitaSvili
(ivane javaxiSvilis saxelobis Tbilisis saxelmwifo universitetis reqtori)
A new stage in Georgian historiography is connected with Ivane Javakhishvili, founder of the frst Georgian State University. His
credo of scientifc work was critical analysis of historical resources. It helped him to see naked facts of the history and to make right
conclusions. The following words belong to Ivane Javakhishvili: Each educated nation should know the history of its past social life;
but it should know a true, not exaggerated and false history. Soviet historiography has been falsifed for decades in order to explain
for bloody repressions orchestrated by advance political elite and by Russian regime of occupation.
The opening of closed archives is a very good chance for the specialists and for all concerned persons to re-analyze modern
history of our country. Through the journal Archival Bulletin people can learn secret facts of the modern history. The materials
published in this edition are dedicated to Georgian intelligentsia that was the enemys major aim of repression. While some members
of the intelligentsia were physically destroyed, others were made to betray their own believes. But even under that ominous Soviet
regime there were people who, at the cost of their lives, did not put up with the loss of independence. Many professors and students
of Tbilisi State University were among such public fgures. Shalva Nutsubidze, one of the founders of the university, famous scientist
and public fgure, was a victim of those Soviet repressions. I am sure that the reader will fnd the history, has been preserved based
on the archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, very interesting.
I believe that archival documents of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will inspire academic staff of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State
University, and also fellow researchers to further interesting works.
ALEXANDER KVITASHVILI
(RECTOR OF IVANE JAVAKHISHVILI TBILISI STATE UNIVERSITY)
Sss arqivi
redaqtoris sveti
ori wlis win Jurnal `saarqivo moambis~
daarsebis umTavresi mizani, wlebis ganmavlobaSi
gasaidumloebuli da aw ukve gansaidumloebuli
dokumentebis gamoqveyneba da im Temebis gaSuqeba
gaxldaT, romlebzec sazogadod saubaric ki
ikrZaleboda. Cven mkiTxvels SevpirdiT, rom istoriis
ukeT Sesacnobad arqivSi Semonaxul dokumentebs
Seulamazeblad warvudgendiT da mxolod tabuirebul
Temebze viqnebodiT orientirebulni. Jurnalis
axali nomris Sinaarsic swored aqedan momdinareobs.
`saarqivo moambe~ qarTvel mwerlebsa da mwerlobas
exeba. am Temebis wamoweviT gvsurs, sazogadoebas gasuli
saukunis ocdaaTiani wlebi vaCvenoT, epoqa, romelSic
patriotizmi da erovnuloba danaSaulad iTvleboda da
Tavis gadarCenis erT-erTi gza monuri morCileba iyo.
`sruliad saidumlo~ grifiT Semonaxuli dokumentebi
aaSkaravebs imas, Tu rogor muSaobda `sabWoTa manqana~;
rogor inergeboda adamianebs Soris nihilizmi,
SiSi da undobloba; rogor xdeboda pirovnebebis
fizikuri da sulieri ganadgureba; rogor arsebobda
erTi danaSaulebrivi jaWvi, romlis Semadgeneli
rgolic, nebsiT Tu uneblieT SeiZleba TiToeuli
adamiani gamxdariyo. Cven aravis gansjas vapirebT.
aravin icis Sinsaxkomis cixis civ jurRmulebsa da
`cxel karcerebSi~ gamomwyvdeuls fizikuri da
sulieri zewolis qveS rogor mogvawerinebdnen xels
`aRiarebiT Cvenebaze~. saarqivo dokumentebiT im
realobis Cveneba gvsurs, romelmac paolo iaSvili,
tician tabiZe, mixeil javaxiSvili, nikolo miwiSvili
da kidev asobiT da aTiaTasobiT adamiani Seiwira.
amitomac, am nomerze Cvens gundTan erTad mecnierebi,
istorikosebi, mkvlevarebi muSaobdnen. `saarqivo
moambeSi~ Tqven unikalur, gamouqveynebel dokumentebs,
pirad werilebs da fotomasalas naxavT. gaigebT,
rogor ukavSirdeba ioseb stalins `vefxistyaosnis~
Targmna; ratom daiwunes galaktionis leqsebi; rogor
daiwyo represiebi qarTvel mwerlebsa da literatorebs
Soris lavrenti berias saangariSo sityvis Semdgom;
rogor miiyvanes paolo iaSvili TviTmkvlelobamde;
rogor daxvrites tician tabiZe, mixeil javaxiSvili
da nikolo miwiSvili; rogor monaTles giJad petre
gruzinski; xolo `lidia gasvianis saqmiT~ JurnalSi
dasmenis sruli sqemaa naCvenebi.
axal nomerSi gaigebT im sinamdviles, mTeli
aTwleulebis ganmavlobaSi arqivis sacavebSi rom iyo
gamoketili. es aris istoria, romelsac gasdevda
grifi - `sruliad saidumlod~!
nino yifSiZe
Editor-in-chiefs Column
The journal
Archival Bulletin
was founded two years
ago. Its major goal
was to publish secret
documents that had
not been accessible
for years, and to
speak about tabooed
themes. We promised
the readers to publish
the documents in
the original so that
they could learn a
true history. We also
promised them to be
oriented on tabooed
themes. These terms are accomplished in a new issue of the
journal that is about Georgian writers and literature. We
cover these themes because we want to depict the 1920s. It
was time when patriotism and nationalism were considered
crime, and the only way toward survival was through
obedience. Through the documents entitle Top Secret
the following things can be learnt: how the Soviet machine
worked; how nihilism, mistrust and fear spread over; how
people were morally and physically destroyed; how a chain
of crime was made and how any person could willy-nilly
become its ring. We wont judge anyone. Nobody knows
what document he would have signed if he had been put in
prison or in hot cells of the NKVD.
Through the archival documents we want to tell
the story of how Paolo Iashvili, Titsian Tabidze, Mikheil
Javakhishvili, Nikolo Mitsishvili and thousands of others
were repressed. For this reason, the scientists, historians and
researchers worked on these themes with the editorial board.
The Archival Bulletin presents unique and unpublished
documents, private letters and photo materials. The readers
will learn the following issues: connection between Joseph
Stalin and translation of The Knight in the Panthers Skin;
why were Galaktions poems condemned; the repressions of
Georgian writers on the heel of Berias report; what made
Paolo Iashvili commit suicide; how Titsian Tabidze, Mikheil
Javakhishvili and Nikolo Mitsishvili were executed; how was
Petre Gruzinsky certified as insane; And finally, the article
Lidia Gavianis Case reveals the scheme of denunciation.
The issue of the journal offers a real history that had
been stored on the shelves of the archive for ages. This is a
history entitled Top Secret!
Nino Kipshidze
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saqarTvelos Sinagan saqmeTa saministro sainformacio-analitikuri departamenti saarqivo sammarTvelo
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia The Informational-Analytical Department The Archive Administration
vefxistyaosani
The Knight in the Panthers Skin
Zveli bolSeviki s. qavTaraZe `vefxistyaosnis~
msoflmxedvelobis avtori?!..............................................................................32
The Old Bolshevik Sergo Kavtaradze - is it his view of
~The Knight in the Panthers Skin?!
ukomentarod
No Comments
lavrenti beria qarTvel mwerlebsa da
literaturaze .......................................................................................................................73
Lavrentiy Beria About Georgian Writers and Literature
Savi sia
BLACK LIST
`fxizeli~ komunizmi... lidia gasvianis saqme ..................................................79
Open-eyed Communism:The Case of Lidia Gasviani
medlis ori mxare
Two Sides of the Same Coin
nikolo miwiSvili da qarTuli emigracia ...................................................... 98
Nikolo Mitsishvili and the Georgian Emigration
represiebi
Repression
represirebuli qarTveli mwerlebi .....................................................................125
Repressed Georgian Writers
gansakuTrebuli
saqaRalde
Special Folder
paolo iaSvilis, tician tabiZisa da mixeil javaxiSvilis
sikvdilis Semdgomi reabilitacia ..................................................................... 134
The Posthumous Rehabilitation of Paolo Iashvili, Titsian Tabidze
and Mikheil Javakhishvili
dabrunebuli
saxelebi
Retrieved Names
`sabWoeTSi akrZaluli mwerali~ _ lida robaqiZis
werili leonid breJnevs ........................................................................................... 139
A Banned Writer in the Soviet Union: Lida Robakidzes Letter to Leonid Brezhnev
vefxistyaosani
The Knight in the Panthers Skin
`galiaSi momRerali SaSvi Tu mogismenia?~..................................................... 5
Have you ever listened to the thrush singing in the cage?
sabWoTa satusaRo
Soviet Prison
Sinsaxkomis zedamxedvelis Cveneba: rogor Sendeboda
sabWoTa epoqa ......................................................................................................................148
Testimony of a NKVD prison guard. How the Soviet terror of the
1930s manifested in jails
suli amboxebuli
Unbending Spirit
giJad Seracxuli petre gruzinski ................................................................... 157
Petre Gruzinsky Certifed as insane
recenzia
Review
vin kiTxavs galaktions?! ............................................................................................164
Was it Galaktions Business?!
gaxunebuli baraTebi
Faded Letters
werilebi .................................................................................................................................170
Letters
saqarTvelos sabWoTa respublikis himni .........................................................173
The State Anthem of the Soviet Republic of Georgia
`didebidan~
`Tavisuflebamde~
`galiaSi momRerali SaSvi Tu
mogismenia?~
nana gonjilaSvili
NANA GONJILASHVILI
vefxistyaosani
The Knight in the Panthers Skin
Salva nucubiZe / Shalva Nutsubidze
Zveli bolSeviki s. qavTaraZe `vefxistyaosnis~
msoflmxedvelobis avtori?!..............................................................................32
The Old Bolshevik Sergo Kavtaradze - is it his view of
~The Knight in the Panthers Skin?!
lavrenti beria qarTvel mwerlebsa da
literaturaze .......................................................................................................................73
Lavrentiy Beria About Georgian Writers and Literature
`fxizeli~ komunizmi... lidia gasvianis saqme ..................................................79
nikolo miwiSvili da qarTuli emigracia ...................................................... 98
represirebuli qarTveli mwerlebi .....................................................................125
paolo iaSvilis, tician tabiZisa da mixeil javaxiSvilis
sikvdilis Semdgomi reabilitacia ..................................................................... 134
`sabWoeTSi akrZaluli mwerali~ _ lida robaqiZis
werili leonid breJnevs ........................................................................................... 139
`galiaSi momRerali SaSvi Tu mogismenia?~..................................................... 5
Sinsaxkomis zedamxedvelis Cveneba: rogor Sendeboda
sabWoTa epoqa ......................................................................................................................148
giJad Seracxuli petre gruzinski ................................................................... 157
vin kiTxavs galaktions?! ............................................................................................164
werilebi .................................................................................................................................170
saqarTvelos sabWoTa respublikis himni .........................................................173
The State Anthem of the Soviet Republic of Georgia
Have you ever listened to the thrush
singing in the cage?
XX s _ is dasawyisidan rusul
literaturaSi gaCnda cnobebi SoTa
rusTavelsa da mis poemaze. pirveli
rusuli wigni, romelSic moxsenebulia
rusTaveli da moyvanilia `vefxistyaosnis~
pirveli rusuli Targmanis nawyvetebi,
gaxlavT rusi mwerlisa da mecnieris,
evgeni bolxovitinovis, naSromi _

,
(`saqarTvelos istoriuli
suraTi mis politikur, saeklesio da
saswavlo mdgomareobaSi~, peterburgi,
1802). aq `vefxistyaosani~ ariostosa da
osianis qmnilebaTa gverdiT dasaxelda. es
iyo pirveli SemTxveva `vefxistyaosnis~
Targmnisa ara mxolod rusul enaze, aramed
_ saerTod. am faqtma didad Seuwyo xeli
poemis popularizacias evropul wreebSi.
wignis gamocemas didi gamoxmaureba mohyva,
daibeWda recenziebi germanul da frangul
enebze, iTargmna germanulad (1804w.), xolo
ori taepi, qarTuli teqsti franguli
transkrifciiT, daibeWda parizSi (1810
w.). aRsaniSnavia, rom e. bolxovitinovis
mier poemisaTvis saxeldebuli saTauri _
` ~ (`vefxvis tyavi~) _ poemis
Semdgom Targmanebs didxans gahyva.
SemdgomSi araerTgzis gamoqveynda
`vefxistyaosnis~ nawyvetebis poeturi,
agreTve prozauli Targmanebi.
`vefxistyaosnis~ Sinaarsi rus
mkiTxvelebs pirvelad gaacno niko
CubinaSvilma (1790-1847) werilSi _
`vefxistyaosani~. qarTuli poema, SeTxzuli
SoTa rusTavelis mier~.
Information about Shota Rustaveli and his poem The
Knight in the Panthers Skin frst appeared in Russian
literature in the early nineteenth century. The frst Russian
book (The historical image of Georgia in political, church
and educational aspects, Petersburg, 1802) concerning
Rustaveli and the Russian translation of his epic poem
was written by the Russian writer and scholar Evgeny
Bolkhovitinov. The Knight in the Panthers Skin was
compared to the works of Ludovico Ariosto and Osian. This
5
6
1833 wels Jurnal `teleskopSi~ (#5)
daibeWda poloneli moRvawis konstantine
rdultovskis werili `qarTveli poeti
SoTa rusTaveli~ (rusul enaze naTargmni
p. dubrovskis mier). poemis saTauria _
` ~. moyvanilia
ramdenime strofis sityvasityviTi Targmani
da poemis mokle Sinaarsi, axlavs moyvanili
metaforebis ganmartebac.
peterburgis universitetis profesoris,
daviT CubinaSvilis (1814-1891), werilSi
_ `qarTuli poema `vefxistyaosani~ (1802)
_ leqsTwyobis sakiTxebze msjelobisas
poemis pirveli strofis rusuli Targmania
moyvanili. Semdgom d. CubinaSvilma
gamoaqveyna poemis calkeuli strofebis
prozauli Targmani da monawileoba
miiRo poeturi Targmanis momzadebaSi,
romelic ganaxorciela rusma mweralma
ipolite bartdinskim. es Targmani (142
strofi) pirvelad 1845 wels Jurnal
`ilustraciaSi~ (#6, #7) daibeWda.
TargmanSi poemis saTauria _ `,
~. d. CubinaSvilma es Targmani
qarTuli qrestomaTiis meore wignSi Seitana
(gamoica 1846 wels), Sesavali werili
warumZRvara da aRniSna, rom am nawyvetis
TargmanSi Tavad monawileobda.
1846 wels gazeT `~-Si
daibeWda ivane evlaxovis (1825-1888)
mier Sesrulebuli poemis axali rusuli
Targmani, romelic TeTr leqsad iyo
Sesrulebuli. i. evlaxovi ucxo moymis
naxvis ambis TargmanSi sqolioSi SeniSnavs,
rom rusulad SecdomiT Targmnidnen poemis
saTaurs _ ` ~. misi azriT,
saTauri Semdegnairad unda iTargmnos _
` () ~.
1849 wels gazeT `~-Si daibeWda
`vefxistyaosnis~ prozauli Targmanis
nawyveti, romelic a. abaSiZes ekuTvnoda.
poemis nawyvetebis Targmna scada rusma
mweralma v. sologubmac.
rusma mweralma da Jurnalistma, gazeT
`~-is redaqtorma _ evgeni stalinskim,
1888 wels wignSi _ `vefxistyaosani~, SoTa
rusTavelis qarTuli poema~, Seitana Tavisi
narkvevi _ `SoTa rusTaveli _ qarTveli
saxalxo poeti~. aqve dabeWda poemis qarTuli
teqstisa da Targmanebis nawyvetebi rusul
(i. bardtinskis, e. stalinskis), somxur (s.
bastamianisa), germanul (a. laistisa) da
frangul (a. borenisa) enebze.
1888 wels gamoqveynda iona meunargias
was the frst translation of The Knight in the Panthers
Skin. The poem rose in popularity among European
circles. The book was a great success. In 1804 reviews
of the poem were published in French and German
languages. In 1810 two lines of Georgian text with French
transcription was published in Paris. Noteworthy is that
the title of the poem was translated as ` ~
(The Panthers Skin) by E. Bolkhovitinov. The title was not
changed in his future translations of the poem.
Many poetic and prose version of this lyric poem have
been published.
Russian readers could learn the plot of the poem
from Niko Chubinashvilis letter entitled The Knight in the
Panthers Skin (1790-1847).
In 1833 the journal Telescope No.5 published the
letter The Georgian Poet Shota Rustaveli. The letter was
written by the Polish fgure Konstantine Rdultovsky and
was translated into Russian by P. Dubrovsky. The title of the
poem was translated as follows: `
~ (The Cover of the Leopards Skin). The letter
included word by word translation of a few lines, a brief plot
of the poem and the explanation of the metaphors.
In 1802 the professor of the Petersburg University
Davit Chubinashvili (1814 1891) published a letter
The Georgian poem The Knight in the Panthers Skin.
The letter included a review of the verses, and the
Russian version of the poems frst strophe. Afterward,
D. Chubunashvili published a prose translation. He also
assisted the Russian writer Ipolite Bartdinsky with his
poetic translation of the poem. This version (142 strophes)
was frst published in the Illustration No.6, 7 in 1845. The
title was translated as `, ~ (Tariel,
7
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mier Sesrulebuli `vefxistyaosnis~
prozauli Targmani (Tavisufali gardaTqma),
romelic g. qarTveliSvilis xarjiT wignad
daibeWda TbilisSi. i. meunargias poemis
mokle Sinaarsi Tavdapirvelad qarTulad
dauweria, Semdeg uTargmnia rusulad.
i. meunargiam Tavisi Targmani 1888 wels
TbilisSi Camosul imperator aleqsandre
III-sa da mis meuRles miarTva. aRniSnuli
Targmani ganmeorebiT 1890 wels daibeWda.
igi oTxi dausaTaurebeli Tavisagan Sedgeba
da masSi ramdenime strofi Tu taepi
galeqsilia.
niko marma (1864-1934) peterburgSi 1910
wels gamoaqveyna wigni _

. ,

(`SoTa
rusTavelis `vefxistyaosnis~ Sesavali
da daskvniTi strofebi. qarTuli teqsti,
rusuli Targmani da ganmartebani narkveviT
`qalis kulti da raindoba poemaSi~). wignSi
dabeWdilia `vefxistyaosnis~ prologisa
da epilogis n. maris mier Serulebuli
rusuli prozauli Targmani, erTvis vrceli
komentarebi.
`vefxistyaosnis~ calkeuli nawyvetebis
Targmani ramdenjerme gamoica (1916,
1918, 1919, 1927 wlebSi) TbilisSi sergi
Sartis SesrulebiT. cnobilma rusma
poetma nikoloz zabolockim (1903-1958)
`vefxistyaosani~ axalgazrdebisaTvis
rusul enaze daamuSava (1937). igi araerTxel
gamoica. es iyo pirveli cda axalgazrda
mkiTxvelisaTvis rusTavelis Targmnisa.
`vefxistyaosnis~ pirveli sruli
poeturi Targmani rusul enaze ekuTvnis
mweral konstantine balmonts (1867-1942).
Targmani _ , 1933
wels daibeWda parizSi k. balmontis xarjiT.
k. balmontma gamocemis erTi wigni warweriT
stalins, rogorc qarTvels, usaxsovra.
`vefxistyaosnis~ rusul enaze gadatanis
arc erT cdas k. balmontamde qarTuli
sazogadoebis aseTi yuradReba ar miuqcevia.
1914 wlis 10 aprils TbilisSi pirvelad
Camosul k. balmonts sazeimo Sexvedra
mouwyves qarTul TeatrSi. pirveli
misasalmebeli sityva warmoTqva akaki
wereTelma: `roca Cvenma winaprebma mogiwvies
Tqven, rusebi, maSin Cven, STamomavlobas,
anderZad dagvibares: ar daviviwyoT
stumarTmoyvareoba, gviyvardes rusebi,
Panthers Skin). D. Chubinashvili attached this translation
to the second volume of the Georgian chrestomathy in
1846. He prefaced the book with a letter wherein he noted
his contribution to this translation.
In 1846 new Russian version of the poem was
published in Caucasus. Ivan Evlakhov (1825-188)
translated the poem into blank verse. In a footnote he
states that the title of the poem had been mistranslated
before (The Panthers Skin). In his opinion, the title should
be translated as ` ()
~ (The hero in the cover of the panthers skin).
In 1849 A. Abashidze translated a prose version of the
poem. It was published in Caucasus. The Russian writer
V. Sologub also tried to translate an extract from the poem.
In 1888 the Russian writer and journalist Evgen
Stalinsky, who was also an editor-in-chief of the newspaper
Caucasus, attached his essay Shota Rustaveli the
Georgian public poet in the book The Knight in the
Panthers Skin the Georgian poem by Shota Rustaveli.
He also published the original of the poem and extracts
from it in Russian (I. Barditinsky, E. Stalinsky), Armenian (S.
Bastamiany), German (A. Laistis) and French (A. Borenisa)
versions.
In 1888 Iona Meunargya produced a prose version of
the poem (Free Transformation) and G. Kartvelishvili paid
for it to be published in Tbilisi. I. Meunagria wrote a brief
plot of the poem in Georgian and afterwards, he translated
it into Russian. The translator presented the book to
Emperor Alexander III and his wife. This version was
republished in 1890. It consisted of four untitled chapters
and several strophes that were written poetry.
In 1910 Nikolas Marr (1864-1934) published his book
8
vimegobroT maTTan da ganuyoflad viaroT
erTi gziT. mas Semdeg mTelma saukunem
ganvlo da es wminda anderZi, Cveni cdisa
da mzadyofnis miuxedavad, Cvens mimarT
sisruleSi jerac ar aris moyvanili. ar
sruldeba imitom, rom gansxvavebulad
esmiT misi azri. erTi mxare fiqrobs, rom
siyvarulis, Zmobisa da erTobisaTvis
saWiroa guli, meore ki fiqrobs _
mxolod Zala. Rirsebis daufasebloba im
xalxisaTvis, romelsac mravali aTeuli
saukune Tavisuflad, kulturulad
da damoukideblad ucxovria, metad
gulsatkenia... magram nu movigonebT warsuls.
madloba RmerTs, axla momravldnen axali
adamianebi, romlebic gvpirdebian gazafxuls,
romlebic eklebs ki ara, yvavilebs
mogvitans. erT maTgans vxedavT dRes Cvens
Soris _ uaRresad simpaTiur inteligentsa
da gamoCenil poets konstantine dimitris
Ze balmonts. mivesalmoT, batonebo, mas,
rogorc gazafxulis pirvel mercxals, Cveni
guliTadi mravalJamieriT~.
1

Tavdapirvelad qarTvelebi k. balmontis
Targmanis kritikas eridebodnen. ioseb
arimaTeli (imedaSvili) werilSi _ `SoTa
rusTaveli da konstantine balmonti~
(1915), ori TvalsazrisiT warmoaCens
k. balmontis Targmanis mniSvnelobas
_ ruseTis sazogadoeba gaecnoba
damoukideblobis xanaSi patara saqarTvelo,
Tu ra `bumberaz~ Svilebs zrdida da,
imavdroulad, garuseba-gadagvarebis
gzaze Semdgari qarTveloba Seicnobs
`ra ganZi gvqonia, ra zneobis, ra gonebisa
Tu siyvarulis saxareba, da mSobliur
literaturas ufro TavgamodebiT
daewafeba~.
2

1936 wels moskovSi `vefxistyaosnis~
balmontiseuli Targmanis gamocema
stalinis saxels ukavSirdeba. swored
stalinis miTiTebiT TargmanSi CaurTavT
e.w. `indo-xataelTa ambavi~, romelic
sagangebod aTargmnines e. tarlovskaias.
stalini am TargmaniT kmayofili ar iyo. k.
balmontis Targmanis moskovuri gamocemis
saredaqcio winasityvaobaSi naTqvamia:
`Targmani dazaralebulia mTeli rigi
iseTi naklovanebebiT, romlebic xels
SeuSlis rus mkiTxvels, savsebiT swori
warmodgena iqonios rusTavelis nawarmoebze
originalSi. am SemTxvevaSi warumateblobis
1
a. wereTeli, ` . . ~. wignSi
_ a. wereTeli, Txz. t. XV, gamomc. `sabWoTa saqarTvelo~, Tb., 1961
2
i. arimaTeli (imedaSvili) werilSi _ `SoTa rusTaveli da
konstantine balmonti~, Jurn. `Teatri da cxovreba~, 1915, #41, gv.6-8
Introductory and fnal strophes of The hero in panthers
skin Shota from Rustavi; The Georgian text, Russian
translation and explanation of the etude The cult of the
women and knights in the poem. The book included Marr's
Russian prose version of the prologue and epilogue and
commentaries.
Extracts from The Knight in the Panthers Skin were
published in Tbilisi in 1916, 1918, 1919 and 1927. Sergy
Shart wrote translations.
In 1937 famous Russian poet Nikolay Zabolotsky
(1903-1958) made a Russian version of the poem for the
adults. This version has been published multiple times. This
was the frst time adults have tried to read the Rustaveli.
The frst complete poetic translation of The Knight
in the Panthers Skin was made by the Russian writer
Konstantin Balmont (1867-1942). In 1933 the translation
Wearing the Panthers Skin was published in Paris
(prefaced by A. Svanidze).
The Russian translation of K. Balmont attracted the
Georgian peoples attention. On April 10, 1914 K. Balmont
frst visited Tbilisi. He was welcomed in the Georgian
Theatre with honour. Akaki Tsereteli opened the event
with the following words: When our ancestors invited the
Russians to our country, they left their will to us not to
forget hospitality, to love Russian people, to be friends with
them and to have an equal course. The age has passed
and we have not executed their will yet. While some people
think that we need heart for love and brotherhood, another
part think that we need only strength. The Georgians,
who have been independent for ages, are very sensitive
to their dignity. But dont remember the past. Thanks to
God, there are people who promise us fowers instead of
9
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mTavar wyarod unda CaiTvalos Sinagani
riTmebi, romlebic leqsis musikalobasTan
mimarTebiT ar iZleva efeqts da romlebmac
originalis ufro zust asaxvas xeli
SeuSala. am Sinagani riTmebis dadevnebis
gzaze mTargmneli patara nakuwebad Cexs
rusTavelis farTo JReradobis frazebs,
romlebmac taepis SigniT dayovneba da
gaCereba ar ician, ris Sedegadac iCexeba,
saxes icvlis da fermkrTaldeba poetis
azri~ (gv.19-20).
1
aqve aRniSnulia am Targmanis
gamocemis mizezic: `balmontis Targmans,
romelsac Cven ar vTvliT Sesabamisad im
moTxovnebisa, romlebic SesaZlebeli iyo
am genialuri poemis mTargmnelisaTvis
wagveyenebina, Cven gawvdiT imdenad,
ramdenadac igi erTaderT Targmans
warmoadgens~ (iqve, gv. 19). winasityvaobaSi,
rogorc Cans, redaqcias stalinis
Sexeduleba gauTvaliswinebia.
`vefxistyaosnis~ rusuli Targmanebis
mkvlevari l. andRulaZe aRniSnavs:
`marTalia, balmontis TargmanSi rusTaveli
ver gamoCnda, rogorc filosofiurad
moazrovne figura, magram aq pirvelad
gamoCndnen `vefxistyaosnis~ gmirebi Tavisi
vnebebiTa da gancdebiT. pirvelad dafiqrda
rusi mkiTxveli `vefxistyaosanze~, rogorc
poeturi xelovnebis Sedevrze~ (gv. 42).
2

`vefxistyaosnis~ daweris 750 wlisTavTan
dakavSirebiT rusul enaze sami sruli
poeturi Targmani Sesrulda. maTgan pirveli
Targmani _ _
giorgi cagarels (1893-1955) ekuTvnis. igi
gamoica 1937 wels moskovSi vl. elsneris
redaqciiT. Targmans erTvis g. cagarelis
SeniSvna `vefxistyaosnis~ rusul da
sabWoTa kavSiris xalxTa enebze Targmnis
sakiTxebze. masSi gansakuTrebiT eTmoba
yuradReba k. balmontis Targmans, romelic,
avtoris SeniSvniT, rusuli Targmanis
prozauli pwkaredidan da uordropiseuli
inglisuri prozauli Targmanidanaa
Sesrulebuli. g. cagarelis SexedulebiT,
k. balmontis Targmani srul warmodgenas
ver iZleva rusTavelis poemaze. mTargmneli
aRniSnavs sakuTari naSromis Rirsebas _ igi
originalidanaa Sesrulebuli.
poemis rusuli Targmanebis nawyvetebi
gamoaqveynes v. derJavinma, p. antakolskim, s.
kliCkovma.
1934 wels parizSi gamocemuli
1
`vefxistyaosani~, k. d. balmontis Targmani qarTulidan, gamomc.
`akademia, moskovi-leningradi, 1937
2
l. andRulaZis, `balmonti da saqarTvelo~, gamomc. `sabWoTa saqa-
rTvelo~, Tb., 1972
thorns. Handsome gentleman and famous poet Konstantin
Balmont is among them. Greet him as the frst swallow of
spring with our sincere Mravalzhamieri.
1

Georgians restrained from criticizing the translation
made by K. Balmont. In 1915 Joseph Arimateli (Imedashvili)
published his letter Shota Rustaveli and Konstantin
Balmont wherein he spoke about the importance of the
Russian version. He noted the following: On the one
hand, the Russian society will learn about a great fgure
of Georgia, and on the other hand, the Georgians who
are about to Russify will see our treasure, our brain,
our gospel of love and they will be back to their national
literature.
2

In 1936, Balmonts translation was published in
Moscow. By Stalin's order the so-called The story of Indo-
Khataels, translated by E. Tarlovskaya, was included in
the translation. But Stalin did not like this translation. The
following was written in its preface: The translation is not
good enough. It will hinder the Russian readers from having
an appropriate impression on the original poem. The failure
has been caused by wrong rhymes that are not as effective
as those of the original. Long lines of the poem were
butchered by the translator. It caused misunderstanding
of the poets idea (19-20).
3
The preface also included the
reasons of publishing the translation. It was as follows:
Although we did not consider Balmonts translation good
enough we offer it to you because it is the only translation
of this great poem (ibid, p.19). The editorial board seemed
to take into consideration Stalins opinion in writing this
preface.
1
A. Tsereteli, Speech delivered at celebrating ceremony in honor of K.D. Balmont. Col-
lection book, vol.XV, 1961 Soviet Georgia, Tbilisi, .
2
I. Arimateli (Imedashvili) letter Shota Rustaveli and Konstantin Balmont, 1915, the
journal Theatre and Life No.41, pp.6-8.
3
The Knight in the Panthers Skin, translated from Georgian by K.D. Balmont, 1937,
Academy Moscow-Leningrad.
10
`vefxistyaosnis~ balmontiseuli TargmaniT
dainteresda p. petrenko (1908-1936) da
poemis Targmnas Seudga. Targmanis nawyvetebi
periodulad ibeWdeboda. 1935 wlis 5
noembers saqarTvelos mweralTa kavSirSi
p. petrenkom waikiTxa sakuTari Targmanis
nawyvetebi da warmoudgeneli warmateba
xvda wilad. rogorc Tavad ambobda, es
misi cxovrebis yvelaze bednieri dRe
iyo. p. petrenko fiqrobda, or TveSi
daesrulebina poemis Targmna da Semdgom
gamoeca. 1936 wlis maisSi igi tragikulad
daiRupa da mxolod 1938 wels gamoqveynda p.
petrenkos mier rusul enaze ametyvelebuli
`vefxistyaosnis~ poeturi Targmani _
, romelic
Sesrulebulia k. WiWinaZis monawileobiTa da
redaqtorobiT, pasuxismgebeli redaqtori
gaxldaT i. orbeli. k. WiWinaZis azriT,
`mTargmnelma mxatvruli gaformebaSi
SesZlo rusTavelis ara mxolod azrebis,
metaforebisa da saxeebis, aramed misi
Semoqmedebis WeSmariti sulis, mJReri
strofebis maRali paTosis gadmocema,
romelic mTel poemaSia daRvrili~ (gv. 4).
1

`vefxistyaosnis~ rusul enaze meoTxe
sruli poeturi Targmani Seasrula Salva
nucubiZem. aRniSnuli Targmani _
_ 1941 wels gamoica
moskovSi sergei gorodeckis redaqciiT.
sainteresoa am Targmanis istoria, romlis
Sesaxeb Tavad mTargmneli mogviTxrobs
rusTavelis saxelobis literaturis
institutis direqtorisadmi wardgenil
werilSi, TariRiT _ 5. XI. 68.
2

al. baramiZem specialuri narkvevi
(`vefxistyaosnis erTi rusuli Targmanis
istoriidan~, `narkvevebi~, t. V, Tb.,
1971) uZRvna nucubiZiseuli Targmanis
istoriasTan dakavSirebul movlenebs da
ganixila mTargmnelis aRniSnuli werili.
al. baramiZe gadmogvcems S. nucubiZis
werilis Seqmnis ambavsac. rogorc irkveva,
1968 wels SoTa rusTavelis saxelobis
qarTuli literaturis istoriis
institutis direqcias S. nucubiZem
gadasca `vefxistyaosnis~ miseuli
Targmanis pirveli gamocemis sasignalo
egzemplari, romelic piradad stalinma
redaqtoris TvaliT waikiTxa da romelsac
`didi beladis~ mier sakuTari xeliT
1
k. WiWinaZe, `rusTaveli p. petrenkos TargmanSi~ (rusul enaze), gaz.
` ~, 1937, 10 ivnisi, gv. 4.
2
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #8, aRwera #14, saqme #209, S.
nucubiZis xelnaweri. furc. 6-11, SemdgomSi citatebs movixmobT
amave xelnaweridan.
L. Andghuladze, a specialist of the Russian
translations of The Knight in the Panthers Skin said as
follows: Although Rustaveli was lost in this translation
as the great philosopher, its for the frst time the poems
heroes appeared with their passions and feelings. Its for
the frst time the Russian reader considered The Knight in
the Panthers Skin as masterpiece of art(p.42).
1

Three lyric translations of the poem were made for the
750
th
anniversary of The Knight in the Panthers Skin. The
frst translation The hero in tigers skin was produced
by Giorgi Tsagareli (1893-1955). In 1937 it was published
in Moscow with the editing of V. Elsner. The translation
included the notes made by G. Tsagareli about translating
this poem into Russian and other soviet languages.
Noteworthy is his opinion about Balmonts translation. The
author noted that this translation had been made from
Russian and English prose translations. According to G.
Tsagareli, K. Balmonts translation can give an impression
of the original poem. However, the translator stressed that
the main grace of his own translation is that it had been
made from the original.
Extracts from the Russian translations were published
by V. Derzhavin, P. Antakolsky and S. Klichkov.
In 1934 P. Petrenko (1908-1937) became interested in
Balmonts translation and he started to translate the poem.
Extracts form this translation were periodically published.
On November 5, 1935 P. Petrenko read the extract from his
translation at the Georgian Writers Union. It was a great
success. According to his words, that day was the happiest
day of his life. He planned to fnish the translation within
two months and to publish it. But in May 1937 he died
1
L. Andghuladze Balmont and Georgia, 1972, Soviet Georgia, Tbilisi.
11
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Sesrulebuli Casworebani Semoenaxa
(Semdgom poemis sasignalo egzemplari i.
b. stalinis goris muzeums gadaeca). S.
nucubiZem direqcias poemis erTaderTi
sasignalo egzemplaris literaturis
institutisTvis gadacemis mizezic auxsna
_ moxucebulobisa da xSiri avadmyofobis
gamo undoda, saimedod daebinavebina
misTvis Zvirfasi samaxsovro wigni.
mecniers surda, SeeswavlaT igi, amave
saxiT gamoecaT, Semdgom ki romelime
muzeumisaTvis gadaecaT.
al. baramiZe gadmogvcems, rom man
S. nucubiZes sTxova, mokled aRewera
Targmanze muSaobis istoria, raTa
werilobiTi sabuTi hqonodaT. S. nucubiZem
ramdenime dReSi institutSi oficialuri
gancxadebis formiT miitana Tavisi
Canaweri.
1

S. nucubiZe werilSi aRniSnavs, rom
`vefxistyaosnis~ rusul enaze Targmans
igi 1937 wels Seudga, Targmans warmatebiT
asrulebda da nawyvetebs Tavisufal
auditoriebSi ukiTxavda msurvelebs.
Tumca erT-erT interviuSi (e. kerZevaZe,
merab goderZiSvili, `ambavi rusTavelisa~,
Jurn. `axalgazrda Jurnalisti~, #5,
1968, gv. 3) igi Targmanis dawyebas 1936
wliT aTariRebs. al. baramiZes 1936 weli
miaCnia sarwmunod, radgan swored am wels
piradad mas mousmenia universitetSi
S. nucubiZis mier wakiTxuli Targmanis
nawyvetebi.
S. nucubiZe Tavis interviuSi
aRniSnavs, rom imTaviTve guli wydeboda,
rusul enaze poemis Rirseuli Targmani
rom ar arsebobda. narkvevSi _ `qarTveli
poetebi da mecnierebi rusTavelis poemis
axali Targmanebis Sesaxeb~ _ gamoCenili
qarTveli moRvaweebis naazrevTa Soris
S. nucubiZis Sexedulebacaa warmoCenili.
misi azriT, g. cagarelis Targmans k.
balmontis, p. petrenkos da sxvaTa rusuli
Targmanebis winaSe aqvs is upiratesoba,
rom Sesrulebulia azris sruli
warmodgenisa da rusTveluri leqsis
JReradobis safuZvelze. mecnieri dasZens:
`rasakvirvelia, gariTmuli leqsiT
Targmna g. cagarels rTul mdgomareobaSi
ayenebs: mas teqstidan daSoreba an misi
moTxovnilebis Sesabamisad gadakeTeba
uxdeba~
1
werili pirvelad gamoqveynda gaz. _ `literaturuli saqarTvelo~,
`rusTavelis Targmna aris Seni gadarCenis piroba~, 1 ianvari, 1993
w., gv. 13).
tragically. In 1938 p. Petrenkos poetic translation of the
poem was issued. Its title was The hero in tigers skin. K.
Chichinadze was the editor-in-chief of the edition , and the
executive editor was I. Orbeli. According to K. Chichinadze,
The translator was able to express the main ideas,
metaphors and characters of the poem, and also the main
spirit of the work.
1
The forth Russian lyric translation of The Knight in
the Panthers Skin was made by Shalva Nutsubidze. It
was published in Moscow in 1941 and edited by Sergey
Gorodetsky. Noteworthy is the story of how this translation
was made. The translator wrote this story in the letter to
the director of the Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian
Literature. The letter is dated 5.XI.68.
2
A.Baramidze wrote a special essay about the history
of how Nutsubidze translated the poem. His essay was
titled From the history of one of the Russian translations
of The Knight in the Panthers Skin, Essays vol. V,
1971, Tbilisi. A. Baramidze also told the story of how Sh.
Nutsubidze wrote the aforementioned letter. According to
this story, in 1968 Shalva Nutsubidze gave the copy of his
translation of the poem to the board of the Shota Rustaveli
Institute of Georgian Literature. Stalin edited the translation
himself. For this reason, the copy included the corrections
made by him. Later, this copy was transferred to the Gori
Museum of Stalin. Shalva Nutsubidze explained the reason
why he transferred the copy to the Institute of Georgian
Literature. He said that he was old and ill and wanted the
book to be in reliable place. The scholar wanted the book to
be studied, published and afterwards, to be transferred to
1
K. Chichinadze, Rustaveli in P.Petrenkos Russian translation, 1937, Literary Newspa-
per, June 10, p.4.
2
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MIA, f.8, op.14, d.209, Shalva Nutsubid-
zes manuscript, pp.6-11.
12
(gv. 5).
1
S. nucubiZe poemis
rusuli Targmanebidan
gansakuTrebul
mniSvnelobas aniWebs
p. petrenkos Targmans:
`vefxistyaosnis~ rusuli
Targmanebidan p. petrenkos
Targmani, romelsac ssrk
akademiis gamomcemloba
aqveynebs, gansakuTrebul
yuradRebas imsaxurebs.
Targmani rusTavelis
Semoqmedebis didad
mcodne qarTveli poetis
_ k. WiWinaZis, redaqciiT
gamodis. man petrenkosTan
erTad poemis yoveli
taepi daxvewa. petrenkos TargmanSi poema
araCveulebrivi musikalobiT JRers...
poema originalis srul iluzias qmnis.
umdidresi leqsika, leqsis frTianoba
rusTavelis poemis axal Targmans metad
faseuls xdis...~ (iqve, gv. 5-6). p. petrenkos
Targmanis aseTi Sefasebis miuxedavad,
S. nucubiZe mainc fiqrobda, rom
ukeTesi, Rirseuli Targmanis Sesruleba
SeiZleboda, amitomac Tavadac mosinja
Zala da poemis zogierTi nawyveti Targmna.
werilis dasawyisSi S. nucubiZe
aRniSnavs, rom misTvis sirTules
warmoadgens movlenebis qronologiuri
sizustiT gadmocema. es arcaa gasakviri,
Txroba xom 27 wlis Semdeg xdeba.
Tumca, rogorc Cans, mxolod es araa
mTavari mizezi. mecnieri aqve SeniSnavs,
rom Targmnis istoria metad `bundovan
pirobebSi mimdinareobda~. `bundovani
pirobebi~ ki S. nucubiZisaTvis ufro adre
daiwyo. igi, rogorc Tavad mogviTxrobs,
moulodnelad daapatimres da ramdenime
dReSi moskovSi, lubiankaze, aRmoCnda
`Casaxlebuli~. werilSi S. nucubiZe
dapatimrebis mizezebze ar saubrobs,
Tumca zemoaRniSnul interviuSi igi
am sakiTxTan dakavSirebiT konkretul
cnobebs gvawvdis da braldebasac
gvimxels: `daviwye pirveli Tavebis
Targmna, saqme aewyo da kargadac midioda,
magram cnobili andazisa ar iyos: `kaci
bWobda, RmerTi ki icinodao~, male
damapatimres avadxsenebuli b... piradi
mosazrebebiT, mraval `gamourkvev
1
v. gafrindaSvili, `qarTveli poetebi da mecnierebi rusTavelis
poemis axali Targmanebis Sesaxeb~ (rusul enaze), Jurn. `
~, moskovi, 1937, 15 aprili, #7, gv. 5-6
the museum.
A.Baramidze said that he asked Nutsubidze to
describe the story of how he translated the poem. After a
few days Nutsubidze brought his letter to the institute.
1
According to Nutsubidzes letter, he started to work on
the Russian translation in 1937. He often read the extracts
to the students during free lectures. However, according
to the interview (E. Kerdzevadze, Merab Goderdzishvili
The story of Rustaveli, 1968, the journal Young Journalist,
No.5, p.3), he started to translate the poem in 1936.
A. Baramidze considered that 1936 was the right date
because this year he heard Nutsubidze reading extracts
from his translation in the university.
According to Nutsubidzes interview, he was
disappointed there was not a good Russian translation
of the poem. The essay Georgian poets and scientists
about a new translation of Rustavelis poem consisted of
his and other famous Georgian fgures point of views. In
Nutsubidzes idea, G. Tsagarelis translation was better
than those of Balmont, Petrenko and of other Russian
translators because the poem sounded alike to the original.
The scientists added: Of course, it is very diffcult for
1
The letter Tranlsation of the Rustaveli is a term of your survival was frst published in
the Literary Georgia, 1993, January 1, p.13.
13
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sakiTxTa gasarkvevad~. rogorc Cans, es
`avadxsenebuli b...~ lavrenti beriaa,
interviuSic ki, masze gvaris mxolod
pirveli asoTia miniSneba (werili 1968
welsaa dawerili da, Sesabamisad, am
periodSi beria `avadsaxsenebelia~.
aqve unda aRiniSnos, rom S. nucubiZis
aRniSnul werils Tanadroulobis
koniunqturuli daRi amCnevia),
`gamourkveveli sakiTxebi~ ki beriasaTvis
(da kidev sxvebisaTvis...) Rrmadmoazrovne
S. nucubiZis pirovnebas ukavSirdeboda,
rogorc es sxva mniSvnelovani, magram
maTTvis saSiSi, qarTveli Tu sxva
erovnebis Rirseuli warmomadgenlebis
SemTxvevebSi xdeboda.
al. baramiZis narkvevSi araferia
naTqvami S. nucubiZis dapatimrebis
Sesaxeb, Tumca igi mis intervius icnobs
da imowmebs kidec. al. baramiZis werils
daweris TariRi ar aqvs. misi `narkvevebis~
V tomi, sadac es werilia moTavsebuli,
1971 welsaa gamocemuli. Cans, rom am
periodSic eridebodnen am Temaze saubars.
Sinagan saqmeTa saministros arqivSi
daculia - is (saq.ssr
saxelmwifo uSiSroebis sammarTvelos
Sinagan saqmeTa saxalxo komitetis) me-
4 ganyofilebis mier 1938 wlis 29/XI-
s Sedgenili kartoTeka,
1
romelSic
aRniSnulia Semdegi: Salva isakis Ze
nucubiZe, dabadebuli 1888 wels, quTaisis
guberniis sof. farcxanayanebSi, amJamad
mcxovrebi q. TbilisSi, perovskaias 6,
profesia da specialoba _ mecnier-
TanamSromeli, filosofiis doqtori,
saqmianoba _ stalinis sax. Tbilisis
saxelmwifo universitetis profesori,
kaTedris gamge, warsuli _ social-
federalisturi partiis wevri, socialuri
mdgomareoba _ mosamsaxure, partiuloba
_ upartio, nacionaloba _ qarTveli,
moqalaqeoba _ sabWoTa, dapatimrebulia
31 VIII, 1938 wels, sisxlis samarTlis
kodeqsis muxliT _ 58-10, 58-11,
- is depeSis moTxovnis Tanaxmad,
1938 wlis 1/XII-s specialuri badragis
TanxlebiT `etapirebulia~ saqmesTan
erTad ssrk Sinagan saqmeTa saxalxo
komitetSi _ q. moskovi. aqve aRniSnulia,
rom S. nucubiZe - is
brZanebis (#26/8/44901) safuZvelze
gaTavisuflebulia patimrobidan da saqme
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, II, f. #8, aRwera #14, saqme #209, furc.12.
the translator to translate a rhymed poem. He had to
make some changes (p.5).
1
Nutsubidze outlined the
Russian translation made by Petrenko. He said as follows:
Noteworthy is Petrenkos Russian translation of The
Knight in the Panthers Skin. This version is published by
the publishing-house of SSR academy under the editorship
of K.Chichinadze who knows Rustavelis work very well.
He and Petrenko improved every line of the poem in
the translation and thus, the whole poem sounds very
good. This translation creates the illusion of the original.
This is valuable for its rich vocabulary (ibid, pp.5-6).
Although Nutsubidze praised highly Petrenkos translation
he deemed that a better version could be made. For this
reason, he tried to translate extracts from the poem.
At the beginning of the letter Nutsubidze noted that it
1
V. Gaprindashvili Georgian poets and scientists about a new translation of Rustavelis
poem (in Russian), April 15, 1937, the journal No.7 Book News, Moscow, pp.5-6.
14
daxurulia.
im periodis sisxlis samarTlis
kodeqsis 58.10 muxlis Tanaxmad, S.
nucubiZes brali edeba SpionaJSi. es
muxli iTvaliswinebs Tavisuflebis
aRkveTas mkacri izolaciis qveS aranakleb
sami wlis vadiT. aqve aRniSnulia, rom
im SemTxvevaSi, Tu SpionaJma gamoiwvia,
an SeeZlo saxelmwifo interesebisaTvis
gansakuTrebulad mZime Sedegebi gamoewvia,
sasjeli _ daxvreta. muxli _ 58.11-
is mixedviT, filosofiis doqtors,
universitetis profesors wayenebuli
aqvs braldeba _ mSromeli xalxisa da
revoluciuri moZraobis winaaRmdeg
aqtiuri qmedeba Tu aqtiuri brZola,
romelic gamovlenilia (am SmTxvevaSi)
kontr-revoluciuri mTavrobebis
sapasuxismgeblo an gansakuTrebul-
saidumlo Tanamdebobebze samoqalaqo
omis periodSi. stalinis epoqaSi aseTi
braldebiT mravali udanaSaulo adamiani
iyo dapatimrebuli da gasamarTlebuli.
S. nucubiZis dakavebasTan dakavSirebiT
Tavad `vefxistyaosnis~ mTargmnelis
interviuSi mowodebul informacias
avsebs misive werili, saidanac vigebT,
rom dapatimrebisas mas CamoarTves
`vefxistyaosani~, Targmanis nawyvetebi
da poemis teqstTan dakavSirebuli
`ganmartebiTi xasiaTis naSromebi~.
S. nucubiZis mogonebis mixedviT, didi
dro ar iyo gasuli, rom mis `axal
maspinZlebs~ da masac, `maT moulodnel
stumars~, TiTqmis daaviwydaT poemis
Targmanis nawyvetebis Semcveli da didi
`suliskveTebiT~ gaJRenTili naSromebi.
`yovel SemTxvevaSi maTi gaxsenebiT Tavs
aravin iwuxebda da arc me mawuxebdnen~
(furc. 7) _ dasZens mTargmneli-patimari.
rogorc sabolood aRmoCnda, S. nucubiZis
Sroma ar daviwyebiaT, sxvebs SeiZleba ar
axsovdaT, magram stalini fxizlad iyo da
`vefxistyaosnis~ Rirseul, srulfasovan
rusul Targmanze gamudmebiT fiqrobda
(k. balmontis TargmaniT igi ar iyo
kmayofili). rasakvirvelia, `aTasi Tvalisa
da aTasi yuris~ mqone stalinma icoda
S. nucubiZis dapatimrebisa da misi
Targmnili nawyvetebis Sesaxeb. werilSi es
aRniSnuli araa, interviuSi ki S. nucubiZe
garkveviT ambobs, rom `ramdenime Tvis
Semdeg (dapatimrebis _ n. g.) i. b. stalini
dainteresda Cemi dapatimrebis gamomwvevi
was very diffcult for him to tell the poem chronologically. It
is natural because the plot is narrated after twenty seven
years. But this is not the main point. The scholars noted
that the process of the translation was very obscure.
According to him, he was arrested unexpectedly, and in a
few days he was exiled to Lubyanka, Moscow. Although
Nutsubidze did not write in the letter the reason of his
detention, according to the aforementioned interview:
I started to translate the frst chapters of the poem.
Everything was going well but according to the adverb,
Man proposes, god disposes. Soon after, I was arrested
by the initiative of B This person is deemed to be
Lavrentiy Beria. The letter was written in 1968. Nutsubidze
was arrested in order to study his personality, like many
other famous Georgians.
Although there was nothing said about Nutsubidzes
detention in Baramidzes essay, he had read Nutsubidzes
interview and testifed it as fact. Baramidzes letter was
not dated. But it was included in his Essays vol. V which
was published in 1971. It seems that everyone has avoided
speaking about this issue.
The card index passed on November 29, 1938 by the
Peoples Committee of Internal Affairs of State Security of
Georgian SSR is preserved in the Archive of the Ministry
of Internal Affairs.
1
According to the document, Shalva
Nutsubidze (son of Isak Nutsubidze) was born in 1888
in Partskhanakanebi village, Kutaisi region; address:
Persovskaya 6, Tbilisi; title scientist, PhD; professor
and the head of the department of the Stalin Tbilisi State
University; Former member of the Social-Federalist Party;
social status public servant; non-party; nationality
1
II Section of the archive of the MIA, f.8, op.14, d.209, p.12.
15
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mizezebiT da kidev ufro imiT, rom gaego
`vefxistyaosnis~ Targmnis ambavi~. cdamac
ar daayovna.
S. nucubiZe ixsenebs, rom erT dRes
gamoZaxebisas hkiTxes, `vefxistyaosnis~
Targmnis survili Tu hqonda. mecnieris
pasuxi amgvari gaxldaT: ` _ Tqven es
ratom gawuxebT? ra iciT amis Sesaxeb~.
S. nucubiZem maSin arc ki icoda,
rogor iyo dainteresebuli `didi
beladi~ misi naSromiT da, amdenad, im
periodisaTvis misi erTob gulubryvilo
SekiTxva savsebiT gulwrfelad JRerda.
am SekiTxvas mkafio pasuxi gasces,
rom yvelaferi icodnen TargmanTan
dakavSirebiT da auditoriebSi misi
sajaro kiTxvis Sesaxebac. maT yvelaferi
icodnen, yvelafers xedavdnen da
rac WkuaSi daujdebodaT, `erTob
lazaTianadac akeTebdnen~. maTi qmedebebis
Sedegi ki yovelTvis saxelmwifo
interesebis gaTvaliswinebiT aixsneboda,
undodaT _ gaaqrobdnen, undodaT _
acocxlebdnen. amgvari iyo diqtatori
stalinis saxelmwifoebrivi politika.
S. nucubiZes sapatimroSi acnobes, rom
`vefxistyaosnis~ Targmanis dasrulebis
saSualebas aZlevdnen. es SeTavazeba, ufro
sworad, `am frazis redaqcia~ mecniers
didad ar moewona, magram, rogorc
Tavad ambobs, `sxva gza ar iyo, Tanxmoba
ganvacxade~. patimari-mTargmnelisaTvis
situacia umalve Seicvala, meore dResve
mis kameraSi `vefxistyaosnis~ qarTuli
gamocema gaCnda da, Tqven warmoidgineT,
`sadili arestantebis sasadilodan ki ara,
TanamSromelTa sasadilodan~ miutanes,
ramac S. nucubiZec gaakvirva (am faqtis
aRniSvna amas mowmobs). mTargmnelisaTvis
`axali cxovreba daiwyo~. tyve nucubiZe
gulmodgined muSaobda Targmanze da
mTeli kviris manZilze Sesrulebuli misi
nakveTebi yovel SabaT dRes mihqondaT,
Tavad ar icoda _ sad. mxolod Semdgom
gaigo, rom stalini kiTxulobda mis
Targmanebs.
S. nucubiZis interviuSi kvlavac
saintereso faqtebi fiqsirdeba.
mTargmneli stalinTan gamoiZaxes
kremlSi, `mis binaze~. es ukve didi
pativi gaxldaT, saknidan _ pirdapir
kremlSi, Tanac mTavarsardalTan. amgvari
keTilganwyoba S. nucubiZis brwyinvale
Targmanebis damsaxureba iyo. aseT
Georgian; citizenship Soviet Union; arrest date 31. VIII.
1938; he was accused based on Article 58-10, 58-11; On
December 1, 1938 his case was submitted to the NKVD of
Moscow. According to the resolution No.26/8/44901 passed
by NKVD the case was closed and he was released.
Nutsubidze was accused of sabotage based on Article
58.10 of the Criminal Code which would have guaranteed
a minimum three years in isolation. Hereby it is noted that if
the sabotage damages the state, the article guarantees the
death penalty. The professor was accused of the activity
against the working people and revolutionary movement
based on Article 58.11. Many innocent persons were
arrested and trialed based on this article under Stalins
regime.
According to Nutsubidzes letter, the following
items were confscated when he was detained: the book
The Knight in the Panthers Skin, the extracts from the
translation, and explanatory essays concerning the poem.
Soon after the detention both new hosts and unexpected
guest forgot about those items. The detained translator
added: Anyway nobody troubled me concerning the
essays (p.7). Later, it became clear that Stalin did not
forget the translators works. He thought about a worthy
translation of The Knight in the Panthers Skin. He did
not like the translation made by K. Balmont. Stalin had a
thousand eyes and ears and of course, he knew all about
Nutsubidzes detention and about his works. According to
Nutsubidzes interview, A few months after the detention
J. B. Stalin became interested in the case and in the
translation of the Knight in the Panthers Skin. The
opportunity was not long in coming.
Nutsubidze remembered that one day he was called
16
damokidebulebas stalinis RimiliT
naTqvami frazac amowmebda: `rogor aris
Tqveni da rusTavelis ambavi?~. didi
iumoris grZnobam, aqac ar uRalata
S. nucubiZes da stalins moswrebuli
pasuxi RimiliTve gasca: ` _ rogoraa da
ager rva Tvea patimrobaSi vimyofebiT
orive~. stalinma mTargmnels hkiTxa,
muSaobisaTvis xelsayreli pirobebi Tu
hqonda, misi Semdgomi patimrobis ambis
`garkvevas~ dahpirda da `iqve mdgom b...
miubrunda: _ xeli SeuwyveT, daexmareT,
es saWiroa, Zalian saWiroa...~. beria,
S. nucubiZis saqmeSi (iseve rogorc
yvela sxva saxelmwifoebriv ambavsa da
movlenaSi) pirdapir iyo CarTuli da
`vefxistyaosnis~ Targmnis procesis
uSualo Tvalyurmadevari gaxldaT.
misTvis, mxolod stalinis miTiTeba
iyo saWiro da dakisrebul movaleobas
pirnaTlad asrulebda.
S. nucubiZis werili kidev erT,
metad saintereso epizods gvawvdis.
patimar-mTargmnels erT dRes
qobulovma aseTi ambavi moutana,
Turme stalins erTi Tavisi
`didi TanamSromlisTvis~
ukiTxavs, Tu icoda, SaSvi
ra frinveli iyo. `didi
TanamSromeli~ (albaT, beria),
rogorc Cans, ver Caswvda
stalinis metaforuli SekiTxvis
dedaazrs, pirdapir gaigo misi
naTqvami da martivi pasuxi
gasca, rom maTs mxareSi bevri
SaSvi iyo, xSirad enaxa da
moesmina kidec. stalini `didi
TanamSromlis~ miuxvedrelobam
ver SeaCera, mobaases ar moeSva
da hkiTxa: `galiaSi momRerali
SaSvi Tu mogismenia?~ (furc.
8). amgvarma kiTxvam daabnia
mopasuxe, kvlavac ver amoicno
stalinis miniSneba. beladma
ufro daakonkreta saTqmeli
da ganagrZo: ` _ arc kameraSi
momRerali mgosani arsebobs?
Tu marTlac gsurs miiRo
rusTavelis poemis Targmani _
gauSvi is galiidan, romelSic
Sen amRereb~. (iqve)
aRniSnuli dialogidan Cans,
rom am `did TanamSromels~
TiTqos ar undoda
and asked if he wanted to translate the poem. The scholar
said in reply: Why do you worry about it? What do you
know about it? Nutsubidzes questions sounded sincere
because he did not know that Stalin was very interested
in his translation. His questions were answered defnitely,
that they knew everything about the translation and
about the fact that he read the extracts of the poem in
the lecture-halls. They knew everything, saw everything
and did everything that was acceptable. They could save
or execute anyone in the state's interests. This was state
political ideology of Stalin.
Nutsubidze was informed in prison that he would be
given a chance to fnish his translation of The Knight in the
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`vefxistyaosnis~ axali Targmanis
Sesruleba-dasruleba da arc `galiaSi
datyvevebuli~ da `kameraSi momRerali
mgosnis~ gaSveba, TiTqos, mxolod masze
iyo damokidebuli tyve-mTargmnelis
bedi. beriasaTvis stalinis sityva iyo
gadamwyveti da beladis es SefarviT
naTqvami erTgvari sanqcia gaxldaT. aq
mniSvnelovania kidev erTi garemoeba.
rogorc Cans, stalinma S. nucubiZes
gamosacdeli dro misca, rogor
gaarTmevda igi Tavs Targmans, amaze iyo
misi sikvdil-sicocxle damokidebuli.
da rogorc qarTvelTa warmarTul
kerp armazs, romelsac xelT epyra
lesuli xmali da erTi moqneviT SeeZlo
sikvdilad ganewira Semcode msaxuri,
kerpadqceul stalinsa da misi reJimsac
sikvdilis celi mudam mzadyofnaSi
hqondaT; mxolod erTi gansxvavebiT,
armaz kerpi SemcodeT uspobda
sicocxles, sabWoeTis beladi da misi
qveSevrdomni _ udanaSauloTac ar
indobdnen da Tvaldauxamxameblad
ubnelebdnen mzes, dedabudianad
aqrobdnen maTs saxsenebels. amdenad,
S. nucubiZes bewvis xidze unda
gaevlo. karg kacs ki, rogorc ilia
WavWavaZe Tavis personaJs, oTaraanT
qvrivs aTqmevinebs, `aduRebul
kupris zRvazed~ gadebuli bewvis
xidi ar Cauwydeba, `madli mxrebSi
Seujdeba da gaatarebs~. marTlac,
nucubiZiseuli Targmanebis
saguldagulo wakiTxvis Semdeg
beladisaTvis patimari nucubiZe
`momReral SaSvad~, mgosnad iqca,
romelic TavisuflebaSi ufro laRad
da turfad igalobebda. da rodesac
nucubiZisaTvis `ganTavisuflebis
imedi TandaTan qreboda~, swored maSin
qobulovma stalinis gankarguleba
acnoba misi gaTavisuflebis Sesaxeb,
mxolod erTi pirobiT _ poemis
Targmna garkveul vadaSi unda
daesrulebina, cixeSi iqneboda es,
Tu cixis gareT, `molaparakebaze~
iyo damokidebuli. Zneli aRmoCnda
S. nucubiZisaTvis am pirobaze
pasuxis gacema. im periodisaTvis mas
`vefxistyaosani~ sanaxevrod hqonda
Targmnili, `mainc gabeda~ da misi
dasrulebisaTvis weliwadnaxevris
vada daasaxela. qobulovs Turme
Panthers Skin. Although he did not like the suggestion,
I had to agree. Next day conditions in prison were
improved for imprisoned translator. The original of the
poem was brought in his cell. Nutsubidze was surprised
at the following fact: I was served with staff food and not
prisoners' food. A new life had begun for the translator.
He worked hard during the week and on Sundays his
translations were taken. Later he learned that Stalin read
his works.
There are many interesting facts in Nutsubidzes
interview. These are as follows: The translator was
called to Stalins fat in the Kremlin. It was a great honor
18
gaukvirda patimris pasuxi, radgan igi
mTargmnels `Tavisuflebas uzRudavda~. am
molaparakebis Semdeg qobulovma nucubiZe
gaaTavisufla da Taviseburi, magram udavo
WeSmariteba rCeva-darigebis saxiT miawoda:
`gaxsovdes, rom rusTavelis Targmna iyo
da aris Seni gadarCenis piroba~ (iqve).
es sityvebi adastureben zemoaRniSnul
azrs, rom S. nucubiZe `vefxistyaosnis~
nawyvetebis Targmanis wyalobiT erTxel
ukve gadaurCa sikvdils (Targmani
iyo gadarCenis piroba) da Targmanis
dasrulebac SeunarCunebda sicocxles
(Targmani aris gadarCenis piroba).
sapatimrodan gaTavisuflebuli S.
nucubiZe sokolnikSi daasaxles. Tumca,
misTvis sacxovreblad miCenili adgili,
cixesa da sagiJes Soris, SemoqmedebiTi
saqmianobisaTvis da fsiqologiuradac
metad mZime iyo. amaze metyvelebs S.
nucubiZis eqspromti, romelic man masTan
sanaxavad misul konstantine gamsaxurdias
mimarTa:
iqiT cixe da aqeT sagiJe
aha riT marTobs me es sofeli,
vdgevar maT Soris Seupovari,
vxarxareb, rogorc mefistofeli.
ramdenad didi tragizmis, tkivilis,
mwuxarebis, magram amasTanave sulieri
SemarTebis, Seupovrobis gamomxatvelia es
striqonebi. mTargmneli gaaTavisufles,
ufro sworad, Tavisuflebis iluzia
Seuqmnes, magram mainc damTrgunveli
sivrciT SemozRudes, raTa mudmivad
`sagangebo meTvalyureebis~ garemoSi
egrZno Tavi da mudmivad xsomeboda
Tavisi `gadarCenis piroba~. S. nucubiZe
imasac aRniSnavs, rom im garemoSi
Targmani sasurveli tempiT ver midioda
da `sagangebo meTvalyureebi xandisxan
keTili surviliTac aCqarebdnen~.
`vefxistyaosnis~ Targmna, rogorc S.
nucubiZis werilidan vigebT, man 1939 wlis
pirveli maisis moaxlovebisken daasrula.
poemis sruli Targmani stalins
gaugzavna, romelmac, rogorc SemdgomSi
gairkva, didi yuradRebiT waikiTxa
teqsti. S. nucubiZes amis Semdgom Targmani
aRar unaxavs, vidre stalinma stamburad
awyobili teqstis saboloo koreqtura ar
daiwyo.
Tavis interviuSi S. nucubiZe ambobs,
rom igi meored gamoiZaxes kremlSi,
sadac `sxva qarTveli amxanagebic iyvnen
for the prisoner. He won Stalins favor with his excellent
translation. The great leader testifed his goodwill toward
Nutsubidze with the following phrase: How is your
Rustaveli? Nutsubidze replied with a smile: We have been
imprisoned for already eight months. Stalin wondered if
the translator had appropriate conditions to work, promised
him to examine his case and addressed to B. (Beria)
who was standing nearby: Assist him, help him, it is very
important! Beria was involved in Nutsubidzes case (like
everything else going on in the state). He observed the
process of translating the poem. It was enough for him to
get instructions from Stalin.
Another interesting episode can be learned from
Nutsubidzes letter. The imprisoned translator was told
by Kobulov that Stalin asked one of his high offcials if he
knew what kind of bird a thrush was. This high offcial was
probably Beria. He did not understand the metaphorical
question and thus he replied the he had seen the thrush
and heard his singing many times. Stalin continued and
asked: Have you ever listened to the thrush singing in the
cage? (p.8). Beria was confused. Stalin continued: Have
you ever listened to the poet singing in the cell? If you
really want to have a good translation of the Rustaveli, let
him go from the cell wherein you make him sing (ibid).
It is clear from the aforementioned dialogue that Beria
did not want to release the translator to fnish his work.
Stalins instructions were a sanction to Beria. Noteworthy
was another factor. Stalin gave Nutsubidze trial period for
translating the poem. His future fate depended on it.
Armazi was a Georgian idol holding a saber that
was ready to kill anyone who trespassed. Stalin was
like this idol. His scythe has always been ready to kill
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miwveulni~. stalinma yvelas gasagonad
Tqva:
, ,
.
(`aqamde me vicnobdi petrenkos karg
Targmans, magram es ara marto Targmania,
aramed saukeTeso literaturuli
nawarmoebi~). beladis es sityvebi ukve
didi aRiareba iyo da mTargmnelisTvis
_ erTgvari xelSeuxeblobis garanti.
aRniSnuli Sexvedrisas stalinma S.
nucubiZes ori taepis sakuTari Targmani
SesTavaza (am SemTxvevaSi igi ar
eTanxmeboda mTargmnelis striqonebs) da
Tu masac moewoneboda, saCuqrad mieRo. es
gaxldaT qajeTis cixis aRebis epizodidan
1413-e (1414-e)
1
strofis (nucubiZis
TargmanSi 1416-e strofis) pirveli ori
taepi:
anazdad cxeni gaqusles, maTraxman
Seqmna wriali.
ra naxnes, karni gaaxvnes, qalaqiT
gaxda zriali.
staliniseuli Targmani _
,
, , ,
, .
S. nucubiZe am faqtTan dakavSirebiT
wers: `Zlier gamaxara misma didma
yuradRebam da gulisxmierebam, da, ra Tqma
unda, miviRe misi saCuqari, miT umetes,
rom misi es striqonebi ufro zusti da
poeturi iyo, vidre Cemi...~. SesaZloa asec
iyo, magram isic unda gaviTvaliswinoT,
am Targmanis avtori, vin iyo, gana didi
beladis poetur sityvas vinme daiwunebda?
am taepebis nucubiZiseuli Targmani
ar SemorCenila da, amdenad, Sedarebis
saSualeba ar gveZleva. yovel SemTxvevaSi,
mTargmnels is moewona da sakuTars
amjobina. S. nucubiZe aqve dasZens, rom:
`... stalini Zlier poeturi bunebis
adamiani iyo da, rac ufro gasaocaria,
poeturoba erwymoda mZlavr da naTel
azrovnebas~. Cveni mxriv, unda davZinoT,
rom `vards gaefurCqna kokoris avtorma~,
stalinma, am taepTa TargmanSi Tavisi
poeturi niWi kvlavac gamoavlina
da amjerad, sakuTar `xelovnebaSi~,
ostatobaSi darwmunebulma, rusTavelis
Targmnac `gabeda~.
S. nucubiZis werilSi, misi
1
SoTa rusTaveli, `vefxistyaosani~, red. a. SaniZe, a. baramiZe, I,
gamomc. `mecniereba~, Tb., 1966. SemdgomSi teqsts amave redaqciidan
davimowmebT.
anyone. But there was one difference between Armazis
saber and Stalins scythe. While Armazis saber killed
those who were guilty of something, Stalins scythe
destroyed innocent people. For this reason, Nutsubidze
was on the razors edge. According to Otaraant Kvrivi (Ilia
Chavchavadzes character), Clemency will help a good
man to cross the razors edge over boiling tar. Indeed,
having read Nutsubidzes translation Stalin realized that
this person should be free. When Nutsubidze did not have
hope Kobulov informed him Stalins resolution about his
release. Nutsubidze had to fnish the translation either in
prison or out. It was very hard for the translator to give
the defnite answer because he had only translated half of
the poem. He said that it would take him one year and a
half to fnish his work. Kobulov was surprised at his reply
because it restricted the translators freedom. Kobulov let
him go and advised as follows: Remember that translating
the Rustaveli was and will be the term for your survival
(ibid). These words testifed to the fact that Nutsubidze
had previously survived by translating the extract from the
Knight in the Panthers Skin.
Nutsubidze settled in Sokolniki after he had been
released from prison. But the living conditions there were
very poor for him because he lived between the prison and
mad-house. He addressed to Konstantine Gamsakhurdia
who visited him with the rhyme:
Here is prison, there mad-house,
The fate gifted them and made me amuse,
Standing bravely between them here,
I am laughing as Mephistopheles.
These lines exposed his trouble, and at the same time
they exposed his high morale. The translator was released
20
interviusagan gansxvavebiT, aRniSnuli
ambebi (kremlSi misi meored misvla
da stalinis mier sakuTari Targmanis
SeTavazeba) sxvagvaradaa gadmocemuli.
S. nucubiZis TqmiT, rodesac is
lubiankaze gamoCnda, mas `maspinZelma~-
beriam rusul enaze cisferi fanqriT,
dawerili stalinis werili gadasca.
es dokumenti beriasadmi iyo miwerili.
S. nucubiZe fiqrobs, rom am adresats
(berias) stalinma werilis misTvis Cveneba
daavala. ai es werilic:
,

.
,
,
.
,
14-16.
.
(`ukanasknel dromde me vfiqrobdi, rom
rusul enaze rusTavelis Targmani _
es petrenkos Targmani iyo. nucubiZis
Targmanis gacnobis Semdeg me vTvli, rom
igi ara marto ukeTesia petrenkoze, aramed
TavisTavad RirSesaniSnav literaturul
movlenas warmoadgens. nucubiZis
Targmanidan me mxolod erTi adgili
ar momewona, 14-16. me am adgilis Cems
Sesworebas vTavazob. kargi saukeTesoTi
unda Seicvalos~) (furc.10).
werilidan cxadad Cans, rom stalins
sakuTari Targmani saukeTesod miaCnda.
beladi, rogorc Tavisi mravalmxrivi
`moRvaweobis~ yovel sferoSi, am
asparezzec saukeTesod Tvlida Tavs.
S. nucubiZem es dokumenti stalinis
nebarTviT gadawera, sxvagvarad ar
SeiZleboda.
S. nucubiZis werili stalinTan
gagzavnili `vefxistyaosnis~ Targmanis
Semdgom istoriasac mogviTxrobs. rogorc
ukve aRvniSneT, patimrobaSi myofi S.
nucubiZis mier mTeli kviris manZilze
Sesrulebuli Targmanis nawyvetebi
stalinTan mihqondaT. amdenad, stalini
Targmanze muSaobis procesSi iyo CarTuli
da misi yoveli sityva gazomil-awonili
hqonda. Tavad mTargmneli werilSi ambobs,
rom sabolood dasrulebuli Targmani
`stalinis mier koreqtirebul Tu
redaqtirebul teqsts iZleva~(furc. 9).
poemis nucubiZiseuli Targmani 1940
but he was settled in the place that would always remind
him of the terms for his survival. Nutsubidze said that the
surroundings hindered him from working fast. Moreover, the
so-called well-wishers fastened him.
According to Nutsubidzes letter, he fnished
translating The Knight in the Panthers Skin in the early
May, 1939. He sent the translation to Stalin who read
carefully the whole poem. Nutsubidze saw his translation
when Stalin started to edit the imprinted text.
According to Nutsubidzes interview, he was called to
the Kremlin with other Georgian friends. Stalin said aloud:
I have read P. Petrenkos translation. But this version is the
best work of literature. These words were great acclaim
that guaranteed immunity to the translator. Stalin did not
like only two lines of the translation and proposed his
version to Nutsubidze. The extract was from the episode of
capturing the fortress, the 1413-1414
th
strophe (according
1941 wlis gamocema
The edition of 1941
21
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wlis 22 noembers stambas asawyobad
gadaeca da uswrafesad, erTi Tvis Semdeg,
gamocemis sasignalo egzemplari mzad
iyo. gamocemisaTvis saboloo dasturis
misaRebad egzemplari stalins (dabadebis
dReze) 21 dekembers miarTves. S. nucubiZe
am periodis Sesaxeb aRniSnavs, rom ar
unda dagvaviwydes, `meore msoflio omi
ukve dawyebuli iyo da sabWoTa kavSiris
sazRvrebTan igrZnoboda denTis suni~.
miuxedavad amisa, stalinma saguldagulod
Seamowma gamocema. S. nucubiZis Targmans
igi kargad icnobda, amitom gamocemis
sasignalo egzemplaris teqsts xeli
ar axlo, gaformeba ki Seamowma. man
satitulo furclis teqsti sakuTari
xeliT Caaswora, kerZod, sadac aRniSnuli
iyo _ ` ~, Tavisi
xeliT Cawera _ `
~. aq xazgasmulia sityva
, xolo forma
Secvlilia formiT . TargmanSi
poemis saxelwodebaa
. amasTan dakavSirebiT S. nucubiZe
Tavis werilSi aRniSnavs, rom `erTi
udidesi saredaqcio saqme stalinisa
aris didi xnis ganmavlobaSi gaurkveveli
saTauris SesaniSnavi gaformeba, rasac
xSirad mis winamorbedTa xelSi maxinji
xasiaTi hqonda, am mxriv daxvewili
xasiaTi misca `v. tyaosnis~ saxelwodebas
ucxo enebzedac~ (furc. 10-11). rogorc
Cans, stalins poemis saTaurzec umuSavia,
manamde arsebuli rusuli Targmanebis
saxelwodebebisaTvis (` ~,
` ~, `,
~, ` ()
~, `
~) `daxvewili xasiaTi~ miucia.
stalins mizanSewonilad miuCnevia, rom
aReniSnaT Txzulebis Janric da saTauris
qveS dauweria _ ` ~, raTa
mkiTxvels Txzulebaze imTaviTve sruli
warmodgena Seqmnoda. stalinsve xazebis
meSveobiT miuniSnebia da ganusazRvravs
Sriftebis Senacvlebis aucilebloba
(gansxvavebulia poemis avtoris, poemis
saxelwodebisa da Janris aRmniSvneli
Sriftis zomebi), teqstis abzacebad
dalagebac misi naxelavia. faqtobrivad,
stalinma satitulo furclis teqsti
Tavidan Seadgina, mTeli es teqsti Tavisi
xeliT gadaitana ydaze, romelzec warwera
saerTod ar yofila gaTvaliswinebuli.
to Nutsubidzes translation the 1416
th
strophe).
1
This is
Stalins version:
, ,
, , ,
.
(Suddenly horses have jerked forward, lashes have
whistled in a trice,
Horses ran along the city, they were howling and
squealing).
Nutsubidze remembered this fact as follows: I was
very glad of his version. Moreover, it was more poetic and
nearer to the original than mine. Perhaps it was right but
we must take into consideration the fact that nobody would
have dared to condemn Stalins translation. Unfortunately
we do not have Nutsubidzes version of these lines to be
compared with Stalins version. However, the translator
approved Stalins translation and preferred it to his own.
1
Shota Rustaveli, The Knight in the Panthers Skin, editor and proof reading A.
Shanidze, A. Baramidze, Publishing-house Science, 1966, Tbilisi
22
sasignalo egzemplaris satitulo
gverdis Casworebis Semdeg, stalinma
gamocemaSi CarTul ilustraciebsac
mixeda. gamocemis satitulo furclis
gverdiT ganTavsebuli ziCis suraTi
_ avTandili ucqers tarielisa
da asmaTis Seyras gamoqvabulSi _
stalins am adgilisTvis Seufereblad
miuCnevia, radgan poemis arss, mTavar
ideas igi ar gamoxatavda; amitomac
lurji fanqriT aSiaze miuweria:
(`ar Seefereba~). marTlac,
stalinis es koreqtivi pirvel gamocemaSi
gaiTvaliswines, aRniSnuli suraTi
teqstis Sesabamis adgilas moaTavses
(TavSi _ `avTandilisagan mis ymisa Zebnad
wasvla~), xolo frontispisi ziCisave
sxva suraTiT _ nestanisa da tarielis
Seyra qajeTis cixeSi _ daamSvenes.
gamomcemlebs gauTvaliswinebiaT stalinis
kidev erTi SeniSvna-survili, kerZod,
ziCis suraTis aSiaze _ `naxes ucxo moyme
vinme...~ _ misi minaweri:
? (`sad aris
mdevrebTan gasworebis ilustracia?~)
da amave Tavis bolos daurTes ziCisave
ilustracia, rogor uswordeba
dadevnebul mdevrebs amxedrebuli
tarieli Tavisi maTraxiT. Cans, stalins
moswonda ziCis ilustraciebi, radgan
gamocema umeteswilad ungreli mxatvris
namuSevrebiTaa dasuraTebuli (pirvel
gamocemaSi ziCis sxva suraTebic
CaurTavT). amas garda, poemis sasignalo
gamocema gaformebuli iyo s. qobulaZisa
da i. ToiZis ilustraciebiT. stalinma
aqac Seitana cvlileba, man jvaredinad
gadaxaza s. qobulaZis suraTi _
`Seyra tarielisa da avTandilisa~
(gamoqvabulSi). es suraTi Semdgom imave
ambis amsaxveli ziCiseuli namuSevriT
Caanacvles.
sainteresoa stalinis kidev erTi
SeniSvna, romelic man i. ToiZis suraTis
_ `sami Zmadnafici gmiri qajeTis
cixesTan~ _ aSiaze miawera:
(`aq ar Cans
vefxvis tyavi~), ganmartebis Semdeg
Tavadve gadaxaza, radgan suraTze,
Tumca bundovnad, magram Canda tarielis
abjarze mosxmuli vefxvis tyavi.
rogorc Cans, stalins (aseve i.
ToiZes) mxedvelobidan gamorCa is faqti,
rom qajeTis cixis aRebisas tarieli
Nutsubidze added that Stalin was very poetical and bright-
minded. Stalin believed in his ability as he had written a
song Vards gaepurchkna kokori (Rose in full bud). For this
reason, he dared to translate the Rustaveli.
Nutsubidzes letter offers a different version of this
23
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vefxistyaosani raindi aRaraa, arc teqstis
mixedviT da arc ideurad. Cveni azriT,
1

tarielis vefxistyaosnoba dasrulda
maSin, rodesac mas avTandilma qajeTis
cixidan gamogzavnili nestanis werili
da ridis nakveTi miutana, roca tarielis
sulSi imedi Caisaxa, erTaderTi gza
sicocxlisaken _ nestanisaken.
tarielis vefxistyaosnobis
dasasruli, poemis mixedviT, emTxveva
gmirTa mier devTa saWurWlidan
amoRebuli sabrZolo jaWv-muzaradiT
aRkazmvas:
TviToman TviTo Caicves, Tavis Tavs
gamoscdidian (1370);
Tqves: `ese niSnad gveyofis, varTo kargiTa
bediTa,
RmerTman mogvxedna TvaliTa, zegardmo
monaxediTa~ (1371).
amdenad, i. ToiZis suraTze
abjarasxmuli tarielis vefxvis tyaviT
Semosva da am mimarTebiT stalinis
SeniSvnac, Cveni azriT, safuZvels
moklebulia.
aRniSnul gamocemaSi stalinma
ucvlelad datova i. ToiZis ilustraciebi
_ `tarielisa da vefxis Sebma~, `vaWrad
1
ix. Cveni werili _ `SoTa rusTavelis poemis saTauris
saxismetyveleba~, macne (els), Tb., 2000, N1 4, gv. 30-52
story. When Nutsubidze appeared in Lubyanka Beria gave
him the letter written by Stalin in Russian in a blue pencil.
Although the letter was addressed to Beria, Nutsubidze
thought that Stalin told Beria to show the letter to
Nutsubidze. The letter was as follows: I have thought so
far that the best Russian version of the Rustaveli was made
by Petrenko. But having read Nutsubidzes translation I
changed my mind. I think that it is better. Moreover, it is
masterpiece of literature. I did not like only one place and
offer him my version. Good should be replaced with best
(p.10).
According to these words, Stalin deemed his
translation best alike to all the felds he worked. Nutsubidze
under Stalins favor rewrote the letter.
The letter of Nutsubidze tells also the aftermath of
the story. Nutsubidzes works were sent to Stalin weekly.
Thus, Stalin was involved in the process. According to the
translators letter, Stalin did editing and proofreading of his
24
gadacmuli avTandili gulanSaroSi~ da s.
qobulaZis naxati _ `nestani werils wers
qajeTis cixeSi~.
poemis erTaderTi sasignalo
egzemplari (1940 w.) stalinma Tavisi
xeliT gakeTebuli SesworebebiT S.
nucubiZes aCuqa. wigni daSlil budeSia
Casmuli, aqvs warwera: ` .
. S. nucubiZis
xeliT minaweri gvamcnobs:
. ,
. ,
21.VII .41. . . am anderZ-
minaweridan Cans, rom S. nucubiZe 53
wlis asakSi ukve sikvdilze fiqrobda.
man kargad icoda, rom dazRveuli
arafrisgan ar iyo. stalinis mowonebul
da misgan `xeldasxmul~ Targmansac
SesaZloa, SemdgomSi ver gadaerCina,
an janmrTelobas eRalata. yovel
SemTxvevaSi, igi sicocxleSive zrunavda
poemis sasignalo egzemplarze,
romelic misTvis, rogorc Cans, Zalze
mniSvnelovani da Zvirfasi iyo.
1941 wels gamoqveynda
`vefxistyaosnis~ nucubiZiseuli rusuli
Targmani, romelSic gaTvaliswinebuli
iyo stalinis yvela SeniSvna-Sesworeba.
wignis garekani momwvano-Tambaqosferi
xaverdovani qsovilisaa, ornamentebiTaa
SemosazRvruli, SuagulSi Sav fonze
rusTavelis portretia moTavsebuli,
romlis zeda da qveda mxares stalinis
Sedgenili teqsti ( ,
,
,
) ikiTxeba. wignis redaqtoria
poeti sergei gorodecki. Targmans win
uZRvis werili gamomcemlobisagan da
mTargmnelis winasityvaoba. aqve unda
aRiniSnos is garemoeba, rom stalinma
saxelmwifo-saliteraturo gamomcemlobis
(`gosizdatis~) direqtor p. Cagins miswera:
,
(`moviTxov,
rom Cemi saxeli `vefxistyaosnis~
winasityvaobaSi ar ixseniebodes~) (furc.
10). S. nucubiZis azriT, es stalinis
`mokrZalebis~ da `keTilSobili~ poziciis
maCvenebeli iyo. amitom, gaiTvaliswina
ra stalinis es moTxovna, S. nucubiZem
winasityvaobis bolos madloba gadauxada,
mxolod s. gorodeckis, s. qavTaraZesa
da n. tixonovs, rogorc misi Targmanis
translation (p.9).
On November 22, 1940 the translation was transferred
to the printing-house. An advance copy was ready in a
month's time. It was presented to Stalin on December
21 (his birthday) to be approved. Nutsubidze noted that
We must remember that it was time when the World War
Second had already begun. However, Stalin examined
the edition. He knew the text very well. For this reason, he
only examined its design and made a few corrections in
the imprint. These were as follows: Instead of Translation
Shalva Nutsubidze he wrote Translation Georgian
Shalva Nutsubidze; The poem was entitled The hero in
tigers skin. Nutsubidze said that Stalin improved Russian
versions of the poem. (` ~, `
~, `, ~, `
() ~, `
~); Stalin considered to indicate the genre under
the title A rhymed poem; He also demanded the poems
25
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redaqtorebs. marTalia, S. nucubiZem
Seasrula stalinis moTxovna, misi saxeli
redaqtorTa rigebSi ar daasaxela,
magram beladma ucdomelad icoda, rom
S. nucubiZis Targmanis gamocemasTan
dakavSirebiT mis saxels istoria Tavis
furclebze aucileblad Cawerda, rac
aRsrulda kidec.
S. nucubiZe werilis dasasruls
saubrobs `vefxistyaosnis~ daboloebis
(gagrZelebebis _ indo-xataelTa,
xvarazmelTa ambebis) sakiTxTan
dakavSirebiT stalinis poziciis
Sesaxeb. werilis es adgili bundovania,
TiTqos azri wydeba, magram mainc
SesaZlebelia garkveuli Sexedulebis
gamokveTa. aRniSnulia, rom `stalini
mxars uWers xataelTa brZolis orive
etaps da xvarazmelTa epizods. amiT
sabolood gamorkveulia _ ras uWers
mxars rusTavelis poemis aRnagobaSi da
sazogadod rogoria misi pretenziebi,
riTac sabolood gamorkveulia `v.
t.~ formis sakiTxi~ (iqve). S. nucubiZe
Tvlis, rom aRniSnul epizodTa poemisgan
mowyveta, maT winaaRmdeg wasvla
(aseTi Sexedulebis mqone mecnierebi
mravlad iyvnen da dResac arian) `aSkara
antistalinuri nabijebi~ iyo. mTargmneli
werilSive dasZens, rom muSaobda
xvarazmelTa epizodis rusul Targmanze.
poemis SedgenilobasTan dakavSirebiT
stalinis pozicia manamdec iyo
fiqsirebuli. rogorc ukve aRvniSneT,
swored stalinis miTiTebiT k. balmontis
TargmanSi CaurTavT indo-xataelTa ambavi,
romelic e. tarlovskaias aTargmnines.
yovelive zemoTqmulis Sedegad irkveva,
rom stalins `vefxistyaosnis~ Targmanis
gamocemasTan dakavSirebiT TiTqmis yvela
mimarTulebiT gamoumJRavnebia Tavisi
niWis mravalmxrivoba da aRubeWdavs
Tavisi kvali, es saTauris Targmna iqneba,
satitulo gverdis gaformeba (Sriftis
zomis CaTvliT), ilustraciebis SerCeva
da maTi adgilis gansazRvra, Tu Tavad
TargmanSi sakuTari `saukeTeso~ ori
taepis CarTva. gasakviri isaa, rom Tavisi
naxati, magaliTad, rusTavelis portreti,
ar Seutania am gamocemaSi. stalinis
mxatvrobis niWTan dakavSirebiT rusi
sabWoTa poeti _ demian bedni, ixsenebs:
`stalini Tavis axalgazrdobaSi, avlenda
ra dRes CvenTvis yvelasaTvis cnobil
author, title and genre to be written in different type; He
divided the text into paragraphs; In fact, Stalin wrote the
text for the imprint and he himself wrote it on the cover.
Having made these changes, Stalin examined the
illustrations. Stalin did not like Avtandil presents the
meeting of Tariel and Asmat in the cave major illustration
by Zichy. He said that it did not express the key idea
of the poem. He wrote on the margin in a blue pencil:
Unsuitable. Stalins note was taken into consideration and
this illustration was attached to an appropriate page. The
key illustration was Avtandil goes in search of his friend.
The frontispiece was covered with an illustration by Zichy
Meeting of Tariel and Nestan in Kajets Fortress. Stalin
noted on the margin as follows: And where is a fghting
scene? For this reason, one illustration by Zichy was
added to one of the chapters. Stalin liked the illustrations
performed by Hungarian artist Zichy. The advance copy
was illustrated also by S. Kobuladze and I. Toidze. Stalin
crossed the illustration of Kobuladze Meeting of Tariel and
Avtandil in the cave. This episode was replaced by the
illustration of Zichy.
Stalins note (The tigers skin cant be seen) which
he made on the margin of the illustration Three adopted
brothers at Kajebis fortress by I. Toidze is also important.
Later, he crossed his note because the tigers skin was
over Tarils armor in the illustration.
Perhaps Stalin and I. Toidze did not pay attention to
the fact that Tariel was no longer the knight in the panthers
skin when the Kajebis fortress was captured. We consider
that Tariel fnished his activity as the knight in the panthers
skin when Avtandil gave him Nestans letter.
1

1
See our letter The title of Shota Rustavelis Poem, Herald, 2000, Tbilisi, No.1-4, pp.
30-52.
26
siyvaruls xelovnebisadmi, literaturisa
da mxatvrobisadmi, Tavad cdilobda
xatvas da rogorc amas mowmobs erT-erTi
dabeWdili mogoneba stalinze, kargad
xatavda. kargi portretebi gamodioda. da
visi portreti daxata pirvelad stalinma?
rusTavelis portreti!~
1
sagulisxmoa, rom
amave werilSi d. bedni saubrobs stalinis
mWermetyvelur ostatobasa da `usazRvro
Tvalsawierze~ da yovelive amas, mxolod
misTvis damaxasiaTebel `stalinur
stils~ uwodebs. Tu gaviTvaliswinebT,
rom es sityva rusTavelis saiubileo
dReebSia warmoTqmuli, stalinis
rusTavelTan damokidebulebas exeba da
am gadasaxedidan beladis `usazRvro
Tvalsawiers~ warmoaCens, raoden
sagulisxmoa d. bednis Semdegi sityvebi:
`aseTi stili _ `stalinuri stili~
_ SeiZleba gamoWediliyo mTeli
msoflio klasikuri literaturis iseTi
gamaognebeli mcodnisagan, rogorsac,
rogorc es yvelasaTvis cnobilia,
warmoadgens amxanagi stalini. rusuli,
qarTuli, ukrainuli da Cveni sxva
xalxis klasika stalinisaTvis cnobilia,
rogorc sxva aravisaTvis. mxolod mas
erTs SesaZloa micemuli hqonoda _
agreTve klasikuri _ mwerlebisa da
literaturis gansazRvra~ (iqve). im epoqaSi
es iyo ara mxolod demian bednis, aramed
mTeli sabWoeTis adamianebis `usazRvro
Tvalsawieri~ amxanagi stalinis Sesaxeb.
amdenad, rusTavelis `vefxistyaosnis~
rusuli Targmanis gamocemis redaqtor-
koreqtoroba, misi poeturi sityvis,
Sedgenilobis, gaformebis da nebismieri
sxva detalis gansazRvra (iseve rogorc
yvela Janris, maT Soris `klasikuris,
mwerlebisa da literaturis gansazRvra~)
mxolod da mxolod mas erTs, `stalinuri
stilis~ mqone stalins Tu xelewifeboda.
narkvevis dasawyisSi aRvniSneT,
rom S. nucubiZe werilSi im periodis
ambebis qronologiuri sizustiT
gadmocemas rTul saqmed miiCnevs. mas
Semdeg xom 27 welia gasuli, Tavad
mTxrobeli ki ukve 80 wlisaa, sabediswero
sneulebiT Sepyrobili. aRniSnuli
garemoeba xelnawersac emCneva. igi
mozrdili asoebiTaa gamoyvanili, naweri
fermkrTalia, erTgan azri wydeba,
zogan sityvaa gamotovebuli, xandaxan
1
d. bedni, `yvelaze Zvirfasi mogoneba~, gaz. ` ~, 1937,
#299, 29 dekemberi, gv. 2
For this reason, the illustration of Tariel by Toidze
is not adequate to the poem because he is in armor and
panthers skin at the same time.
Stalin did not change Toidzes following illustrations:
Fight between Tariel and the Tiger, and The story of
Avtandils Arrival in Gulansharo, and S. Kobuladzes
illustration Nestan writes a letter in Kajebis Fortress.
In 1940 Stalin gave the only advanced copy of the
poem to Nutsubudze. The book was in a damaged cover
and had the followings inscription: Shota Rustaveli. The
Hero in the Tigers Skin. Nutsubidze inscribed on the book
as follows: With Stalins autograph. If I die, transfer this
book to the Writers Museum of Georgia in Tbilisi. Moscow,
21.VII.41. Sh. Nutsubidze. According to this inscription,
Nutsubidze thought of death at the age of 53. Although
Stalin approved his translation he knew that everything
could happen to him in future. This advance copy of the
poem was very important to him and thus, he cared about
it.
In 1941 Nutsubidzes Russian translation of The
Knight in the Panthers Skin was published under the
editorship of Stalin. The cover of the book was made of
a greenish and snuff-color velvet with ornaments and
Rustavelis portrait on a black background. It had Stalins
inscriptions on the top and bottom: Shota Rustaveli,
The hero in the Tigers Skin, translated from Georgian
by Shalva Nutsubidze, poem in verses. The editor-in-
chief was poet Sergey Gorodetsky. The translation had
preface of the editorial staff and the translator. Noteworthy
is that Stalin wrote to P. Chagin - director of the publishing
house: I insist my name not be mentioned in the preface
(p.10). Nutsubidze thought that this was a sign of Stalins
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_ asoebi, orTografiuli Secdomebic
vlindeba. S. nucubiZis werilisa da
intervius Sedarebis Sedegadac SeiniSneba
uzustobebi _ TariRebis aRreva,
movlenebis gansxvavebuli versiebiT
warmodgena, magram es arsebiTad ambis
mniSvnelobasa da mniSvnelovnebas
ar cvlis, rasac avtori Tavadve
aRniSnavs _ `saqmis istoriuli arseba
mainc gadmocemulad mimaCnia, Tundac
daaxlovebiT~ (furc. 6).
`vefxistyaosnis~ S. nucubiZis
mier rusul enaze Sesrulebuli
sruli poeturi Targmanis istoria
dasrulebulia. Tumca, Cndeba metad
mniSvnelovani kiTxva _ ratom iyo stalini
agrerigad dainteresebuli am Targmanis
SesrulebiT?
S. nucubiZe Tavis werilSi aRniSnavs,
rom `stalins azradac ar mosdioda
`vefxis tyaosnis~ koreqtireba anu
redaqtoroba~. mTargmneli am garemoebis
Tavisebur axsnas gvTavazobs: `... misi
(stalinis _ n. g.) mdgomareoba da
situacia, romelSic igi istoriam
rusTavelis poemas daukavSira, uneblieT
qmnida raRac garkveulobis Setanas
am viTarebaSi. meores mxriv, stalins
Tavisi azric unda hqoneboda `vefxis
tyaosnis~ teqstze~ (furc. 9). S. nucubiZe
am ori garemoebis damadastureblad or
dokuments moixmobs _ berias mier misTvis
stalinis werilis gadacemas (sadac
nucubiZiseuli Targmanis mniSvnelobaa
warmoCenili) da stalinis `gosizdatis~
direqtorisadmi gankuTvnil zemonaxseneb
werils. aRniSnuli monakveTidan
sayuradReboa Targmanis gamocemis
momzadebaSi stalinis monawileobis S.
nucubiZiseuli axsna da erT-erTi mizezis
dasaxeleba, kerZod, `misi (stalinis _ n.
g.) mdgomareoba da situacia~.
aqve unda gavixsenoT S. nucubiZis
werilSi moxmobili stalinis sityvebi
poemis TargmnasTan dakavSirebiT: `iqve
mdgom b... miubrunda: _ xeli SeuwyveT
(S. nucubiZes _ n. g.), daexmareT, es
saWiroa, Zalian saWiroa...~. rogorc
Cans, stalinisaTvis poemis axali,
srulyofili Targmanisa da yovelmxriv
Semkuli gamocemis arseboba uaRresad
mniSvnelovani da `saWiro~ iyo. Tu ratom
iyo saWiro, yovelive amis asaxsnelad
im periodis istoriuli viTarebis da
humbleness. For this reason, at the end of the preface
Nutsubidze thanked only to the editors of the issue: S.
Gorodetsky, S. Kavtaradeze and N. Tikhonov. Although
Stalins name was not among the editors, he knew that his
name would be connected to this issue.
At the end of the letter, Nutsubidze spoke about
Stalins attitude towards the end of the poem. Although
this passage of the letter is obscure, the major idea can
be identifed. Stalin approved the episode of Khataels and
Khvarazmels. Many scholars deemed these episodes
should be removed from the poem. But according to
Nutsubidze, it was anti-Stalin activity. He wrote in the letter
that he was going to translate those episodes as well.
As was mentioned earlier, Stalin ordered E.
Tarlovskaya to translate the episode of Indo-Khataels
that was included in the translation of K. Balmont. Stalin
revealed his ability and took part in the following activities
concerning to publishing of the translation: translation of the
title, design of the title-page (including the size of the shrift),
selection of the illustrations and identifcation their place in
the book, translate the text. It is surprising why he did not
use his own portrait of Rustaveli. According to the Soviet
poet Demyan Bedny, Stalin had affection for literature
and art. In his youth, he often painted. He painted portraits
very well. The frst portrait made by him was Rustavelis.
1

Noteworthy is that D. Bedny spoke about Stalins oratory
and called it Stalins style. These words were delivered
at Rustavelis anniversary. Stalin knew the classic works of
Russia, Georgia and Ukraine. It was Demyn Bednys and
the soviet persons attitude toward Stalin. Thus, only Stalin
could edit and proofread the Russian translation of The
1
D. Bedny The dearest recollection, newspaper Zarya VostokaNo. 299, 29 Decem-
ber, 1937, p.2.
28
movlenebis kanonzomieri ganviTarebis
gaTvaliswinebaa aucilebeli.
1

XX s-is 20-ian wlebSi ioseb
juRaSvils didi da sakmaod saSiSi
opozicia hyavda. mis politikur kurss
ewinaaRmdegeboda mTeli inteligencia,
aseve _ emigracia. mowinaaRmdegeebi
mravlad iyvnen sakavSiro komunistur
partiaSi, ssrk umaRles sakanonmdeblo
da aRmasrulebel xelisuflebaSi,
diplomatiur korpussa da samxedro
uwyebaSi. stalinisaTvis yvelaze saSiSi
revolucionerTa pirveli Taobis, Zvel
bolSevikTa, aseve mokavSire respublikebis
partiuli xelmZRvanelobis dapirispireba
iyo. sazRvargareT da Tavad ruseTSi
fiqrobdnen, rom stalini barbarosi,
veluri xalxis Svili iyo. amdenad, 30-
iani wlebis damdegisaTvis stalinis
pirvelkacobas da xelisuflebis
dakargvas realuri safrTxe daemuqra.
stalinma poziciis gasamyareblad
mimarTa represiebs (1934 w.-dan 1938 w.-
mde), romlebic yvela socialur fenas
Seexo, umTavresad _ inteligencias,
agreTve _ Tavad komunisturi partiis
warmomadgenlebs, xelisuflebis
organoebs sakavSiro masStabiT; ar
daindo ssrk Sinagan saqmeTa saxalxo
komisariatic.
v. guruli amasTan dakavSirebiT
aRniSnavs, rom `xelisuflebisTvis
brZolaSi Cabmul ioseb juRaSvils,
rogorc qveynis SigniT, ise saerTaSoriso
asparezze, aucileblad sWirdeboda
imis demonstrireba, rom igi didi da
saxelovani istoriis, didi sulieri
da materialuri kulturis memkvidre
eris Svili iyo~ (gv. 87). stalins Tavisi
uZvelesi qveynis istoria da kultura
dasWirda. man mizani daisaxa da am
miznis misaRwevad gadamwyveti moqmedeba
daiwyo. isic gaiTvaliswina, rom am gzaze
gadadgmuli yoveli nabiji damajerebeli
da sayovelTaod mniSvnelovani yofiliyo.
stalini `saWiro, Zalian saWiro~
saqmis Tadarigs didi ostatobiTa da
gulmodginebiT Seudga. am did gzaze
beladis mier ganxorcielebuli pirveli
politikuri RonisZieba 1934 wels ssrk
mweralTa kavSiris pirveli yrilobis
Catareba iyo, romelsac Tavad stalini
1
sakiTxis Sesaxeb ix. v. gurulis naSromi _ `jvarcmuli da jvarm-
cmelebi~, gamomc. `universali~, Tb., 2006. citatebs amave wignidan
vimowmebT.
Knight in the Panthers Skin because he had Stalin style.
According to Nutsubidzes letter, it was diffcult for
him to tell the story chronologically because twenty seven
years had passed and the narrator was ill and 80 years
old. These factors were refected in the letter. It was written
in big letters. His handwriting was obscure. Some words
and letters were missing. He made many orthographic
mistakes. There were some inconsistencies between
Nutsubidzes letter and the interview. Although the dates
were mixed and the events were told differentially, the main
idea was not changed. The author said: I consider the
major idea had been told. (p.6)
This was the story of how Shalva Nutsubidze made
the Russian translation in prose. But one question still
remains: Why was Stalin so interested in this translation?
According to Nutsubidzes letter, Stalin was not going
to edit the translation. The translator said that Stalin had
to express his idea about the poem (p.9). This idea was
expressed in two documents. These documents are the
letters one written by Stalin was given to Nutsubidze
by Beria, and another one was the previously discussed
letter. According to these letters, Stalin had to interfere in
the translation of the poem because of his position and
situation.
Let us remember Stalins words: He turned to Beria
and said: Assist him, help him, it is very important! It was
very important to Stalin to publish a high quality Russian
translation of the poem. Lets review why it was very
important to him.
1
In the 1920s Joseph Jughashvili had very strong
opponents. The intelligentsia and migrs opposed his
1
See the work by V. Guruli The Crucifed and Crucifers, 2006 Universal, Tbilisi. The
phrases are quoted from this work.
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daeswro. qarTuli literaturis
Sesaxeb yrilobaze moxseneba cnobilma
bolSevikma, malaqia toroSeliZem,
waikiTxa. moxsenebis Tavdapirveli
varianti, romelic umeteswilad qarTuli
proletaruli mwerlobis uaxles
nawarmoebebs Seexeboda da nakleb iyo
warmoCenili Zveli da axali mwerloba,
stalinma daiwuna. yrilobaze wakiTxuli
varianti ki, rogorc v. guruli aRniSnavs,
`ioseb stalinis karnaxiTaa dawerili,
yvela daskvna ioseb stalins ekuTvnis~ (gv.
89).
m. toroSeliZis moxseneba, romlis
didi nawili ilia WavWavaZis Semoqmedebis
Sefasebas eTmoboda, 1934 wels calke
wignad gamoica moskovSi.
ilia WavWavaZis Semoqmedebis
ganxilvas da masSi stalinis
Tvalsazrisis warmoCenas garkveuli
mizani hqonda. stalinis mxridan _ es
iyo filipe maxaraZis (romelic 20-ian
wlebidan stalins Riad daupirispirda)
iliaseuli Sefasebebis winaaRmdeg
gamosvla, amavdroulad _ ilia
WavWavaZis dabadebidan 100 wlisTavis
aRniSvnisaTvis mosamzadebeli nabiji.
yrilobaze TvalSisacemi iyo erTi ram:
qarTulma literaturam Tavisi sidiadiT
daCrdila yvela danarCeni. esec stalinis
Cafiqrebuli da kargad gaTvlili gegmis
nawili iyo.
stalinis iniciativiT 1937 wels
moskovSi Catarda qarTuli kulturis
dekada, rac RirSesaniSnavi movlena
iyo qarTuli kulturis istoriaSi,
stalinisaTvis _ erT-erTi mniSvnelovani
RonisZieba Tavisi Canafiqris
gansaxorcieleblad. qarTuli xelovnebis
yvela dargi (mwerloba, Teatri, musika,
qoreografia da sxv.) mTeli sisruliT da
cxovelmyofelobiT warmoCinda sabWoTa
kavSiris masStabiT. dekadam kidev erTxel
cxadyo qarTuli kulturis sidiade da
yvelasaTvis TvalnaTeli gaxda misi
unikaluroba.
1937 wels aRiniSna ilia WavWavaZis
dabadebidan 100 wlisTavi. qarTul da
sakavSiro Jurnal-gazeTebSi gamoqveynda
mweralTa, kritikosTa, istorikosTa,
publicistTa mravalricxovani
werilebi, gaimarTa saRamoebi (moskovsa
da leningradSic), moewyo gamofenebi,
gamoica ilias TxzulebaTa xuTtomeuli
political course. He had many opponents in the Communist
Party, legislative and executive authority, diplomatic corps
and military institutions. The frst revolutionaries and old
Bolsheviks were the most dangerous to him. In Russia
and abroad everyone considered Stalin to be from a wild
country. Thus, in the early 1930s Stalins authority was
under danger. For this reason, in 1934-1938 he organized
the Great Purge. The intelligentsia, members of the
Communist Party and the commissariat of the NKVD were
all repressed.
According to V. Guruli, Joseph Jughashvili was
involved in a fght for his power and he had to prove that
he was from the country with great spiritual and material
culture (p.87). Stalin needed the history and culture of his
country. He made a plan and did everything to fulfll it. He
knew that his activity should be very convincing. In 1934 he
organized the frst meeting of the Writers Union (SSR). A
famous Bolshevik, Malakia Toroshelidze delivered a speech
at the meeting. Stalin did not approve the frst version
of this report that was about new works of the Georgian
proletarian literature. Another version of the report was
written by Joseph Stalin. The author of the conclusion was
Stalin (p.89).
In 1934 M. Toroshelidzes report concerning the work
of Ilia Chavchavadze was published in Moscow.
This report had a special aim. Stalin wanted to oppose
Philip Makharadze who opposed him openly in the 1920s.
Besides, he wanted to prepare for the 100
th
anniversary
of Ilia Chavchavadze. Noteworthy was one thing at the
meeting: the discussion of Georgian literature covered
other works. It was a part of Stalins plan.
In 1937m with Stalins initiative, the decade of
30
da calkeuli krebulebi. rusul enaze
iTargmna da gamoica misi `rCeuli~ da
`leqsebi da poemebi~. ilias poeturi
Semoqmedebisa da sazogadoebrivi Rvawlis
demonstrirebiT stalini kvlavac Tavisi
xalxis kulturis da yovlismomcveli,
masStaburi azrovnebis nimuSs saqveynod
warmoaCenda.
1937 wels mTeli ssrk-s masStabiT
aRiniSna `sabWoTa kulturis diadi
dResaswauli~ _ `vefxistyaosnis~ 750
wlis iubile, romlis samzadisi 1934
wlidan daiwyo. amave wlebSi gamoqveynda
`vefxistyaosnis~ Targmanebi k. balmontisa
(1935, 1936, 1937), g. cagarelisa (1937), n.
zabolockisa (1937) da sxv. gaimarTa
ssrk mweralTa kavSiris gamgeobis
rusTvelisadmi miZRvnili plenumi, moewyo
sadResaswaulo saRamoebi, gamofenebi.
saiubileo dReebSi monawileobis
misaRebad saqarTveloSi msoflios
sxvadasxva qveynidan kulturis mravali
moRvawe Camovida. rusTavelisa da misi
msoflio Sedevris Sesaxeb qarTveli, rusi
da ucxoeli mecnierebis, mwerlebisa da,
zogadad, kulturis moRvaweebis werilebi
da naSromebi gamoqveynda adgilobriv
da sakavSiro presaSi, poetebma
leqsebi uZRvnes rusTavels. mTeli
sisruliT warmoCinda `vefxistyaosnis~
zogadsakacobrio mniSvneloba, poema
aRiares rogorc `pirveli wigni adamianis
sulsa da xasiaTze~, `adamianis axali
idealebisTvis brZolis poema, Zmobis,
megobrobisa da siyvarulisaTvis brZolis
poema~, SoTa rusTaveli `italiis
adrindeli humanizmis poetebze~ saukuneze
meti xniT winmswreb poetad dasaxelda.
1941 wels gamoqveynda S. nucubiZis
mier Sesrulebuli `vefxistyaosnis~
rusuli sruli poeturi Targmani, riTac
dagvirgvinda stalinisaTvis esoden
mniSvnelovani mizani _ mTelma msofliom
dainaxa da darwmunda, rom didi beladi
udidesi civilizaciis mqone qveynis Svili
iyo.
S. nucubiZis werilma da intervium
Semogvinaxa `vefxistyaosnis~ rusul enaze
Targmnis uaRresad saintereso istoria
aRsavse tragikulobiT, uCveulo da
`bundovani~ ambebiT, sabWoeTis qveynis
saTaveSi myofi beladis `mravalmxrivi~
xasiaTiT, `ZalmosilebiT~, sakvirveli
qmedebebiTa da garkveuli mizanswrafviT.
Georgian culture was organized in Moscow. It was very
important for the history of Georgia. Every feld of Georgian
culture (literature, theatre, music, choreography and others)
was presented throughout the Soviet Union. This event
made everybody see the majesty of Georgian culture.
In 1937 the 100
th
anniversary of Ilia Chavchavadze
was organized. The letters of Georgian writers, critics,
historians and publicists were published in the newspapers
and magazines. Parties were held in Moscow and
Leningrad. Exhibitions were held. The collections of Ilias
works were published. His poems were translated in
Russian and published. Through these events Stalins aim
was to express the culture of Georgia.
In 1937 the 750
th
anniversary of The Knight in the
Panthers Skin was organized. Preparation for this event
started in 1934. The K. Balton's translation was published
in 1935, 1936, 1937; G. Tsagareli 1937; N. Zabolotsky
1937 and others. The plenum tribute to Rustaveli was
held in the Writers Union. Exhibitions and events were
organized. Many fgures of culture throughout the world
arrived in Georgia to attend the events. Letters of Georgian
and foreign scholars, writers and cultural fgures were
published. The poets dedicated poems to Rustaveli. The
importance of The Knight in the Panthers Skin was fully
revealed. The poem was acknowledged as First book
about a mans spirit and character, poem about new
ideologies brotherhood, friendship and love.
In 1941 Russian translation of Shalva Nutsubidze was
published. It was a culmination of Stalins aim. The whole
world understood that he was a son of the country with
great civilization.
Nutsubidzes letter and interview are very important
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da mTel am istorias vefxvis tyavi
akravs Tavisi feradovani, Sav-yviTeli
gamiT, naTeli dRisa da wyvdiadi Ramis,
sixarulisa da mwuxarebis, bedisa da,
ubedobis, siyvaruliT tanjvisa da
usazRvro bednierebis simbolo. da
rogorc rusTavelis poemis dasasrulsaa
aRniSnuli, aqac _ `dasrulda ese ambavi,
viTa sizmari Ramisa. gardaxdes, gavles
sofeli, _ naxeT simuxTle Jamisa!~, an
qarTuli zRapris dasawyisis darad _
`iyo SaSvi mgalobeli, RmerTi Cveni
mwyalobeli~. mTarmneli-poetis _ Salva
nucubiZis _ ena, guli, xelovaneba, goneba
da RvTis Sewevna (`aw ena minda gamoTqmad,
guli da xelovaneba, _ Zali momec da
Sewevna SengniT maqvs, mivsce goneba...~)
`xeli-xel sagogmanebi~ margalitis _
`vefxistyaosnis~ _ Targmans axal suls
udgams da `qarTulad naTargmanebs~ axali
ZalisxmeviT aTargmanebs.
`vefxistyaosnis~ Targmani S.
nucubiZisaTvis, rusTavelis sityvebi
rom movixmoT, `sicocxlis saimedo
niSani~ aRmoCnda. siyvarulis, humanizmis,
borotebaze sikeTis gamarjvebis
sagalobelma sabediswero ganaCenisagan
ixsna tyve-poeti da Tavad ukvdavma poemam
mTargmnelis saxeli ukvdavyo.
statiaSi `vefxistyaosnis~ sasignalo
egzemplari, romelic stalinis xeliTaa
Casworebuli, qarTul sinamdvileSi
pirvelad ibeWdeba.

sources for the history of how this translation was made,
also Stalins attitude to it. Here we fnish this story with
Rustavelis words: The story ends here as the dream of
the night. The translation of Shalva Nutsubidze infuenced
other translators.
Translating The Knight in the Panthers Skin became
decisive to Nutsubidze. The poem about fghting between
humanism, love and evil saved the translators life and an
immortal poem immortalized Nutsubidzes name.
It is the frst time the advance copy of the `The
Knight in the Panthers Skin` with Stalins inscriptions
has been published.
32
`vefxistyaosnis~ S. nucubiZis mier
rusul enaze Sesrulebuli sruli poeturi
Targmanis 1941 wlis gamocemis istoria
sxva mraval ambavsa da movlenasTan erTad
kidev erT saintereso sakiTxs warmoaCens.
aRniSnul gamocemas win uZRvis
Tavad S. nucubiZis winasityvaoba,
romelSic saubaria Targmanis miznebsa
da amocanebze (rusTavelis poema
originalTan `zedmiwevniTi siaxloviT~
gaacnos `leninur-stalinuri udidesi
ojaxis xalxTa farTo masebs~ da
poemis mecnieruli SeswavlisaTvis
Seqmnas safuZveli), Targmnis procesTan
dakavSirebul siZneleebze, meTodebze.
winasityvaobaSi mkiTxveli sazogadoebis
farTo wrisaTvis ganxilulia rusTavelisa
da misi poemis problematikasaTan
dakavSirebuli mniSvnelovani sakiTxebi
_ avtorobis sakiTxi, rusTavelis
moRvaweobis periodi prologisa da
epilogis mixedviT, prologisa da
epilogis mimarTeba, poemis daweris
dro, fabulis wyaros sakiTxi,
rusTavelis Semoqmedebaze nizami
ganjelis poeziis gavlena, saqarTvelos
sinamdvilis asaxva poemaSi, rusTavelis
damokidebuleba mkiTxvelisadmi,
poetis sulieri gancdebis gadmocema
(rac misi saxisa da SemoqmedebiTi
biografiis gaxsnisTvis mniSvnelovan
rols asrulebs), poemis leqsTwyoba,
nana gonjilaSvili
NANA GONJILASHVILI
Zveli bolSeviki sergo
qavTaraZe _`vefxistyaosnis~
msoflmxedvelobis
avtori?!
THE OLD BOLSHEVIK
SERGO KAVTARADZE - IS IT HIS
VIEW OF ~THE KNIGHT IN THE
PANTHERS SKIN?!
Many interesting facts are connected with the Russian
poetic translation of The Knight in the Panthers Skin done
by Shalva Nutsubidze in 1941. This article is about one such
fact.
This translation is prefaced with an essay by Shalva
Nutsubidze about the objectives and aims of his translation
(to make the translation very close to the original; to bring it
to the attention of the masses of the Leninist-Stalinist family;
and to create the bases for further scientifc study of the
poem) as well as about the diffculties and methods he used
in his translation. The preface consists of the following key
issues about Rustaveli and about the poems main problems:
the issue of authorship; the period of Rustavelis activity; the
relationship between the prologue and the epilogue; the time
of writing the poem; the source of the plot; the infuence of
Nezami of Ganjas poetry on Rustaveli; Georgian reality in
the poem; Rustavelis attitude toward the reader; the inner
feelings of the poet that are very important for understanding
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poetika (mxatvruli gamomsaxvelobiTi
saSualebani _ aliteracia, asonansi,
konsonansi, majama, hiperbola, aforizmi,
metafora, mxatvruli saxeebi), rusTavelis
msoflmxedveloba, poemis ideologiuri
safuZvlebi (internacionalizmi, megobroba,
siyvaruli...), teqstis kritikuli analizi,
rusTveli da aRmosavluri renesansi.
winasityvaobis dasasruls S. nucubiZe
madlobas uxdis Tavisi Targmanis
redaqtorebs _ s. m. gorodeckis, s. i.
qavTaraZesa da n. s. tixonovs. swored
sergo qavTaraZis pirovnebam gamoiwvia Cveni
interesi. sakiTxis ganxilvamde, upirveles
yovlisa, unda gavecnoT s. qavTaraZis
saintereso biografias, mis mravalmxriv
moRvaweobas.
sabWoTa saxelmwifo da partiuli
moRvawe, sergo ivanes Ze qavTaraZe (1885-
1971), daibada quTaisis guberniaSi,
sof. zovreTSi. s. qavTaraZe, stalinis
bavSvobis megobari, warmoSobiT aznauri
gaxldaT. 7 wlis sergo miabares
quTaisSi niko nikolaZis ojaxSi arsebul
kerZo pansionSi, sadac ikribebodnen
quTaisis Rirseuli warmomadgenlebi.
`mas gansakuTrebiT moswonda da uyvarda
tkbilad moubari akaki wereTeli, romelic
xSiri stumari iyo nikolaZeebis ojaxisa~
(gv. 5).
1

s. qavTaraZe 1903 wels Sevida rsdmp-Si
(ruseTis social-demokratiuli mSromelTa
partiaSi). igi ruseTis revoluciuri
moZraobis aqtiuri wevri iyo, partiul
saqmianobas eweoda quTaisSi, baTumSi,
TbilisSi, baqosa da peterburgSi. 1904
wlidan s. qavTaraZe `imereT-samegrelos
rsdmp-s komitetis~ wevri gaxda. araerTxel
daapatimres. `imereT-samegrelos
komitetis~ davalebiT mas mimowera hqonda
leninTan da krupskaiasTan. cnobilia,
rom 1906 wels man lenini piradad gaicno
helsingforSi. Tebervlis revoluciis
Semdeg, 1912-1914 wlebSi, igi gazeT
`~-s TanamSromeli iyo. s. qavTaraZem
1914 wels daamTavra peterburgis
universitetis iuridiuli fakulteti.
igi saqarTvelos bolSevikTa Soris erT-
erTi uganaTlebules pirovnebad iyo
aRiarebuli. 1917 wlidan Tbilisis rsdmp
(b)-s komitetis wevri da gazeT `
~-s redaqtori gaxldaT, 1918
wels (agvisto-dekemberi) _ vldikavkazis
deputatTa sabWos Tavmjdomare. s.
qavTaraZe kavkasiaSi sabWoTa xelisuflebis
1
v. asaTiani, `s. qavTaraZe (biografiuli narkvevi)~, Tb., 1968, gv.5
sergo qavTaraZe
Sergo Kavtaradze
his biography; versifcation of the poem; poetics (theory of
literary discourses: alliteration, assonance, consonance,
hyperbole, aphorism, metaphor, and euphuism);
Rustavelis outlook; the ideological essentials of the poem
(internationalism, friendship, love, etc.); critical analysis of
the text; and Rustaveli and the eastern renaissance.
At the end of the preface, Nutsubidze thanks S. M.
Gorodetsky, S.I. Kavtaradze and N. S.Tikhonov for their
editing of the translation. At this time we would like to draw
your attention to Sergo Kavtaradze. Let us start by reviewing
his interesting biography and sphere of activity.
The Soviet government and party fgure Sergo Ivanes
dze Kavtaradze (1885 1971) was born into a noble family
in the village of Zovreti, in the Kutaisi Province. He was a
childhood friend of Stalin, and at the age of seven he was
sent to Niko Nikoladzes private school, where respected
Kutaisi notables often gathered. Most of all he liked Akaki
Tsereteli, who spoke very sweetly and often visited Niko
Nikoladzes family.
1

In 1903, Sergo Kavtaradze joined the Russian Social-
Democratic Workers Party. He became an activist in the
1
V. Aatiani, S. Kavtaradze (Biographical Essay), Tbilisi, 1968, p. 5
34
damyarebisaTvis brZolis erT-erTi
xelmZRvaneli iyo. igi 1919 wels
gagzavnes menSevikur saqarTveloSi
bolSevikuri miwisqveSa muSaobisaTvis,
orjer daapatimres antisaxelmwifoebrivi
saqmianobisaTvis. menSevikurma mTavrobam
igi yazbegSi daapatimra da 15 Tve amyofa
metexis cixeSi. 1920 wlidan s. qavTaraZe
muSaobda rsfsr-s (ruseTis sabWoTa
federaciuli socialisturi respublikis)
sruluflebiani elCis mrCevlad,
saqarTveloSi sabWoTa wyobilebis
damyarebamde. wiTeli armiis mier
saqarTvelos okupaciis Semdeg, 1921
wlis martidan, igi baTumis revkomis
Tavmjdomare gaxda, Semdeg _ saqarTvelos
ssr-s iusticiis saxalxo komisari,
1922-1923 wlebSi _ saq. ssr saxalxo
komisarTa sabWos (-s) Tavmjdomare.
s. qavTaraZe 1923 wels dainiSna ssrk-s
sruluflebiani warmomadgenlobis pirvel
Tavmjdomared TurqeTSi, 1924 wels _
amave warmomadgenlobis mrCevelad. 1924-1927
wlebSi man ssrk-s umaRlesi sasamarTlos
Tavmjdomaris pirveli moadgilis posti
daikava.
1926 wels q. baqoSi mimdinareobda baqos
26 komisris daxvretis organizatoris,
funtikovis, sasamarTlo procesi. s.
qavTaraZe daniSnuli iyo saxelmwifo
bralmdeblad. misi winadadebiT
sasamarTlom funtikovs umaRlesi sasjeli,
daxvreta, miusaja.
1927 wlidan s. qavTaraZe `trockistTa~
opoziciis monawile iyo (Tvlida, rom
saxelmwifos rolis gasaZliereblad
ufro mkacri meTodebis gamoyeneba iyo
aucilebeli). sakavSiro komunisturi
partiis (bolSevikTa) XV yrilobis
(1927 dek.) gadawyvetilebiT, `nacional-
uklonistobis~ (trockistuli opoziciis
aqtiuri monawileobis) gamo, igi garicxes
partiidan da orenburgis guberniaSi
gagzavnes. 1928 wels SvebulebaSi myofi
s. qavTaraZe Seecada Casuliyo moskovSi.
igi `antisabWoTa agitaciis~ braldebiT
daapatimres da 1929 wels gamoutanes
ganaCeni _ sami wliT Sua aziaSi
gadasaxleba. 1929 wlis 5/I-is dadgenilebiT
gamotanili gadawyvetileba gadasaxlebis
Sesaxeb Secvales da miusajes sami wliT
Tavisuflebis aRkveTa (tobolskSi). 1931
wels igi gaaTavisufles. 1931-1936 wlebSi
muSaobda mxatvruli literaturis
redaqciaSi moskovSi. igi aqac opoziciur
saqmianobas eweoda. 1936 wels kvlav
revolutionary movement and was engaged in party activity
in Kutaisi, Batumi, Tbilisi, Baku and St. Petersburg. In 1904
he became a member of the Social Democratic Committee
for Imereti and Mingrelia. He was arrested many times.
According to instructions of the committee for Imereti
and Mingrelia he had correspondence with Lenin and
Lenins wife Nadezhda Krupskaya. It is known that in 1906
Kavtaradze frst met Lenin in Helsingfors. After the February
35
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daapatimres, orderiT 8633 (II t. gv. 8)
da moaTavses lubianskis gaerTianebuli
saxelmwifo politikuri sammarTvelos
(-s) Sinagan cixeSi; kvlav amoqmedda
saqme 7982, amjerad II tomi. braldebulia
sisxlis samarTlis kodeqsiis 58-10, 58-11
muxlebiT. (58-10 _ SpionaJi, Tavisuflebis
aRkveTa mkacri izolaciis qveS aranakleb
sami wlis vadiT. aqve aRniSnulia,
rom im SemTxvevebSi, Tu SpionaJs
SeeZlo saxelmwifo interesebisaTvis
gansakuTrebulad mZime ziani gamoewvia,
sasjeli _ daxvreta.
muxli 58.11 _ kontrrevoluciuri
saqmianoba, kontrrevoluciur
organizaciebSi monawileoba da k/r
danaSaulis momzadeba. amave muxlebiT iyo
braldebuli S. nucubiZec).
s. qavTaraZe Semdgom gadaiyvanes
TbilisSi (misi Tanamzraxvelebi
saqarTvelos -m daxvrita), 1939 wlis
20 Tebervals ki _ moskovSi, -s Sinagan
cixeSi. amave wlis 13 dekembers s. qavTaraZe
gaaTavisufles lavrenti berias piradi
gankargulebis safuZvelze.
s. qavTaraZe mxolod 1940 wels
aRadgines partiaSi. 1940-1941 wlebSi igi
mxatvruli literaturis gamomcemlobaSi
muSaobda. 1941 wlidan igi ssrk sagareo
saqmeTa saxalxo komisariatis axlo
da Sua aRmosavleTis ganyofilebis
gamged dainiSna, 1943-1945 wlebSi _ ssrk
sagareo saqmeTa saxalxo komisariatis
Tavmjdomared. igi, rogorc diplomatiuri
muSaki, monawileobda moskovis, ialtis,
potsdamisa da parizis saerTaSoriso
konferenciebSi (1945, 1946). s. qavTaraZes
1945-1952 wlebSi elCis Tanamdeboba ekava
rumineTSi, sadac, faqtobrivad, ssrk-s
emisari da stalinuri reJimis erT-erTi
Semqmneli iyo. 1952-1954 wlebSi igi ssrk-s
sagareo saqmeTa saministros mrCeveli
gaxda. s. qavTaraZe 1954 wels gavida
pensiaze. igi skkp XXII yrilobis delegati
iyo (1961). s. qavTaraZe samgzis dajildovda
leninis ordeniT, orjer _ Sromis wiTeli
droSis ordeniT _ `did samamulo omSi
1941-1945 ww. saxelovani SromisaTvis~.
sergo qavTaraZe gardaicvala 1971 wlis 17
oqtombers, TbilisSi.
amboben, s. qavTaraZe ganadgurebas
mxolod imitom gadaurCa, rom stalinma
sikvdilmisjilTa siaSi Tavisi bavSvobis
megobris gvaris gaswvriv raRac niSani
dasva, romelic verc malenkovma,
verc beriam ver gaSifra da amitom
Revolution he worked for the Bolshevik paper Pravda (1912
1914). In 1914 Kavtradze graduated from the Law Faculty
of St. Petersburg University. Among the Georgian Bolsheviks
he was known as a highly educated person. In 1917 he
was present on the Social Democratic (Bolshevik) Regional
Committee in the Caucasus, while editing the group's local
journal, Kavkazsky Rabochy. In 1918 (August December)
he was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Soviet
in Vladikavkaz. Sergo Kavtaradze was among those leaders
who struggled to establish Soviet power in the Caucasus. In
1919 he became a representative of the Bolsheviks, and was
active against the Menshevik government in Georgia. He
was arrested twice for anti-state activities. He was arrested
in Kazbegi by the Menshevik government and was put in
Metekhi prison for ffteen months. He was a counselor of the
Russian SFSR Embassy from 1920 until the Sovietization
of Georgia. Following the Red Army invasion, Kavtaradze
became head of the revolutionary committee in Batumi
(March 1921). Later he took the post of Peoples Commissar
for Justice in the Georgian SSR, and in 1922 1923 he was
named as chairman of the Council of Peoples Commissars.
In 1923 he was a representative of the Soviet Embassy
in Turkey, and in 1924 became counselor of the same
embassy. Later he served as frst deputy chairman of the
SSR Supreme Court (1924 1927). In 1926 Kavtaradze
was a state prosecutor of the trial of Funtikov, who was
responsible for the execution of the 26 Baku Commissars.
The court upheld Kavtaradzes arguments, and Funtikov was
sentenced to death.
In 1927 Kavtaradze joined the Trotskyite Left
Opposition. He believed that harsher methods should be
36
qavTaraZe banakSi gagzavnes. SemdgomSi
gaaTavisufles, rac, rogorc aRniSnulia,
uprecedento SemTxveva iyo aseTi
biografiis mqone adamianisaTvis.
simon sebag montefiores wignSi
_ `stalini: wiTeli monarqis samefo
kari~ (m., 2005) _ saubaria s. qavTaraZis
gaTavisuflebis mizezis Sesaxeb: 1936
wels, rodesac igi daapatimres, misi
qaliSvili maia 11 wlis iyo da stalins
miswera werili misi mSoblebis Sewyalebis
TxovniT, werils xeli moawera _ `pioneri
maia qavTaraZe~. 1939 wlis bolos pioner
qavTaraZis werilma stalins gaaxsena
megobris arseboba da man berias sTxova,
gaerkvia, cocxali iyo igi, Tu ukve
`gardaicvala~ (gv. 335). wignSi saubaria
s. qavTaraZis cxovrebis Semdgom periodzec.
sqolioSi avtori SeniSnavs, rom wignSi
moyvanili Txroba efuZneba Tavad avtoris
saubars maia qavTaraZesTan (gv. 336).
araerTi versiaa Seqmnili s. qavTaraZis
stalinTan Sexvedris Sesaxeb. TiTqos,
erT mSvenier dRes is banakidan waiyvanes
pirdapir stalinis agarakze, belads
moulodnelad gaxsenebia Tavisi Zveli
megobari. misalmebis Semdeg stalins
ukiTxavs, Tu sad iyo, sad daikarga. sergom
miugo, rom ijda. belads Turme gakvirvebiT
Seuxedavs da sayveduriT uTqvams: `monaxe
ra jdomis dro, axla xom omia~. saubris
Semdeg stalins misTvis ucnobebia, rom
sagareo saqmeTa saministroSi unda
emuSava. stalinma Turme gamWoli mzeriTa
(romelmac tanSi gacra mopasuxe) da
gamoWedili intonaciiT mimarTa: `Sen xom
mainc Cemi mokvla gindoda~.
istorikosi v. rogovini aRniSnavs, rom
`gamoCenil qarTvel opozicionerTagan
gadarCa mxolod qavTaraZe, romelmac
-s (Sinagan saqmeTa saxalxo
komisariati) kedlebSi gaiara wameba da
daxvretis inscenirebebi... qavTaraZis
SemTxveva iyo yofili aqtiuri
opozicioneris stalinisagan `patiebis~
erTaderTi SemTxveva~.
1
v. rogovins aq
moyavs stalinis zemoaRniSnuli sityvebi
(misi mokvlis survilis Sesaxeb),
mxolod erTi gansxvavebiT _ TiTqos
beladma s. qavTaraZes es uTxra erT-erTi
saxelmwifoebrivi donis miRebaze, roca
mas sagareo saministros moadgilis posti
ekava.
1
v. rogovini, `daxvretilTa partia~, moskovi, 1997, gv. 34
used for increasing the power of the state. According to a
resolution passed at the XV Congress of the Communist
Party in December 1927, he was expelled from the Party
and was sent on internal exile to Orenburg Oblast. In
1928 Kavtaradze attempted to visit Moscow on vacation,
but was arrested on charges of spreading Anti-Soviet
propaganda. In 1929 he was sentenced to a three-year
exile to Central Asia. But the resolution 5/I was changed
and he was sentenced to three years in prison, which he
served in Tobolsk. In 1931 he was released. In 1931 1936
he worked in the editorial offce (Moscow) where he was
busy with anti-state activities. For this reason, in 1936 he
was arrested based on the order No.8633 (v. II, p.8) and
was put in Lubyanka Prison. According to the Case No.
7982, volume II, Kavtaradze was accused based on Articles
58-10, 58-11 of the Criminal Code. (According to Article
58-10, espionage carries a maximum penalty of three years
in prison; however, if the activity causes harm to the state,
the accused can be executed; According to Article 58-11, he
was charged in counter revolutionary activities, engaging in
counter revolutionary organisations and preparing counter
revolutionary crimes. Shalva Nutsubidze was accused based
on the same Articles).
S. Kavtaradze was later moved to a prison in Tbilisi (his
accomplices were executed by the Georgian NKVD), then on
February 20, 1939 to Moscow. On Lavrentiy Berias order, S.
Kavtaradze was released on December 13, 1939.
In 1940 Kavtaradze was reinstated in the Party, and
in 1940-1 he worked in a publishing house. In 1941 he
served as a head of the Near and Far East Department
of the NKVD. In 1943 1945 he was chairman of Foreign
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Tavad s. qavTaraZe erT-erT interviuSi
1

mogviTxrobs dapatimrebis ambavs da
stalinTan Sexvedrebsac. s. qavTaraZis
TqmiT, `rogorc xalxis mters~ patimrobaSi
mimoweris ufleba CamorTmeuli hqonda,
Tumca mainc `privilegirebul patimrad~
iTvleboda da calke sakanSi ijda. 13
wlis manZilze mxolod erTxel dakarga
moTmineba da mxolod erTxel ganacxada
protesti, roca, misi TqmiT _ `pionerebi
moiyvanes saknis sarkmlidan cocxali
`xalxis mtris~ sanaxavad, TiTqosda,
galiaSi Camwyvdeuli iSviaTi nadiri
viyavi~ (iqve, gv. 44). s. qavTaraZe interviuSi
mogviTxrobs 13 wlis patimrobis Semdeg,
rodesac garkveviT ubrZanes _ ` !~,
moulodnelad lubiankaze rom aRmoCnda
da Tanac _ `qveynis pirveli Cekistis~,
lavrenti berias kabinetSi. mas pirispir
ar enaxa beria (mxolod gazeTebSi nanaxi
portretebis mixedviT amoicno), mis
ukan `aCrdiliviT~ idga `misi marjvena
xeli~ _ qobulovi (S. nucubiZec xom maTi
`yuradRebisa~ da `mzrunvelobis~ qveS
imyofeboda). beriam gamohkiTxa patimars,
rogor iyo, rogor kvebavdnen, SeniSvnac ki
misca Cacmulobis gamo, uTxra _ `Tqvenze
msmenia, ganaTlebuli da inteligenti xarT,
aba, rogor gacviaT!~ (iqve, gv. 44).
beriam s. qavTaraZes acnoba partiis ck-
s gadawyvetileba gaTavisuflebis Sesaxeb.
Tavdapirvelad, rogorc s. qavTaraZe
gadmogvcems, udidesma sixarulma Seipyro,
Semdeg eWvi gauCnda, mis gaTavisuflebasTan
dakavSirebiT, ra kavSirSi iyo ck-s
gadawyvetileba. fiqrobda, beria kvlav
`amasxaravebda~, rogorc Cacmulobis
SemTxvevaSi. mis pasuxs _ `ar mjera!~, _
pirveli Cekistis aRSfoTeba mohyva: `rao?!
_ iRriala beriam, albaT, aseT reaqcias
eloda kidec, _ vis ubedav! ici, Sens win
vin zis? lavrenti beria! iqneb ginda, ukan
dagabruno?~ (iqve, gv. 44). s. qavTaraZisTvis
am Sexvedrisas yvelaze Tavzardamcemi
berias Semdegi brZaneba aRmoCnda:
`CaacviT! _ gasca gankarguleba da roca
karebSi gavdiodiT, qobulovs miaZaxa:
`magis colsac!~ (iqve, gv. 44). mxolod
maSin Seityo s. qavTaraZem, rom meuRlec
daWerili iyo. kidev erTi metad usiamovno
faqti eloda. roca uzarmazar `zandukSi~
tansacmlis arCeva SesTavazes, mixvda, rom
tansacmeli ukve daxvretili xalxis samosi
1
l. CantlaZe, `mTavari kiTxva~, Jurn. `mwvane yvavila~, 1999, #2, gv.
44-46. SemdgomSi citatebs amave interviudan movixmobT.
Affairs of the NKVD. As a diplomat often participated in the
international conferences held in Moscow, Yalta, Potsdam
and Paris (1945, 1946). In 1945 1952 Kavtaradze served
as an ambassador to Romania, where he was an emissary
of Stalins regime. In 1952 1954 he served as a counselor
of the USSR Foreign Ministry, and he retired in 1954. He
was a delegate to the 22nd Party Congress (1961). He was
awarded with the Order of Lenin three times, and twice
with the Order of Labour of the Red Flag during the Great
Patriotic War in 1941 1945. Sergo Kavtaradze died on
October 17, 1971 in Tbilisi.
Sergo Kavtaradze was spared from execution because
Stalin marked his friends name among the list of convicted
persons. Malenkov and Beria could not understand
the meaning of that mark, so they sent Kavtaradze to
a prison camp, and he was later released. This was an
unprecedented occurance.
According to the book Stalin: The Court of the Red
Tsar by Simon Sebag-Montefore, in 1936 when Kavtaradze
was arrested, his daughter Maia was eleven years old.
She wrote a letter to Stalin and asked him to release her
parents. The letter was addressed as from Pioneer Maia
Kavtaradze. This letter reminded Stalin of his old friend,
and he told Beria to fnd out whether his friend was still alive
(p. 335). The book tells the story of Kavtaradzes later life.
According to a footnote, this story was written based on a
conversation between Maia Kavtaradze and the author (p.
336).
There are numerous
versions of how Kavtaradze
met Stalin. According to one
38
iyo da cocxlad gadarCenilebisaTvis
inaxavdnen, an raRac sxva SemTxvevebisTvis.
13 wlis unaxavi col-qmris Sexvedris
da `gaTavisuflebis sixaruli tragediad~
iqca, maT Svilebis asaval-dasavali ar
icodnen. bevri Ziebis Semdeg qaliSvils
erT miyruebul sabavSvo saxlSi
miagnes, ori vaJi ki samudamod dakarges,
bolSevikebma `xalxis mtris~ Svilebi
gaanadgures.
s. qavTaraZe interviuSi patimrobis
Semdeg stalinTan pirvel Sexvedrasac
ixsenebs. im dros igi mxatvruli
literaturis saxelmwifo gamomcemlobis
dasavleTis literaturis ganyofilebis
gamged muSaobda. erT dRes acnobes,
rom kremlSi unda gamocxadebuliyo
`Tavad imasTan~. kabinetSi Sesuls neli
da dinji nabijiT, stalini Seegeba,
`Cibuxs aplakunebda~. beladma, berias
msgavsad, hkiTxa, Tu rogor kvebavdnen
(rasakvirvelia, sapatimroSi). Semdeg
stalinma uTxra: `sxvaTa Soris, SegiZlia
`SenobiT~ (momarTva _ n. g.)~ (iqve, gv.
45). amis Semdeg stalini mitrialda da
magidisken wavida, rac, s. qavTaraZis TqmiT,
audienciis damTavrebas niSnavda.
s. qavTaraZe momdevno periodis
ambebsac ixsenebs, rogor mtikvneulad
ganicdida meuRlesTan erTad ori vaJis
daRupvas; isic icodnen, `yovelTvis
arsebobda uaresis safrTxe~ (iqve, gv.
44). erT dResac, Ramis sam saaTze, kidev
erTxel daufrTxes Zili s. qavTaraZis
ojaxs, tyavisqurTukianma manqanaSi Casva da
sadRac waiyvana. rogorc aRmoCnda, Ramis
maspinZeli kvlavac qveynis pirveli Cekisti
iyo. am SexvedrasTan dakavSirebiT s.
qavTaraZe Tavis gadawyvetilebas gvimxels:
`xelmeored me cixeSi usikvdilod aRar
waval. Tuki es naZirala isev daWeras
mipirebs, mis magidaze rom marmarilos
saferfle devs, CavuSveb im melot TavSi da
am keTil saqmes mainc movaswreb sikvdilis
win. am gadawyvetilebiT damuxtulma,
rogorc ki fexi Sevdgi kabinetSi, mTeli
xmiT viRriale: `ra gindaT Cemgan! bolos
da bolos, gamagebineT, ra gindaT!~ (iqve,
gv. 45). aRmoCnda, rom stalinTan iyo
gamoZaxebuli. s. qavTaraZe im wuTebSi
gaCenil gancdasac ixsenebs: `mgoni,
maSin pirvelad dameufla protestisa
da aRSfoTebis gancda stalinis mimarT:
Tu Cemi naxva unda, raRa berias gziT da
Sinsaxkomelis saSualebiT...~ (gv. 45). am
moyuriade `Sinsaxkomels~ s. qavTaraZe
of these, he was taken from the camp to Stalins summer-
cottage. Stalin recognized his friend at once and asked him
where he had been and what he had been doing. Sergo
answered that he was in prison. Stalin looked at him in
surprise and exclaimed: What a time for sitting in prison!
Theres a war on! At the end of the meeting Stalin told
Kavtaradze that he would work in the Foreign Ministry. Stalin
said to him with a piercing look and intonation: You wanted
to kill me, did not you?
The historian V. Rogovin noted that Only Kavtaradze
survived among the famous Georgian opponents. He was
tortured in an NKVD prison. It was the only case when Stalin
pardoned somebody.
1
Rogovin quoted Stalins words about
Kavtaradze wanting to kill him. But according to Rogovin,
Stalin said this phrase at the state party when Kavtaradze
was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Kavtaradze spoke about his arrest and about his visits
with Stalin in an interview.
2
According to him, since he was
considered an enemy of the people, he was not allowed
correspondence from prison. But he was a privileged
prisoner because he was in a separate cell. For thirteen
years in prison he lost his temper only once, when the
pioneers were brought in prison to stare at the enemies
of the people from a little window of the cell, as if I was
a rare kind of beast in a cage (ibid, p. 44). Kavtaradze
remembered how after thirteen years in prison he was
ordered ! (Take your things with you!) and how
he found himself in the study of Lavrentiy Beria on Lubyanka
Street. He had never seen Beria before, and recognized
1
V. Rogovin The Party of the Executed, Moscow, 1997, p. 34.
2
L. Chantladze A Key Question, the journal Green Flower No.2, 1999, pp. 44-46. The
phrases below will be quoted from this journal.
39
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interviuSi kvlavac axsenebs da am
kacisadmi Tavis damokidebulebas kidev
erTxel afiqsirebs, da _ ara marto
Tavisas. s. qavTaraZe gadmogvcems, rom
stalinma agarakze gamarTul erT-erT
wveulebaze, roca masTan saubrobda, `sasmen
manZilze moCoCebul~ berias mkveTri
megruli aqcentiT qarTulad uTxra:
`moRalate xar Sen, lavrenti beria!~ (iqve,
gv. 45). aRniSnulma sityvebma sagonebelSi
Caagdo s. qavTaraZe, ras ifiqrebda `afTari~
beria? `mas mere yoveldRe daWeras velodi,
magram ver gabeda, stalins favorSi vyavdi~
(gv. 46), _ gvimxels interviuSi.
berias saSualebiT stalinTan
gamoZaxebuli s. qavTaraZe pirdapir
politbiuros sxdomaze aRmoCnda,
sadac saqveynod cnobil adamianebs,
`naxevradRmerTebs~, moeyaraT Tavi,
`marionetebiviT~ isxdnen, stalinis
direqtivebs gulisyuriT ismendnen da erTi
replikac ki ar dascdeniaT. s. qavTaraZe
Tu ratom aRmoCnda politbiuros sxdomaze,
amis erTaderT axsnas Tavad gvamcnobs:
`maCvena, ra Zalauflebas flobda, rogor
Tojinebad hyavda qceuli mTeli elita.
viTomda, gulSi ar Caido Cemze boRmao... aba
sxva ra unda vifiqro?~ (iqve, gv. 45).
s. qavTaraZe masTan SuaRamiT `odnav
Seqeifianebuli~ stalinis vizitis
Sesaxebac saubrobs. am stumrobisas
beladma aRiara maT mimarT Cadenili
danaSauli da patieba samgzis iTxova.
s. qavTaraZis ojaxSi stalinis stumrobis
istoria legendad iqca. cnobilia, rom
stalins uyvarda aseTi Jestebi, Tumca mTeli
sicocxlis manZilze beladma mxolod
ramdenime aseTi nabiji gadadga, magram
Semdgom mTeli qveyana amaze laparakobda.
esec stalinis gegmazomieri politikis
nawili iyo.
apatia Tu ara s. qavTaraZem ori
Svilis sikvdili da col-qmris 13 _
wliani patimroba stalins, romelTanac
igi bolomde (beladis sikvdilamde)
TanamSromlobda da, rogorc biografiidan
viciT, saxelmwifo samsaxurSi sakmaod
didi Tanamdebobebi ekava (rasakvirvelia,
stalinis nebiT), l. CantlaZesTan
interviuSi igi am SekiTxvaze pasuxs ar
iZleva, dums. interviueris interess, Tu
ratom ar hkiTxa belads, ras erCoda mas,
s. qavTaraZe pasuxad ambobs: `ver hkiTxavdi~.
isic cnobilia, rom s. qavTaraZem
arc sicocxlis SenarCunebisa da
gaTavisuflebis mizezi icoda.
him from photographs. Behind Beria stood Kobulov, hisright
hand (Nutsubidze also was under his care and support).
Beria asked the prisoner about his health and nutrition.
Then he reprimanded Kavtaradze for his clothes: You
are supposed to be an educated and intelligent man. This
clothing is unworthy of you! (ibid, p. 44).
Beria informed Kavtaradze about the Chekas decision
to release him. According to Kavtaradze, at frst he was very
happy to hear this. But later he had some doubts because
the issue of his release had nothing to do with the Cheka. At
frst he thought Beria was saying this to make fun of him, but
when he exclaimed I dont believe you, Beria got angry and
shouted What?! How dare you! Do you know who is sitting
before you? Lavrentiy Beria! Maybe you want to go back to
prison? (ibid, p. 44).
Berias next order was terrible for Kavtaradze: he
shouted Get him dressed! When they were leaving his
offce, Beria called after Kobulov: Dress his wife as well!
(ibid, p. 44). It was only then that Kavtaradze realized that his
wife had been arrested as well. He also found it unpleasant
to choose the clothing, because he guessed that it belonged
to those who had been executed.
The joy of freedom and of meeting with wife, whos he
had not seen for thirteen years, was mitigated by the fact
that they did not know of their childrens whereabouts. After a
long search , they found their daughter in a deserted nursery
school, but they had lost the boys for ever. The children of
the peoples enemies were destroyed by the Bolsheviks.
Kavtaradze recalled how he frst met Stalin. He was
serving as head of Western Literature Department in a state
publishing-house, when one day he was informed that he
40
s. qavTaraZisagan gansxvavebiT, S. nucubiZes
imTaviTve ganumartes, rom misi `gadarCenis
piroba~ `vefxistyaosani~ iyo. S.
nucubiZisa da s. qavTaraZis cxovrebaTa
avadsaxsenebeli movlenebis warmoCena
saerTo xazebs gamokveTs. filosofiis
doqtori, Rrmad moazrovne, saqveynod
cnobili mecnieri S. nucubiZe da
peterburgis universitetis iuridiuli
fakultetis kursdamTavrebuli, Zveli
bolSeviki (bolSevikTa Soris gamorCeuli
erudiciis mqone) da revolucioneri
s. qavTaraZe, saerTo braldebiT arian
dapatimrebulni, erTsa da imave dros
sxedan cixeSi da raRac periodSi erTsa
da imave adgilas _ lubiankaze, imyofebian.
orives saqmes beria zedamxedvelobs da
misi marjvena xeli, qobulovi. stalinTan
maTi audienciebic imas mowmoben, rom
beladi maTi gadarCenis mTavari `Semoqmedi~
iyo. S. nucubiZem da s. qavTaraZem SeiZleba
arc icodnen, ra iyo maTi xsnis mTavari
mizezi _ stalinis saTaviso politikuri
zraxvebi. S. nucubiZis SemTxvevaSi,
beladi `vefxistyaosnis~ Rirseuli
TargmaniT mTel msoflios daanaxebda,
rom is udidesi civilizaciis mqone
eris Svili iyo; s. qavTaraZe, rogorc
didi ganaTlebis (rac im dros metad
iSviaTi movlena gaxldaT bolSevikTa
wreebSi), mravalmxrivi xedvis mqone,
brZolisunariani da saqmiani pirovneba
belads sWirdeboda, rogorc saSinao, ise
sagareo politikaSi, Torem bavSvobis
megobari mas sxvebic hyavda.
da bolos, CvenTvis yvelaze
mniSvnelovani sakiTxi _ S. nucubiZisa da
s. qavTaraZis cxovrebis gadakveTis gza
`vefxistyaosans~ ukavSirdeba. rogorc ukve
aRiniSna, S. nucubiZe Tavisi Targmanis
winasityvaobaSi madlobas uxdis Tavis
redaqtorebs _ s. m. gorodeckis, s. i.
qavTaraZesa da n. s. tixonovs. S. nucubiZis
TargmanTan dakavSirebiT n. tixonovi
aRniSnavs, rom `qarTuli teqstis
ukanaskneli SemowmebisaTvis mowveuli iyo
s. qavTaraZe~ (gv. 407).
1

Tavis mxriv, s. qavTaraZe, n. tixonovis
70 wlis iubilesTan dakavSirebiT aqveynebs
mcire zomis werils _ `yuradRebiani
mrCeveli~ _ romelSic aRniSnulia, rom 1940
wels (rodesac qavTaraZe muSaobda mxatvruli
literaturis saxelmwifo gamomcemlobaSi
evropuli da rusuli klasikis seqtoris
1
n. tixonovi, `margaliti wyobili~, wignSi _ `rusTaveli msoflio
literaturaSi~, t. III, Tb., 1988
had been summoned to the Kremlin. When he entered the
room, Stalin met him with a pipe in his hand. Like Beria, he
asked Kavtaradze about his nutrition in prison. Then Stalin
said to him: You may address me with tous (ibid, p. 45).
Stalin turned back and went to the table. It was the end of
their conversation.
Kavtaradze remembered how he and his wife mourned
for their two sons. They knew that even worse things could
happen (ibid, p. 44). One day at 3a.m. he was put in a car
by men in leather coats and taken away. He was brought
once again to see the Number One Policeman. At this
pointed Kavtaradze made a promise to himself: I wont go
back to prison. If this bastard wants to send me back there,
Ill smash his bald head with the marble ash-tray lying on
his table. It will be my last good deed before death. When
he entered the room he shouted What do you want from
me! Tell me, what you want from me! (ibid, p. 45). It turned
out that he had been summoned to Stalin. Kavtaradze was
angry with Stalin: Why did he want to see me through
Beria and the NKVD? (ibid, p. 45). Kavtaradze mentioned
Beria one more time. At a party in his dacha Stalin said to
Beria, imitating a Mingrelian accent in Georgian, You are
a traitor, Lavrentiy Beria! (ibid, p. 45). After these words,
Kavtaradzes only thought was about what the hyena Beria
would think: I expected to be imprisoned, but he could not
dare because Stalin protected me (ibid, p. 46).
Kavtaradze, who was taken to Stalin by Beria, found
himself at a Politburo meeting, where many of the Soviet
demi-gods had gathered. Sitting like marionettes, they were
listening to Stalins orders and did not say anything.
According to Kavtaradze, he was brought to the
41
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g
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xelmZRvanelad) igi, gorodeckisTan da
tixonovTan erTad, amzadebda S. nucubiZis
Targmans gamosacemad. s. qavTaraZe am
muSaobaSi sakuTar rolze saubrobs: `... me
poemis Targmans redaqtirebas vukeTebdi
originalTan sizustis TvalsazrisiT~ (gv. 3).
1

rogorc irkveva, s. qavTaraZis saxeli
sxva mxrivac ukavSirdeba `vefxistyaosans~.
Sss-s arqivSi aRmoCnda ori saqaRalde.
erTi ekuTvnis skkp ck-sTan arsebuli
marqsizm-leninizmis qarTuli filialis
partiul arqivs
2
. saqaRaldis garekani
gvamcnobs: `s. qavTaraZe _ SoTa
rusTaveli da misi poema `vefxistyaosani~.
saqaRaldeSi moTavsebulia s. qavTaraZis
aRniSnuli naSromi (16 nabeWdi gverdi,
Tumca, me-7 gverdi orgzis meordeba,
gverdebis numeraciaa areuli da,
Sesabamisad, sul 17 gverdia), Sesrulebuli
rusul enaze. naSroms erTvis marqs-engels-
leninis istoriis institutis saqarTvelos
ganyofilebis direqtorisadmi, istoriis
mecn. doqtoris v. merkvilaZisadmi CaCaniZe
vasil ilarionis Zis (skkp wevris)
(rogorc Tavad avtori aRniSnavs) werili
(xelnaweri), TariRiT _ 23 ianvari, 1968
weli. v. CaCaniZe werilSi aRniSnavs, rom
muSaobs `vefxistyaosnis~ gamomcemlebisa
da mTargmnelebis monografiis Sedgenaze.
igi wers: `Cvens Tanamemamules, did
marqsists _ i. stalins Zalian yvarebia
`vefxistyaosani~ da muSaobaSi daRlili
dasvenebis dros xSirad kiTxulobda
mas. erTxel Tavis TanamemamulisaTvis,
revoluciis veteranisa da Zveli
bolSevikisaTvis _ sergo ivanes Ze
qavTaraZisaTvis dauvalebia daewera
`vefxistyaosnis~ msoflmxedvelobis
Sesaxeb narkvevi~.
3

werilidan vigebT, rom s. qavTaraZes
stalinis Txovna Seusrulebia da 1940
wels dauweria narkvevi, moculobiT _
manqanaze nabeWdi 15 gverdi. s. qavTaraZes
naSromi stalinisaTvis miurTmevia.
belads igi moswonebia da naSromze aseTi
warwera gaukeTebia rusulad: `me mTlianad
veTanxmebi amx. s. i. qavTaraZis azrs. g. s.
(gansakuTrebuli komisia, misi samdivno
_ n. g.) gaecnos amx. qavTaraZes~ (iqve).
samdivnos Seusrulebia stalinis davaleba
da s. qavTaraZisaTvis gaucvniaT stalinis
minaweris Sinaarsi.
1
s. qavTaraZe, `yuradRebiani mrCeveli~, gaz. ` ~, 1966,
#282 (4120)
2
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), fondi #8, EEg.xp #405, TariRiT _ 23/I
1968
3
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), fondi #8, Eg.xp #405, TariRiT _ 23/I
1968, furc. 17.
meeting because Stalin showed me his power. The
members of the elite were puppets in his hand. He wanted to
tell me not to be angry with him. There is nothing else I could
think (ibid, p. 45).
Kavtaradze spoke about Stalins drunken visit to his
house at night. Stalin asked for forgiveness for his mistakes.
This visit of Stalins became a legend. Everybody knew that
Stalin liked such things, and although he rarely behaved so,
everybody spoke about it. This was also a part of his political
plan.
When L. Chantladze asked Kavtaradze if he had
forgiven Stalin the death of his two sons and the 13-year
imprisonment of him and his wife, he did not say anything.
He kept this restrained position until Stalins death. To the
interviewers question of why did not he ask Stalin what he
wanted from him, Kavtaradze answered: One wouldnt dare
to ask him.
Kavtaradze did not know the reasons why he had not
been executed and why wasbeen released.
Unlike Kavtaradze, Shota Nutsubidze was told that he
would stay alive if he translated The Knight in the Panthers
Skin.
Nutsubidze, a PhD in philosophy and a famous
scientist, and Kavtaradze a graduate of the St. Petersburg
University Law Faculty, an educated Old Bolshevik and
revolutionary, were arrested on the same charges. They
were imprisoned and visited Stalin during the same period.
Both cases were under the responsibility of Beria and his
client Kobulov. Stalin was the main person who attempted
to save them. Nutsubidze and Kavtaradze did not know the
cause of their survival. It was because of Stalins political
42
v. CaCaniZe werilSi aRniSnavs, rom es
naSromi stalinis minaweriT samdivnoSi
darCenila. mecnieri varaudobs, rom
aRniSnuli masala inaxeba skkp ck-is
arqivSi. v. CaCaniZis azriT, s. qavTaraZis
naSromi `saintereso masalaa qarTuli
kulturisaTvis da rusTvelologebisaTvis~
(iqve). amasTanave dasZens, rom igi Tavisi
naSromisaTvis esaWiroeba. v. CaCaniZe
daxmarebisaTvis mimarTavs v. merkvilaZes,
aRZras Suamdgomloba skkp ck-is winaSe,
raTa gamoegzavnaT am masalis sruli foto
stalinis minaweriT. v. CaCaniZe imasac
SeniSnavs, rom am warweris fotopiris
miRebis survili Tavad narkvevis avtorsac
hqonda. mecnieri aRniSnul sakiTxTan
dakavSirebiT daxmarebas iTxovs.
meore saqaRaldis garekanze aRniSnulia
_ saq. kom. partiis centralur komitetTan
arsebuli partiis istoriis instituti.
ganyofileba: partiuli arqivi. saTauri _
ib. stalinis TxovniT s. i. qavTaraZis mier
momzadebuli mosazreba SoTa rusTavelis
poemis `vefxis tyaosnis~ Sesaxeb~. saqme
#208. s. qavTaraZis naSroms win uZRvis
werili (rusul enaze), TariRiT _ 29/ II,
1968 weli. adresati _ kom. partiis ck-Tan
arsebuli marqsizm-leninizmis institutis
direqtoris moadgile, amx.
a. a. soloviovi. werils xels awers saq.
kom. partiis ck-Tan arsebuli partiis
istoriis partarqivis direqtoris
moadgile _ e. qurcikiZe. werilSi
aRniSnulia, rom Zveli bolSeviki
amx. s. i. qavTaraZe (imxnad sakavSiro
mniSvnelobis personaluri pensioneri)
cxovrobs TbilisSi, rom man 1940 wels
stalinis davalebiT Seasrula narkvevi
Temaze _ `SoTa rusTaveli da misi poema
`vefxistyaosani~ (poemis msoflmxedveloba),
manqanaze nabeWd 15 gverdze. `teqstis
pirveli variantis asli, romelic
avtoris mieraa Senaxuli, TandarTulia~.
1

e. qurcikiZe aRniSnavs, rom naSromi
waredgina stalins, romelmac pirvel
furcelze daado rezolucia, daaxloebiT
am Sinaarsisa _ `me sruliad veTanxmebi
amx. qavTaraZis azrs. rezolucia gaecnos
amx. qavTaraZes~ (iqve). qavTaraZes stalinis
samdivnom gaacno rezolucia.
e. qurcikiZe SoTa rusTavelis 800
wlisTavis iubilesTan dakavSirebiT
aRniSnavs, rom saqarTvelos respublikaSi
ibeWdeba naSromebi, romelTaTvisac
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), s.#208, furc. 17. SemdgomSi citatebs
am dokumentidan davimowmebT
goals.
With the help of Nutsubidzes translation of The Knight
in the Panthers Skin Stalin would prove that he was a son
of a nation with a great culture. Kavtaradze was an educated
Bolshevik, which was very rare that time, and Stalin wanted
to use him in internal and foreign political affairs. The fact
that Kavtaradze was his childhood friend meant nothing to
him because he had enough friends.
The Knight in the Panthers Skin is the key to the
crossing of paths of Nutsubidze and Kavtaradze. As was
already mentioned, Nutsubidze in the preface thanked
his editors, S. M. Gorodetsky, S.I. Kavtaradze and N. S.
Tikhonov. N. Tikhonov, and he wrote: S. Kavtaradze was
invited for fnal editing of the Georgian text (p. 407).
1
Kavtaradze dedicated his letter To the Attentive
Advisor to the 70
th
birthday of N. Tikhonov. According to
the letter, when Kavtaradze was a head of the Department
of European and Russian classics in the state publishing-
house (in 1940), he, Gorodetsky and Tikhonov were working
on Nutsubidzes translation of The Knight in the Panthers
Skin. Kavtaradze said I was to edit the translation from the
point of view that it should be exact to the original (p. 3).
2
Kavtarades name is closely connected with The
Knight in the Panthers Skin. There are two relevant fles
in the archive of the MIA. One of them belonged to Party
Archive, branch of Marxism and Leninism Institute Building
of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
3
The following
is written on the cover of this: S. Kavtaradze Shota
Rustaveli and his poem The Knight in the Panthers Skin.
1
N. Tikhonov,Composed as pearls, Rustaveli in the world literature, V.III, Tbilisi, 1988
2
S. Kavtaradze Attentive Advisor, the paper Evening Tbilisi, 1966, No.282 (4120)
3
II Section of the Archive of the MIA of Georgia, f. 8, Eg. Xp. 405, date 23/I 1968
43
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aRniSnuli narkvevis piria saWiro, stalinis
rezoluciiT. Sesabamisad, e. qurcikiZe a.
soloviovs sTxovs, aRniSnuli naSromis
mikrofotoasli saqarTvelos partiis
istoriis instituts gamougzavnos.
s. qavTaraZis naSromze TandarTuli
orive werilidan irkveva, rom stalins,
`revoluciis veteranisa da Zveli
bolSevikisaTvis~ `vefxistyaosnis~
msoflmxedvelobis Sesaxeb naSromis
dawera dauvalebia. 1940 wels s. qavTaraZem
belads gasacnobad warudgina naSromi
_ `SoTa rusTaveli da misi poema
`vefxistyaosani~, romelic belads moewona
da Tavisi kmayofileba minawerSi aRbeWda.
rogorc erT-erTi werilidan Cans, Tavad
avtoris mier Senaxuli teqstis pirveli
variantis kopia marqsizm-leninizmis
instituts egzavneba moskovSi (direqtoris
moadgiles _ a. soloviovs). s. qavTaraZis
naSromis or aslze TandarTul werilebSi
(v. CaCaniZisa da e. qurcikiZisa) garkveviTaa
gamoTqmuli Txovna, gamoegzavnaT am
masalis mikrofotopiri stalinis
minaweriT (s. qavTaraZesac stalinis
warweris fotopiris miRebis survili
hqonda). amdenad, v. CaCaniZesa da e. qurcikiZes
xelT aqvT s. qavTaraZis mier Senaxuli
naSromis pirveli variantis asli, icnoben
am naSroms, Tumca dabejiTebiT moskovisgan
iTxoven pirvel variants, rasakvirvelia,
aq mTavar mizans, stalinis minaweris
mopoveba warmoadgens da ara _ am narkvevis
gamoyeneba samecniero naSromebisaTvis,
rogorc es zemomoxmobil werilebSia
aRniSnuli (naSromis kopia maT xom xelT
hqondaT). werilis avtorebma miiRes Tu ara
mikrofotoasli, CvenTvis ucnobia.
Cven moviZieT s. qavTaraZis naSromi
g. imedaSvilis mier Sedgenil anotirebul
bibliografiaSi _ `rusTvelologiuri
literatura~, 1712-1956 w.w (Tb., 1957 w);
aseve _ saq. mecn. akademiisa da SoTa
rusTavelis sax. qarTuli literaturis
institutis mier momzadebul naSromSi
_ `rusTvelologiuri literatura~, II,
1957-1965 w.w., anotirebuli bibliografia,
Tb., 2002 da saqarTvelos mecnierebaTa
erovnuli akademiis, `vefxistyaosnis~
akademiuri gamocemisa da qarTuli
enis Tesavrusis komitetis egidiT
g. arabulis mier Sedgenil wignSi _
`rusTvelologiuri literatura~, IV,
1967-1980 ww. anotirebuli bibliografia
(Tb., 2009), agreTve Semdgomi periodis
samecniero literaturaSi, biblioTekebis
There is a work of S. Kavtaradze in Russian (consisting
of seventeen pages, but the numeration is mixed and two
pages are numbered as 7. Thus, the work mistakenly
has been numbered as 16). A letter from Vasil Ilarionis
dze Chachanidze (a member of the Communist Party of
the Soviet Union) addressed to V. Merkviladze, a PhD in
history and director of Georgian branch of the Marx-Engels-
Lenin Institute, is affxed to it and dated January 23, 1968.
According to this letter, V. Chachanidze worked on the The
Knight in the Panthers Skin translation monograph. He
wrote as follows: Our compatriot and a great Marxist, Stalin,
liked The Knight in the Panthers Skin very much and often
read this poem when he rested. Once he ordered to the Old
Bolshevik and revolutionary S. Kavtaradze to write an essay
about scope of The Knight in the Panthers Skin.
1
The letter states that Kavtaradze fulflled Stalins
request, and in 1940 he wrote a 15-page essay,
Kavtaradze brought his essay to Stalin. The Great
Leader liked it and noted on the cover in Russian: I agree
with [the Secretary of the Special Committee]. Show it to
Comrade Kavtaradze (ibid). His order was fulflled and
Kavtaradze learnt about Stalins inscription.
V. Chachanidze wrote in the letter that this essay had
been kept in the secretariat. The scientists considered that
the essay should be in the Archive of the Communist Party
of the Soviet Union. According to him, Kavtaradzes essay
is an interesting work for Georgian culture and students of
Rustaveli. Adding that he needed the essay for his work, V.
Chachanidze appealed for help to V. Merkviladze, who was
to be the mediator between him and the Communist Party.
1
II Section of the Archive of the MIA of Georgia, f. 8, Eg. Xp. 405, date 23/I 1968, p. 17.
44
katalogebSi, Tumca naSroms versad
mivakvlieT. rogorc Cans, igi aqamde ar
gamoqveynebula. amdenad, Sss-s arqivSi
daculi s. qavTaraZis naSromi pirvelad
`saarqivo moambeSi~ ibeWdeba.
s. qavTaraZis naSromSi gamokveTili
da ganxilulia ramdenime sakiTxi,
kerZod, XII s-is saqarTvelos istoriul-
kulturuli yofa, rusTavelis vinaoba,
`vefxistyaosnis~ daweris dro, rusTavelis
msoflmxedveloba, renesansuli ideebi,
rusTavelis socialur-politikuri
Sexedulebebi, poemis Tematuri ideebi
_ siyvaruli, megobroba, humanizmi, bedi
da gangeba, qalis kulti, personaJebi,
rusTavelis poetika, poemis leqsTwyoba,
poemis xelnawerebi da gamocemebi.
avtoris mier swored am sakiTxTa
gamoyofa rusulenovan mkiTxvels Seuqmnida
warmodgenas msoflios udides poetsa
da mis ukvdav poemaze, SeaZlebinebda
da daexmareboda misi mniSvnelovnebis
gaazreba-SefasebaSi.
s. qavTaraZe naSromSi cdilobs,
gaarkvios `vefxistyaosnis~ daweris dro.
poemaSi naxsenebi da amasTanave aRuniSnavi
istoriuli faqtebisa da movlenebis
ganxilvis safuZvelze igi `vefxistyaosnis~
Seqmnis savaraudo periods iZleva, XIII s-is
30-iani wlebi (S. nucubiZis azriT, romelic
`vefxistyaosnis~ miseuli Targmanis
winasityvaobaSia gamoTqmuli, poemis
dawera 1198 wels ar unda gadascildes).
s. qavTaraZe drois aRniSnuli monakveTis
dadgenisas ramdenime sakiTxs eyrdnoba,
kerZod, rusTavelis mier poemaSi xvarazmis,
xataeTisa da `romaniis~ xsenebis da
amasTanave bizantiisa da mongoleTis
imperiebis mouxsenlobis faqtebs. aRniSnul
sakiTxebs igi msoflioSi mimdinare
procesebis gaTvaliswinebiT xsnis, mxolod
da mxolod istoriuli sinamdvilis
amsaxveli movlenebiT afasebs da poemis
mxatvrul sinamdvileze yuradRebas
ar amaxvilebs (aq araferia Tqmuli
gamonagoni qveynebis _ mulRazanzaris,
zRvaTa samefosa da qajeTis _ Sesaxeb).
erTi SexedviT, aRniSnuli msjeloba
SesaZloa, mkiTxvelma s. qavTaraZis pirad
mosazrebebad aRiqvas, radgan igi am
SemTxvevaSi wyaros ar miuTiTebs (Tumca
sxvagan sqolioebs iSveliebs da SeeZlo,
aqac gamoeyenebina). sinamdvileSi es s.
qavTaraZis Sexedulebebi araa, poemis
daweris TariRis gasarkvevad mis naSromSi
gamoyofili sami sakiTxi _ 1-li, me-
Chachanidze wanted a photo of this essay with Stalins
inscription. V. Chachanidze wrote that the author of the
essay also wanted to get a photo copy of Stalins inscription.
The other fle is inscribed as follows: History Institute of
the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia.
Department: Party Archive. The title of the folder is An
essay written by S. I. Kavtaradze about Shota Rustavelis
poem The Knight in the Panthers Skin with the request of J.
B. Stalin, Case No. 208. Kavtaradzes work was prefaced by
a letter (in Russian) dated Feburary 29 1968. The addressee
was A. A. Soloviov, Deputy Director of the Marx-Lenin
Institute of the Central Committee of the Communist Party,
and it is signed by by E. Kurtsikidze, the Deputy Director
of the Party Archive of the of History Institute of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party. According to the letter,
the Old Bolshevik Kavtaradze, the recipient of a special
pension, lived in Tbilisi, and on the order of Stalin he wrote
a 15-page essay on Rustavelis poem. A copy of the frst
draft is attached to the letter.
1
Kurtsikidze noted that the
essay had been shown to Stalin, and that Stalin had written
a resolution on the cover: I approve Comrade Kavtaradzes
idea. Show him the resolution. Stalins secretariat showed
the resolution to Kavtaradze.
According to Kurtsikidze, many works were published in
Georgian SSR for the 800
th
anniversary of Shota Rustaveli.
For this reason, Kurtsikidze asked A. Soloviov to send a
photo copy of the essay to History Institute of the Communist
Party.
From two letters that are attached to Kavtaradzes
work, it can be concluded that Stalin asked the Old Bolshevik
1
II Section of the Archive of the MIA of Georgia, c. 208, p. 17. The phrases below will
be quoted from this document.
45
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g
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3 da me-4 (me-2 sakiTxi gamotovebulia,
albaT beWdvisas gamorCa) _ aRebulia a.
svaniZis patara moculobis wignidan _
`vefxistyaosnis istoriul-geografiuli
sarCuli~.
1
mkiTxvelisaTvis TvalnaTeli
rom gaxdes aRniSnuli `sesxeba~ (s.
qavTaraZis naSromidan citirebas ar
mivmarTavT, radgan misi teqstis Targmani
amave JurnalSi mTlianad ibeWdeba),
movixmobT a. svaniZis wignis erTi
Tavidan, kerZod, `rodisaa dawerili
vefxistyaosani~, nawyvets: `am kiTxvis
gamorkveva Cven Semdegi kiTxvebis analiziT
unda daviwyoT: 1) ratom arafers gvauwyebs
rusTaveli bizantiis didi da Zlieri
imperiis Sesaxeb, rodesac is Tanadroul
saxelmwifoTa sistemas gvacnobs? 2) ratom
gvacnobs rusTaveli goris samefos
yofil provincias indostans, da TviT am
samefoze aras gvauwyebs? 3) ratom gvacnobs
rusTaveli Soreuli aRmosavleTis
saxelmwifoebs, rogoricaa xvarazmi
da xataeTi, da mongolebis samefos ki
sruliad ar ixseniebs? 4) ra saxelmwifo
atarebda `romanias~ saxels da ras
moaswavebs am saxelis xseneba rusTavelis
mier?~ (iqve, gv. 45). a. svaniZis mier dasmuli
SekiTxvebis pasuxic s. qavTaraZis naSromSi
TiTqmis ucvlelad meordeba (Tu ar
CavTvliT leqsikuri xasiaTis cvlilebebs).
gansxvavebac unda aRiniSnos, Tu s.
qavTaraZe arafers ambobs gulanSaros,
mulRazanzarisa da qajeTis Sesaxeb, a.
svaniZis wignSi am qveynebis ganxilvas
(xataeTis, xvarazmis, indoeTisa da
arabeTis samefoebTan erTad) calke Tavebi
eTmoba da avtori rusTavelis mier am
gamonagon samefoebSi istoriulad arsebul
qveynebs xedavs (misi azriT, gulanSaro
veneciaa, mulRazanzari _ trapizonis
samefo, qajeTi _ espaneTis mavritania,
xolo qajeTis cixe _ gibraltari). albaT,
s. qavTaraZe (sxva mecnierTa msgavsad)
am sakiTxSi ar eTanxmeboda a. svaniZes
da amitomac naSromSi araferi Tqva
`vefxistyaosnis~ am qveynebze.
samecniero literaturaSi
aRniSnulia, rom rusTavelis poemaSi
SesaZlebelia istoriuli realiebis
danaxva, Tumca, upirveles yovlisa, isaa
1
a. svaniZe, `vefxistyaosnis istoriul-geografiuli sarCuli~, Tf.,
1934, gamomcemloba `saxelgami~. aqve unda aRiniSnos, rom a. svaniZis
naSromi _ `vefxis-tyaosnis istoriuli mxare (oriode SeniSvna)~ _
pirvelad daibeWda yovelTviur JurnalSi `Svidi mnaTobi~, 1919, #2,
oqtomberi, gv. 196-214. am JurnalSi, rogorc, cnobilia, avtorTa da
naSromTa SerCeva Jurnalis damaarseblis, polikarpe kakabaZis, mier
didi pasuxismgeblobiT xdeboda.
and revolutionary to write an assay on The Knight in the
Panthers Skin. In 1940 Kavtaradze submitted his work
Shota Rustaveli and his poem The Knight in the Panthers
Skin to Stalin, and the great leader approved of it. The
copy of the frst draft had been sent to Soloviov, the Deputy
Director of the Marx-Lenin Institute in Moscow. According
to two letters, one by V. Chachanidze and another by E.
Kurtsikidze, Kavtaradze wanted to get a photo copy of
Stalins inscription on his essay. Thus, Chachanidze and
Kurtsikidze had a copy of Kavtaradzes work, but they
wanted to get the original because ithad Stalins inscription
on the cover. We do not know the the authors of the letter
managed to get a photo copy or not.
We searched for Kavtaradzes essay in the following
works: G. Imedashvilis bibliography of works on the study
of Rustaveli (1712 1956, Tbilisi, 1957); the Georgian
Science Academy and Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian
Literature Bibliography, v. II, 1957 1965; the Bibliography
with Annotations, Tbilisi, 2002; the book Rustvelology
Literature by G. Arabuli that was published under the aegis
of the Committee for the Georgian Language, v. IV, 1967
1980, and the Bibliography with Annotations (Tbilisi, 2009).
We searched also in the catalogues of the libraries, but we
could not fnd the essay anywhere. We thus concluded that
the work was never published, so thus Kavtaradzes essay
that is preserved in the archive of the MIA is now being
published in the Archival Bulletin for the frst time.
The following issues were discussed in Kavtaradzes
work: the history and culture of Georgia in the 12
th
century;
Rustavelis identity; the period of composing The Knight in
the Panthers Skin; Rustavelis outlook; ideas during the
46
gasaTvaliswinebeli, rom `vefxistyaosani~
mxatvruli nawarmoebia da umTavresad aqaa
saZiebeli misi Sina-arsi da mniSvnelovneba.
sabolood, a. svaniZes poemis daweris
TariRi zemoaRniSnuli `istoriul-
geografiuli sarCulis~ safuZvelze
miRebuli daskvnebis mixedviT gamoyavs:
`vefxistyaosani SeuZlebelia 1204-6 welze
adre da 1236-8 welze gvian iyos dawerili~
(iqve, gv. 46). amasTanave, a. svaniZe rusul
enaze daweril Tavis sxva naSromSi
(`rusTaveli da misi poema~, Jurn. `
~, 1936, #9, romlis mxolod Sesavali
nawilia gansxvavebuli, mTavar Temas
kvlavac poemis istoriul-geografiuli
TvalsazrisiT zemomoxmobili kvleva
warmoadgens) poemis originalobis
sakiTxTan dakavSirebiT ambobs, rom
prologsa da epilogs Soris da,
meore mxriv, maT mimarTebas poemasTan.
aranairi organuli kavSiri ar aqvs (arc
Sinaarsobrivad, arc formiT da arc
leqsis srulyofilebiT). misi TqmiT,
`prologSi poema eZRvneba Tamars, maSin,
rodesac Tavad nawarmoebSi erTxelac araa
es saxeli naxsenebi. prologi da epilogi,
rac araerTxelaa miTiTebuli sxvadasxva
mxridan, warmoadgenen gviandel mimatebas
ara erTi, aramed, rogorc Cans, ramdenime
avtorisas~ (iqve, gv. 253).
rac Seexeba s. qavTaraZes, igi ar
akonkretebs (a. svaniZis msgavsad) poemis
daweris TariRs da, savaraudod, mis
Seqmnas, rogorc ukve aRvniSneT, XIII s-is 30-
iani wlebSi fiqrobs. s. qavTaraZe, gansxvavebiT
al. svaniZisagan, `vefxistyaosnis~ prolog-
epilogs did mniSvnelobas aniWebs da
prolog-epilogis strofebSi Tamar mefisa
da daviT soslanis qebis damowmebiT,
agreTve zemoaRniSnuli istoriuli
movlenebis ganxilvis safuZvelze dasZens:
`es unda iyos Tamaris (1184-1213) mefobis
dro, qarTuli kulturis renesansis
brwyinvale dasawyisi, saqarTvelos
istoriis `oqros xana~ (gv. 2). aqve unda
SevniSnoT, rom s. qavTaraZis mier Tamaris
mefobisa da `vefxistyaosnis~ Seqmnis
epoqis `qarTuli kulturis renesansis
brwyinvale dasawyisad~ saxeldeba, Cveni
azriT, araa marTebuli. am SemTxvevaSi,
Tu `renesanss~ dasavleTis kulturis
garkveuli epoqis aRmniSvnel movlenad
miviCnevT, maSin, `vefxistyaosani~ qarTuli
renesansis `mwvervalia~, rogorc amas S.
nucubiZe Tvlis; da Tu `renesanss~ mxolod
aRorZinebis SinaarsiT gaviazrebT, am
Renaissance; Rustavelis social and political point of view;
the ideals of the poem, such as love, friendship, humanism,
fate and god, the cult of woman, and the characters;
Rustavelis poetics; the versifcation of the poem; and the
manuscripts of the poem and its editions.
To the authors mind these were the key issues that
would help the Russian reader to understand Rustaveli and
his eternal poem.
Kavtaradze considered the question of when The
Knight in the Panthers Skin was written. Based on those
facts that are both mentioned and not mentioned in the
poem, he concluded that it was composed in the 1230s.
(According to Nutsubidzes opinion in the preface to his
translation, the poem was written before 1198). Kavtaradze
took the following factors into consideration: While Rustaveli
mentioned Khvarazm, Khataeti and Romania in the poem,
he said nothing about Byzantium and Mongolia, which
Kavtaradze explained this with the political situation.
Kavtaradze did not say anything about the invented countries
in the poem, such as Mulghazanzari and Royal of the Sea,
or about the Devils. The reader might be led to believe that
this was Kavtaradzes idea because he did not footnote any
source, but in fact it was not Kavtaradzes own opinion. He
used a small book entitled The Historical and Geographical
Background of The Knight in the Panthers Skin by A.
Svanidze.
1
Let us consider an extract from A. Svanidzes
book: In order to inquire about the time of the poems
composition, we must frst ask the following questions:
1.Why did Rustaveli not say anything about Byzantium in
1
A. Svanidze Historical and Geographical Background of The Knight in the Panthers
Skin, Tbilisi, 1934, publishing-house Sakhelgami. Hereby must be noted that A.
Svanidzes essay Historical background of The Knight in the Panthers Skin was frst
published in a monthly journal Seven Luminaries No. 2, October, 1919. pp. 196-214.
The authors of the articles were selected by Polikarpe Kakabadze, founder of the
journal.
47
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SemTxvevaSic zusti ar iqneba s. qavTaraZis
Tvalsazrisi, qarTuli mwerloba da,
zogadad, kultura Tamaris epoqamde
daqveiTebuli ar yofila, piriqiT, igi
maRalganviTarebuli da yovlismomcvelia,
swored am kulturam ganapiroba da
moumzada safuZveli XII s-is `oqros
xanas~, qarTuli saxelmwifoebriobis
Zlevamosilebas da qarTuli kulturis
ayvavebas.
SoTa rusTavelis vinaobaze saubrisas
s. qavTaraZe, aRniSnavs ra am sakiTxis
Sesaxeb istoriul cnobaTa ararsebobas,
dasZens: `SesaZlebelia iTqvas, rom
rusTavels ar aqvs biografia, misi
biografia misi poemaa, Tu ar CavTvliT
biografiuli xasiaTis ramdenime
xalxur gadmocemas, romelTa utyuaroba
jerjerobiT aravisgan araa dadgenili~
(iqve, gv. 3). s. qavTaraZe poemis avtorobis
sakiTxTan dakavSirebiT imowmebs
prologisa da epilogis strofebs,
romelTa safuZvelze gamokveTs or
moments: rusTvelis avtorobas da poetis
dabadebis adgils. am ukanasknelTan
dakavSirebiT, igi iTvaliswinebs samecniero
literaturaSi gamoTqmul mosazrebebs,
Tumca udavod miiCnevs Tavad rusTavelis
naTqvams _ ` .
~, ` ,
~ (`~),
7 )~ da ` ,
( ) (`~,
~) (iqve, gv. 4) _ rom igi warmoSobiT
mesxeTidanaa, kerZod, mesxeTis rusTavidan.
s. qavTaraZe am mosazrebis `arapirdapir~
dadasturebad miiCnevs poemis 1667 strofs,
romelSic aRniSnulia, rom avTandili
da fridoni, amSvidebdnen ra tarielsa
da nestans mwuxarebisas, Sedarebulni
arian kaTalikosTan da mawyverelTan.
am mosazrebebTan dakavSirebiT unda
SevniSnoT, rom s. qavTaraZis mier epilogidan
moxmobili taepebis Targmani originalis
zusti Sesatyvisi araa. amasTanave
rusTvelologiaSi dRevandel etapze
mecnierTa umravlesobis mier epilogis
pirveli strofi fsevdorusTvelurad
miiCneva da masSi aRniSnulia, rom mas
wers vinme mesxi meleqse rusTavelis
kvalobaze, mis msgavsad (nakleb sarwmunoa
`damisa~-s an misi sxva variantuli
wakiTxviT `dabisad~ gageba. isic unda
iTqvas, rom mecnierebi aq `mesxs~
rusTavelis warmoSobaze maniSneblad
moiazreben). epilogis bolo strofic
the poem? 2. Why did Rustaveli speak about Indostan, a
province of the Gori State, but not anything about the state
itself? 3. Why did Rustaveli speak about far eastern states,
such as Khvarazm and Khataeti, but not mention Mongolia?
4. What kind of state was Romania, and why did Rustaveli
mention it (ibid, p. 45)? Svanidze and Kavtaradze had the
same answers to these questions. But there is one difference
between them. While S. Kavtaradze did not say anything
about Gulansharo, Mulghazanzari or Kajeti (the Devils
state), Svanidze devoted separate chapters to Khataeti,
Khvarazmi, India and Arabia. According to Svanidze, by
Gulansharo Rustaveli meant Venice; by Mulghazanzari he
meant Trapzon; by Kajeti he meant Spanish Mauritania; and
by Kajeti Fortress he meant Gibraltar . Kavtaradze probably
(like other specialists) did not agree with Svanidze, and for
this reason he did not discuss those countries in his essay
about The Knight in the Panthers Skin.
According to the scientifc literature, Rustaveli described
historical reality in his poem. But we must remember that
The Knight in the PantherS Skin is a work of fction and
thus its plot and ideas are more important.
Svanidze made a fnal conclusion about the time of
writing of the poem based on the aforementioned historical
and geographical backgrounds: The Knight in the Panthers
Skin could not have been written earlier than 1204-6, or later
than 1236-8 (ibid, p. 46). Svanidze wrote in another essay
(Rustaveli and his poem, written in Russian and published
in the journal Novyi mir, n. 9, 1936) that there was nothing in
common (neither plot nor shape and versifcation) between
the prologue and the epilogue on the one hand, and
between these and the poem itself on the other. According
48
fsevdorusTvelurad iTvleba, romelSic
CamoTvlilia klasikuri epoqis qarTuli
originaluri Txzulebebi, maT Soris _
SoTa rusTavelis `vefxistyaosani~. am
strofis bolo taepSi _ `tariel _ missa
rusTvelsa, misTvis creml-SeuSromelsa~
(1598)
1
_ aRniSnulia, rom rusTvels uqia
(III pirSi) da ara _ rusTavelma vaqe (I
pirSi) (rasakvirvelia, interpolatoris am
damowmebas poemis avtoris vinaobis Sesaxeb
pirvelxarisxovani wyaros mniSvneloba
aqvs). isic aRsaniSnia, rom S. nucubiZe
poemis epilogs mTlianad rusTveliseulad
miiCnevda, xolo epilogis pirveli
da bolo strofebis meoTxe taepebis
analogiur wakiTxvas iZleoda.
rac Seexeba avTandilisa da
fridonis Sedarebas kaTalikosTan da
mawyverelTan (awyuris episkoposTan);
samecniero literaturaSi araerTi
Tvalsazrisia gamoTqmuli indo-
xataelTa ambavSi moyvanili taepis _
`magra eqmnes sulis mReblad, kaTalikoz-
mawyverelad~ (s. kakabaZis gamocemiT,
1543 strofis) _ Sesaxeb. al. baramiZe
am taepTan dakavSirebiT aRniSnavs,
rom poemis personaJTa Sedareba an
dapirispireba saeklesio sazogadoebis
warmomadgenlebTan gamoricxulia _
`vefxistyaosnis gmirebi rom kaTalikoz-
mawyverelis sulieri zraxvebis mimdevari
yofiliyvnen, eklesiis did pativiscemas
daimsaxurebdnen. vefxistyaosnis
sinamdvile ewinaaRmdegeba avTandilisa da
fridonis dakavSirebas kaTalikozTan da
episkopozTan. es aris xelovnuri, Zalze
nacodvilari, ugemuri da yalbi Sedareba,
interpolatoris varjiSis Sedegi. es
Sedareba saxels utexs rogorc Tavis Tavs,
ise im ambavs, sadac is aris moTavsebuli~.
2

amdenad, s. qavTaraZis mier moxmobili
taepi imis damadastureblad (Tundac,
arapirdapir), rom rusTaveli mesxia
(radgan mawyverelis wodeba mesxeTis
umaRles sasuliero pirs eniWeboda), ar
gamodgeba. isic unda gaviTvaliswinoT,
rom 1940 wlis Semdeg (s. qavTaraZis
naSromis Seqmnis Semdeg) araerTi
naSromi mieZRvna rusTavelis vinaobis
kvlevas. gansakuTrebiT sayuradReboa
1960 wlis eqspediciis mier (a. SaniZe, g.
wereTeli da i. abaSiZis SemadgenlobiT)
Catarebuli samuSao jvris ierusalimis
1
SoTa rusTaveli, `vefxistyaosani~, a. SaniZisa da a. baramiZis red.,
Tb., 1966
2
a. baramiZe, `SoTa rusTaveli da misi poema~, Tb., 1966, gv. 459
to him, While the prologue is dedicated to King Tamar, her
name is not mentioned in the poem. Thus, the prologue and
epilogue must have been added later by several authors
(ibid, p. 253).
Kavtaradze did not give a concrete date for the poems
creation, but he considered it to be in the 1230s. He gave
great importance to prologue and epilogue. Based on these,
where Rustaveli praised highly Queen Tamar and Davit
Soslan, Kavtaradze added: The poem must have been
written during the period of Queen Tamar (1184 1213), in
the early Georgian Renaissance, the so-called Golden Era
in the history of Georgia (p. 2). Note that if by Renaissance
Kavtaradze had in mind the Western defnition of that word,
then The Knight in the Panthers Skin would be seen as
the peak and not the start of the Georgian Renaissance;
but if Renaissance he meant regeneration, then he was
incorrect, because Georgian culture had been under
continuing development up until Tamars period, and for that
reason the 12
th
century was considered to be the Golden
Era.
Kavtaradze said the following about Shota Rustavelis
identity: We can say that Rustaveli does not have a
biography. His biography is his poem. There are a few folk
legends about him, but who knows they are true or false
(ibid, p. 3)?
As for the authorship of the poem, Kavtaradze based
his approach on the prologue and epilogue, stressing two
facts: Rustavelis authorship and his place of birth. He
quoted from the poem: They all of them glowed in life. I am
a singer from the village of Rustavi. From Meskheti, I here
composed and noted down the song to glory (Epilogue,
49
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monasterSi, SoTa rusTavelis freskaze
Sesrulebuli warweris wakiTxva (`amisa
damxatavsa SoTa(s) Seundvnes RmerTman,
amin~), mniSvnelovania n. maris mier
ierusalimSi napovni aRapTa wigni da
masSi daculi SoTa meWurWleTuxucesis
saaRapo mosaxsenebeli da el. metrevelis
mier aRapis daweris TariRis gansazRvra
_ XIII s-is pirveli naxevari. aRniSnuli
garemoebisa da tradiciis gaTvaliswinebiT,
el. metrevelma gamoTqva mosazreba SoTa
rusTavelisa da SoTa meWurWleTuxucesis
igiveobis Sesaxeb. rusTvelologiis
Tanamedrove etapze e. metrevelis
mosazreba, ZiriTadad, gaziarebulia da
SoTa rusTaveli meWurWleTuxucesis
Tanamdebobis mqone piradaa miCneuli.
samecniero literaturaSi dResdReobiT
ufro safuZvlianadaa dasabuTebuli
avtoris warmomavlobasTan dakavSirebuli
sakiTxic _ mesxobis (Torelobis versia),
vidre _ poetis hereTis rusTavis mkvidroba
an misi mflobelobis Sesaxeb gamoTqmuli
Tvalsazrisi.
s. qavTaraZe naSromSi yuradRebas
amaxvilebs rusTavelis ganswavlulobaze
antikur filosofiasa (platonisa da
neoplatonikosTa _ prokles, dionises,
plotinis, agreTve codnas empidokles
swavlebisas oTx elementze) da
mwerlobaSi (homerosis Txzulebebis).
s. qavTaraZe SeniSnavs, rom rusTavelis
poemaze homerosis `iliada~ da `odisea~
did gavlenas axdenda, rasac, misi azriT,
poemis kompoziciuri mxare, siuJeturi
sarCuli da misi gaxsnis meTodebi, mTavar
gmirTa saxeTa xatvis da orive avtoris
Semoqmedebis xasiaTis msgavseba adasturebs.
s. qavTaraZis mier am monakveTis `sesxebas~
mowmobs a. svaniZis naSromis erTi
monakveTi: `rusTavelze udidesi gavlena
moaxdina homerosis epikurma ciklma
(`iliadam~ da `odiseam~). rusTavelis
poemis homerosis ciklTan Sedarebisas,
Cven aRmovaCenT msgavsebis Tvisebebs:
a) kompoziciuri mxaris msgavsebas; b)
siuJeturi sarCulisa da misi meTodebis
ganviTarebis msgavseba; g) mTavar gmirTa
xatvis msgavseba~.
1

rogorc vxedavT, s. qavTaraZis
msjeloba am sakiTxTan dakavSirebiTac
a. svaniZis Sexedulebebis identuria
(a. svaniZe ufro vrclad saubrobs
rusTavelis homerosTan msgavsebis Sesaxeb).
aqve unda SevniSnoT, rom s. qavTaraZe
1
a. svaniZe, `rusTaveli da misi poema~, Jurn. ` ~, 1936, #9
stanza 7), and In my song, sang I, Rustaveli (from the
village of Rustavi) (Epilogue, last stanza) (ibid, p. 4). Thus
according to the Rustaveli himself, he was from the Rustavi
village in the Meskheti region. Kavtaradze considered a fact
that was provided in stanza number 1,667 of the poem to be
a further clue to this. In the episode wherein Avtandili and
Pridoni are soothing Tarieli and Nestani, they are compared
to the Catholicos and Matskvereli (the Bishop of Atskuri). It
is noteworthy, however, that Kavtaradzes translation of the
prologue does not directly match the original. What is more,
most modern Rustveli specialists consider that the frst and
the last stanzas of the epilogue were written by an imposter,
namely a certain poet from Meskheti. The last paragraph
provides a list of Georgian classic works, including The
Knight in the Panthers Skin by Shota Rustaveli. The last
line of the last stanza (number 1,598) was written in the third
person.
1
It is signifcant that Nutsubidze believed that the
whole epilogue was written by Rustaveli.
There are many points of view about the comparison
between Avtandili and Pridoni with the Catholicos and
Matskvereli in the specialist literature (in the story of Indo-
Khataeti, in stanza number 1,543 in Kakabadzes edition).
According to A. Baramidze, it is out of the question to
compare or oppose the poems characters with these
religious fgures: The reality of the poem does not allow
such comparisons. It is a tasteless and false comparison that
disfgured the epilogue and the whole poem.
2

Thus, the line provided by Kavtaradze does not prove
that Rustaveli was from Meskheti. It is also noteworthy that
1
Shota Rustaveli The Knight in the Panthers Skin, editors: A. Shanidze and A.
Baramidze, Tbilisi, 1966
2
A. Baramidze Shota Rustaveli and His Poem, Tbilisi, 1966, p. 459
50
sxva TvalsazrisiT ganavrcobs da
savsebiT marTebulad SeniSnavs, rom
`..rusTavelis filosofiuri horizonti
Seudareblad farTo iyo romeliRac
erTi filosofiuri skolis swavlebaze,
igi moicavda mowinave literaturasac,
sxvadasxva filosofiuri nawarmoebebis
originalebSi codnis CaTvliT~ (gv. 5). am
TvalsazrisiT s. qavTaraZes sarwmunod
miaCnia xalxuri gadmocema rusTavelis
mier saberZneTSi miRebuli ganaTlebis
Taobaze, Tumca iqve SeniSnavs, rom
dasavleTis filosofiisa da literaturis
codnasTan erTad, poeti amJRavnebs Rrma
erudicias aRmosavleTis literaturaSi
(iranulsa da arabul mwerlobaSi),
agreTve sufizmis sferoSi. s. qavTaraZe
CamoTvlis nawarmoebebs, romlebsac
icnobda rusTaveli da romlebmac gavlena
iqonies `vefxistyaosanze~, kerZod,
`visramians~, `mefeTa wigns~ (`Sah-names~),
`leilsa da majnuns~, `amirandarejanians~.
es ukanaskneli mas miaCnia sparsuli
Txzulebis, `yisai hamzas~, nawilobriv
gadakeTebul variantad.
aRmosavluri literaturis gavlenaze
saubaria a. svaniZis naSromSi, CamoTvlilia
zemoaRniSnuli nawarmoebebi da, rac
mTavaria, swored aqaa gamoTqmuli azri
rusTavelis poemaze `amirandarejanianis~
gavlenis Sesaxeb da rom es Txzuleba
`rogorc amboben, warmoadgens sparsuli
nawarmoebis `yisai hamzas~ nawilobriv
gadakeTebas~ (iqve, gv. 254)
unda aRiniSnos, rom Tavdapirvelad
samecniero literaturaSi
`amirandarejanianis~ warmomavlobis
Sesaxeb ramdenime Tvalsazrisi gamoiTqva:
1. igi qarTuli originaluri Txzulebaa
(z. WiWinaZe, m. janaSvili), 2. naxevrad
originaluri da naxevrad naTargmnia
(sparsulidan) (a. greni, a. xaxanaSvili)
da 3. sparsulidanaa naTargmni (n. mari).
rogorc Cans, s. qavTaraZe icnobs aRniSnul
versiebs, erTi mxriv, iziarebs n. maris mier
`amirandarejanianis~ dednad `yisai hamzas~
dasaxelebas, imavdroulad, gansxvavebiT n.
maris mosazrebisagan, `amirandarejanians~
`yisai hamzas~ nawilobriv gadamuSavebad
miiCnevs.
a. baramiZem Seadara es ori
Txzuleba da daadgina, rom `yisai hamza~
`amirandarejanianis~ dednad ver CaiTvleba,
orive Txzuleba, mxolod sadevgmiro
ambebiT msgavsobs erTmaneTs. dRes aRaravin
kamaTobs `amirandarejanianis~ sparsuli
many works were written about Rustavelis identity in 1940,
following Kavtaradzes essay.
Something else that resulted was that in 1960 a
Georgian expedition, comprised of A. Shanidze, G. Tsereteli
and I. Abashidze) undertook a study of the inscription in the
fresco of Shota Rustaveli in the Monastery of the Cross in
Jerusalem. The inscription, in ancient Georgian script, reads
Lord, remember your servant Shota, who did all this. Amen.
It was also signifcant that a book of necrology was found in
Jerusalem by Nikolas Mari. This book contains the name of
Shota Mechurchletukhutsesi (the treasurer). E. Metreveli
dated the book the early 13
th
century. He doubted that Shota
Rustaveli and Shota Mechurchletukhutsesi was one and
the same person. Modern Rustveli specialists also share E.
Metrevelis idea.
Kavtaradze stressed that Shota Rustaveli was versed
in ancient philosophy, thathe knew the teaching of Plato and
the Neo-Platonists and was familiar with the works of Homer.
Kavtaradze noted that Rustavelis poem had been infuenced
by the Iliad and the Odyssey. He came to this conclusion
based on a paragraph from Svanidzes essay: Rustaveli
was infuenced by Homers epic cycle Iliada and the
Odyssey. Rustavelis poem and Homers epic cycle have the
following things in common: a) composition; b) background
of the plot and its development; 3) characteristic of the main
characters.
1
Kavtaradze seemed to share Svanidzes point of view
but Svanidzes discourse is longer than his.
Kavtaradze was on more solid ground with the following
point: Rustavelis knowledge about philosophy was more
1
A. Svanidze Rustaveli and His Poem, the journal ` ~, No.9, 1936
51
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warmomavlobis Sesaxeb, igi qarTuli
originaluri Txzulebaa.
savsebiT marTebulia s. qavTaraZis
Tvalsazrisi (romelsac aRar ganavrcobs
da mxolod oriod sityviT exeba), rom
taepi _ `ese ambavi sparsuli, qarTulad
naTargmanebi, vpove da leqsad gardavTqvi...~
(9) _ ar gamodgeba nawarmoebis
originalobis winaaRmdeg samtkiceblad.
s. qavTaraZe dasZens, rom aRniSnuli
sakiTxi im periodSi aRar ganixileboda
da rom iseTive safuZveli hqonda, rogorc
`hamletis~, `faustis~, `mkvdari sulebis~
ueWvelobis, utyuarobis sakiTxs. am
sakiTxebze msjeloba gvxvdeba a. svaniZis
naSromSi, mxolod ufro vrclad da
dabejiTebiT.
s. qavTaraZe saubrobs ra
`vefxistyaosanze~, rogorc dasavleTisa
da aRmosavleTis kulturaTa
`urTierTqmedebis produqtze~, dasZens,
rom rusTaveli Tavisi qveynis, Tavisi
kulturis Svilia. aqve CamoTvlilia is
garemoebani, romelTac ganapirobes XI-XII
s.s-is saqarTvelos socialur-ekonomikuri,
politikuri da kulturuli aRmavloba.
amasTan dakavSirebiT sainteresoa
s. qavTaraZis msjeloba XI-XIII s.s-is
kulturisa da literaturis Sesaxeb,
romlebic, misi TqmiT, `arabul-iranuli
ganaTlebulobis `oqros xanis~ cotaTi
dagvianebul gagrZelebas da evropuli
aRorZinebis pirvel ylorts warmoadgens...~
(gv. 7). rogorc Cans, s. qavTaraZe kargad icnobs
S. nucubiZis Sexedulebebs aRmosavluri
renesansis, konkretulad, qarTuli
renesansis Sesaxeb. amas mowmobs misi
Semdgomi msjelobebi `vefxistyaosanSi~
aRorZinebis epoqis mTavari ideebis, misi
msoflmxedvelobisa da Tavisufali
azrovnebis, misi humanizmis asaxvis
Sesaxeb. aqve s. qavTaraZe akritikebs
zogierTi mkvlevris mosazrebas
`vefxistyaosnis~ viwro-nacionaluri
TvalsazrisiT Sefasebis Taobaze. amgvar
Tvalsazriss s. qavTaraZe upirispirebs
im `internacionaluri humanizmis suls~,
zogadsakacobrio problemebis arsebobas,
romlebiTac gajerebulia mTeli poema,
xolo rusTavels warmogvidgens, rogorc
religiur-qristianuli ideologiisa da
Sua saukuneebis azrovnebis `borkilTa
damamsxvrevlad~.
s. qavTaraZis Semdgom msjelobaSic
vlindeba S. nucubiZis SexedulebaTa kvali,
kerZod, aRniSnulia, rom rusTavelis
than the knowledge of just one school of thought. He knew
many works of literature and philosophy in the original (p.
5). Based on this conclusion, Kavtaradze considered that
the legend about Rustavelis education in Greek was true.
Therefore he noted that besides Western literature and
philosophy, Rustaveli was familiar with Eastern literature and
sophism as well (Iranian and Arabian writings). According
to Kavtaradze, the following works infuenced Rustavelis
The Knight in the Panthers Skin: Visramiani, the Book
of Kings, Shahnameh, Layla and Majnun, and Amiran-
Darejaniani. Kavtaradze considered Amiran-Darejaniani to
be an altered version of the Persian story Kisai Hamza, and
idea which was also present in Svanidzes essay (p. 254).
There have been several different opinions about
Amiran-Darejaniani in the scientifc literature. One is that it
is a story of Georgian origin (Z. Chichinadze, M. Janashvili).
Another is that it was partly original and partly translated
from Persian (A. Greni, A. Khakhanashvili). A third is that it
was translated entirely from Persian (N. Mari). Kavtaradze
seemed to have been aware of all of these opinions, and he
himself believed the second and the third.
A. Baramidze compared these two stories and
concluded that Kizai Hamza was not the origin of Amiran-
Darejaniani. Both stories are about giants and heroes.
Today nobody doubts that Amiran-Darejaniani is a
Georgian work.
Kavtaradze was right when he argued that the following
line could not be used as the evidence against the storys
Georgian origination: I found a Persian story and translated
it into Georgian in verse. Kavtaradze added that this issue
was no longer controversial (like the issue of the authorship
52
filosofiur-religiuri msoflmxedveloba
mzis gaRmerTebaa, bunebisa, romelsac
Camocilebuli aqvs religiur-nacionaluri
sulisa da azrovnebis specifikuri
elferi da `mimarTulia, mahmadianobisa
da qristianobis ideebis winaaRmdeg,
pozitiuri religiebisa da sawesCveulebo
religiurobis winaaRmdeg~ (gv. 7).
s. qavTaraZis azriT, rusTaveli mzes
RvTis emanaciad miiCnevs (am Sexedulebis
damadastureblad igi moixmobs strofebs
qajeTis cixeSi datyvevebuli nestanis
werilidan, aseve _ avTandilis mimarTvas
mzisadmi) da daaskvnis, rom rusTaveli
samyaros panTeistur gagebasTan axlos
aris, bunebis RmerTad aRiarebamde midis
da am azriT danteze maRla dgas.
S. nucubiZis `vefxistyaosnis~
Targmanis winasityvaobidan movixmobT
nawyvetebs, raTa TvalnaTeli gaxdes s.
qavTaraZis zemoaRniSnul SexedulebaTa
maTTan msgavseba: `rusTaveli realistia;
igi miwaze dgas da iyenebs simbolikas
zecisas, mnaTobebisas, RmerTisas,
mzesTan gaigivebuls, neoplatonikosTa
`erTis~ gagebas da mzisken asasvlel
gzebs _ rogorc mxolod formas,
romelSic misTvis mosaxerxebeli iyo,
drois pirobebis Sesabamisad, daefara
Tavisi ideebi. qristianuli ideologia
mis mier (rusTavelis _ n. g.) mTlianad
uaryofilia...~,
1
an kidev _ `warmarTuli
saxeebi da neoplatonuri sqemebi
poetis mier farTodaa gamoyenebuli
imisaTvis, rom maTSi dafaros Tavisi
realistur-mxatvruli, zog adgilas
materialisturobamde misuli,
filosofiuri ideebi~ (iqve, gv. 22).
s. qavTaraZe naSromSi saubrobs
`vefxistyaosanSi~ sikeTisa da borotebis
dapirispirebaze, sagangebod msjelobs
rusTavelis socialur Sexedulebebze,
feodalur wyobasa da patronymur
urTierTobebze (maTSi humanizmis
gamovlenaze) da dasZens, rom rusTaveli
monarqiuli wyobisa da absolutisturi
xelisuflebis momxre iyo.
s. qavTaraZe ganixilavs poemis Tematur
ideebs. misi SexedulebiT, rusTavelis
poeziis mTavari motivi qalisadmi
siyvarulia, romelic araa Cveulebrivi,
xorcieli siyvaruli. mas gansakuTrebuli
amaRlebuli Tvisebebi aqvs, kerZod, `misi
gonebiT wvdoma SeuZlebelia, eniTac
1
SoTa rusTaveli, `vefxistyaosani~, S. nucubiZis Targmani, moskovi,
1941
of Hamlet, Faust and the Dead Souls). Svanidze
discussed this issue on larger scale and more convincingly.
Although Kavtaradze spoke about The Knight in
the Panthers Skin as a product of Western and Eastern
cultures, he noted that Rustaveli was a son of his national
culture. He named those aspects that caused Georgian
social-economical, political and cultural evolution in the 11
th

-12
th
centuries. In his opinion, the culture and literature of the
11
th
and 13
th
centuries are the prolongation of the Arabian
and Iranian Golden Era and the beginning of the European
Renaissance (p. 7). Kavtaradze seemed to be aware of
Nutsubidzes conclusions about the Georgian Renaissance.
Kavtaradze criticized those specialists who considered the
poem The Knight in the Panthers Skin to be narrow and
belonging only to one specifc nationality. He contested this
idea through the international humanism in which the poem
is rich, and he considered Rustaveli to be an opponent of the
Christian ideology of that period.
Kavtaradze shared Nutsubidzes opinion about
Rustavelis philosophical and religious outlook regarding
the idea that the Sun (Nature) is the Lord, arguing that he
opposed both Islam and Christianity (p. 7).
To Kavtaradzes mind, Rustaveli considered the sun to
be emanation from God. (To prove his opinion, he referred to
the stanzas in which Nestan, imprisoned in Kajeti Fortress,
was writing a letter; also the stanzas wherein Avtandil
addressed the sun). The specialist concluded that Rustaveli
was a pantheist, and thus believed that Nature and God are
identical.
Let us examine to the extracts from Nutsubidzes essay
to show that Kavtaradze shared his view: Rustaveli is a
53
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gadmocema; is imdenad mSvenieria, rom
gamosaxvas ar emorCileba~ (gv. 9).
rogorc Cans, s. qavTaraZem am
SemTxvevaSi rusTavelis mier mowodebuli
`sazeo siyvarulis~ gansazRvreba da
misi Tvisebebi, amqveyniuri siyvarulis
maxasiaTeblad gaigo, riTac sruliad
Secvala poetis naTqvami da misi
mniSvneloba. `mijnuris~ gansazRvrebasa
da mijnuris Tvisebebis gamokveTisas ki
s. qavTaraZe miyveba poemis prologis
Sesatyvis strofebs.
s. qavTaraZe naSromSi aRniSnavs,
rom qalis siyvarulis garda, poemaSi
didi adgili eTmoba megobrobis
grZnobas (ganixilavs sami Zmadnaficis
damokidebulebas, megobrobis ZaliT
maTs usazRvro Tavdadebas, siyvaruls),
romelic, misi SexedulebiT, garkveuli
TvalsazrisiT siyvarulze maRla
dgas. amgvari Sefaseba, albaT,
gamoiwvia poemaSi avTandilis mier
tarielisaTvis naTqvamma sityvebma _
`iagundi egreca sjobs, aTasjermca
mina minda, Sen geaxlo sikvdilamdis
amis meti ara minda!~ (300) (`iagundi~ _
TinaTini, `mina~ _ tarieli). samecniero
literaturaSi adrec iyo gamoTqmuli
Tvalsazrisi, rom `vefxistyaosnis~
mTavar Temas warmoadgenda megobrobisa
da Zmadnaficobis koncefcia da ara _
siyvarulis (n. mari, i. javaxiSvili). dRes
aRaravin kamaTobs amis Sesaxeb. siyvaruli
`vefxistyaosnis~ mTavari Temaa.
sikvdil-sicocxleze rusTavelis
Sexedulebebis gadmocemis Semdeg
s. qavTaraZe ganixilavs bedis,
gangebis sakiTxebs, maT mimarT gmirTa
damokidebulebas, rac araerTgzisaa
Seswavlili samecniero literaturaSi.
naSromis es monakveTi ramdenadme
bundovania, ufro zustad, aq sworad
araa gadmocemuli rusTavelis mimarTeba
bedisa da gangebisadmi (gangeba mowyale
da saxieri RvTisaa, bedi _ muxTali,
gautaneli wuTisoflis). s. qavTaraZes
miaCnia, rom rusTavelis gmirebs swamT
bedis uryevoba, winaswari gansazRvruloba.
SevniSnavT, rom es ukanaskneli
rusTavelTan gangebis maxasiaTebelia
da ara _ bedis. Tumca s. qavTaraZe iqve
dasZens, rom nebis gareSe araferi xdeba,
magram am SemTxvevaSic igi nebas bedTan
aigivebs da erTi sityviTac ar axsenebs
RmerTs. SesaZlebelia, igi ver Caswvda
rusTavelis mier mkveTrad gamijnul
realist. He stands on the ground and uses symbols of the
sky, stars, God, sun, and also the teaching of Neoplatonism.
He absolutely rejected Christian ideology
1
Also, The poet
used pagan characters and schemes from Neoplatonism
for disguising his materialist and philosophical ideas (ibid, p.
22).
Kavtaradze discussed the opposition of kindness and
evil found in The Knight in the Panthers Skin. He wrote
about Rustavelis view of the feudal system, and added that
Rustaveli approved of the system of monarchy and absolute
authority.
Kavtaradze also discussed the thematic ideas of the
poem. According to him, the major theme of Rustavelis
poem is the love of woman, love that does not share the
view of Eros and that possesses elevated characteristics: It
cant be perceived with the mind and cant be described. It is
too beautiful to be expressed (p. 9).
Kavtaradze seemed to understand Rustavelis love of
nature as the love for a woman. For this reason, he changed
the poets meaning. And while defning the term affection
and its characteristics, Kavtaradze referred to the stanzas in
the prologue.
Kavtaradze noted in his essay that the theme of
friendship is another important issue of the poem. (He spoke
about three blood brothers, about their love and devotion
to one another). He considered this feeling to be more than
love. Probably his conclusion drew from words of Avtandil
to Tarieli: I want nothing more but to be with you till the end
of my life! (300). There was a similar idea in the scientifc
literature, that the major theme of the poem is not love,
1
Shota Rustaveli The Knight in the Panthers Skin, translated by Shalva Nutsubidze,
Moscow, 1941
54
sakiTxs bedisa da gangebis Sesaxeb; Tumca,
misi mxridan sakiTxis amgvari kuTxiT
warmoCena araa gasakviri. misi SexedulebiT
(rogorc ukve aRiniSna), rusTaveli
uaryofda yovelive qristianuls da
saerTod, yovelgvar religiurs.
s. qavTaraZe naSromSi kidev erT sakiTxs
exeba _ qalis kults, riTac, rogorc
avtori SeniSnavs, rusTavelis poema
gansxvavdeba aRmosavleTis literaturuli
tradiciisagan da dasavleT evropis
trubadurul poezias enaTesaveba.
naSromSi s. qavTaraZe cdilobs,
axsnas, ram ganapiroba `vefxistyaosnis~
gansakuTrebuli sicocxlisunarianoba,
misi uWknobi dideba. misi azriT, amas
ganapirobebs poemis gmirTa grZnobaTa
siRrme da Zala, poemis ideurobiT
gamsWvaluloba, momxiblavi fabula,
siuJetis daxvewili saxe da leqsis
brwyinvale forma. s. qavTaraZe saubrobs
rusTavelis stilze, leqsTwyobis
sakiTxebze, formasa da Sinaarsze,
vefxistyaosnis xelnawerebsa da
vaxtangiseul gamocemaze (1712), raTa
rusulenovani mkiTxvelisaTvis ufro
gasagebi da SesagrZnobi gaxdes rusTavelis
genialoba da `vefxistyaosnis~ sidiade.
naSromis dasasruls s. qavTaraZe
`vefxistyaosnis~ balmontiseul Targmans
uTmobs yuradRebas da mis naklovanebebze
saubrobs (ZiriTadad, Sinagan riTmaze,
romelic TargmanSi originalis azrs
saxes ucvlis da afermkrTalebs). naSromis
bolos s. qavTaraZe survils gamoTqvams,
rom `rusTaveli yvelaze ukeTesad
unda aJRerdes didi oqtombris enaze
Sesrulebul TargmanSi, msoflios erT
meeqvsed nawilze dasaxlebuli Zmuri
respublikebis saerTo saxelmwifoebriv
enaze~. albaT, s. qavTaraZe gulisxmobda
S. nucubiZis Targmans, romelic jer ar
iyo gamocemuli, magram mas ecodineboda
patimrobaSi myofi qarTveli filosofosis
mier `vefxistyaosnis~ ukve dasrulebuli
Targmanis ambavi.
Tavdapirvelad, s. qavTaraZis
naSromTan dakavSirebiT Cven amgvari
mosazreba gagviCnda: yuradReba mivaqcieT
s. qavTaraZis biografiidan erT garemoebas
_ s. qavTaraZe 1939 wlis dekemberSi
patimrobidan gaaTavisufles da 1940 wels
aRadgines partiaSi, naSromi amave wels
daiwera, seqtemberSi. S. nucubiZe 1939
wlis maisamde asrulebs `vefxistyaosnis~
Targmans, romlis pirveli sasignalo
but friendship (N. Marr, I. Javakhishvili). But today nobody
doubts that the major theme of The Knight in the Panthers
Skin is love.
S. Kavtaradze discussed Rustavelis opinion about
death and life. He spoke about fate and the characters
attitudes toward these issues. This passage of the essay
is a bit obscure as it does not conform to the ideology of
Rustaveli about fate and God. (God is gracious and fate is
dastardly).
According to Kavtaradze, Rustavelis characters believe
in fate. Although he noted that nothing would happen without
will, he identifes will with fate and did not say anything about
God. Probably he could not understand Rustavelis attitude
toward fate and God. He thought that Rustaveli rejected
Christianity and everything that was connected with the
religion.
Kavtaradze discussed one more theme: the cult of
woman. He considered it to be the major differentiation
between Rustavelis poem and Eastern literature, and at the
same time it connects the poem with the Troubadour poetry
of Western Europe.
Kavtaradze named the main factors that made The
Knight in the Panthers Skin so successful. These were
the strong feelings of the characters, the idea of the poem,
the fabulous plot and the great versifcation. Kavtaradze
discussed Rustavelis style of verse, form and plot. He spoke
about the manuscripts of The Knight in the Panthers Skin
and about the edition by Vakhtang (1712). His aim was to
make Rustavelis brilliant poem more comprehensible for
Russian readers.
At the end of the essay, Kavtaradze discussed the
55
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egzemplari stalins dabadebis dReze
miarTves, 1940 wlis 21 dekembers.
vfiqrobdiT, rom stalinma imTaviTve
daiWira Tadarigi da Tavis Zvel megobars,
pativaRdgenil bolSeviks, sando da
ganaTlebul pirovnebas daukveTa naSromi
`vefxistyaosnis~ msoflmxedvelobis
Sesaxeb. vvaraudobdiT, rom stalini
S. nucubiZis Targmanis winasityvaobad
s. qavTaraZis naSromis wamZRvarebas
fiqrobda, moiwona kidec, Tumca S.
nucubiZis mier SoTa rusTavelsa da mis
poemaze daweril Sesavals, romelic
profesionalisa da msoflio mniSvnelobis
filosofosis mier iyo Seqmnili, mieniWa
upiratesoba. rasakvirvelia, S. nucubiZis
winasityvaobaSi gamoTqmul Sexedulebebs
beladi iziarebda da eTanxmeboda,
Torem masac iseve Caasworebda, rogorc
poemis nucubiZiseuli Targmanis 1940
wlis sasignalo egzemplarSi bevri ram
koreqtor-redaqtoris TvalTaxedviT
`gaCalxa~. unda aRiniSnos is faqtic, rom
stalinma Targmanis teqsts xeli ar axlo,
Tumca arsad araferia Tqmuli
S. nucubiZis Sesaval werilze. stalinis
xeli mas rom Sexeboda, amas S. nucubiZe
Tavis werilSi an interviuSi mainc
aRniSnavda (romlebSic dawvrilebiTaa
aRwerili stalinis mier Catarebuli
samuSao), an sadme mainc gaipareboda cnoba.
amdenad, vfiqrobdiT, rom swored
S. nucubiZis Sesavali werilis arsma, masSi
ganxilulma problematikam, gamoTqmulma
Sexedulebebma, werilis kompoziciam
ganapiroba is, rom s. qavTaraZis naSromi
_ `SoTa rusTaveli da misi poema
`vefxistyaosani~ _ beladis mowonebuli,
xeluxleblad darCa stalinis samdivnoSi.
amgvari mosazrebis sisworeSi dagvaeWva
s. qavTaraZis naSromSi k. balmontis
Targmanis Sesaxeb gamoTqmulma sityvebma:
`Targmani dazaralebulia mTeli rigi
iseTi naklovanebebiT, romlebic xels
SeuSlis rus mkiTxvels, savsebiT
swori warmodgena iqonios rusTavelis
nawarmoebze originalSi. am SemTxvevaSi
warumateblobis mTavar wyarod unda
CaiTvalos Sinagani riTmebi, romlebic
leqsis musikalobasTan mimarTebiT ar
iZleva efeqts da romlebmac originalis
ufro zust asaxvas xeli SeuSala. am
Sinagani riTmebis dadevnebis gzaze
mTargmneli patara nakuwebad Cexs
rusTavelis farTo JReradobis frazebs,
romlebmac taepis SigniT dayovneba da
translation of the poem by Balmont. He stressed the
shortcomings of this translation, namely the incorrect usage
of internal rhyme: I wish the translation of this poem to be
the best one made in the Russian language, a language
which is spoken by one sixth of the worlds population. He
must have meant the translation by Nutsubidze that had not
yet been published, but Kavtaradze must have known that it
had already been fnished.
One more fact from the biography of Kavtaradze is
noteworthy: In 1939 he was released from prison, and in
1940 he was reinstated in the Party, and his essay was
written in September 1940. Nutsubidze fnished the his
translation of The Knight in the Panthers Skin in May
1939, and an advanced copy was submitted to Stalin on
his birthday, December 21, 1940. We think that Stalin took
preliminary measures and asked his old and educated friend
to write the essay about the poem. Probably he wanted to
preface Nutsubidzes translation with Kavtaradzes essay,
but in the end he gave preference to Nutsubidzes own
preface.
Stalin personally approved Nutsubidzes preface, as
otherwise he would have made some corrections in it, as
he had made in the translation. We think that Stalin did not
change anything in the preface because Nutsubidze would
have mentioned it in his interview or in his letters. It was for
this reason that Kavtaradzes essay was relegated to Stalins
offce shelf.
Kavtaradze discussed the translation of Balmont and
said: The translation is full of mistakes that will hinder
Russian readers from comprehending this luminous poem
correctly. The main defect of the translation is the incorrect
56
gaCereba ar ician, ris Sedegadac iCexeba,
saxes icvlis da fermkrTaldeba poetis
azri~ (gv. 16).
k. balmontis Targmanis am Sefasebis
gacnobisas yuradReba miiqcia erTma
saintereso garemoebam _ s. qavTaraZis mier,
TargmanSi warmoCenili naklovanebebis
amsaxveli mTeli abzaci ucvlelad,
sityva-sityviT, ikiTxeba 1936 wels
moskovSi stalinis davalebiT gamocemuli
`vefxistyaosnis~ k. balmontis Targmanis
winasityvaobaSi, romelic redaqciis
saxeliTaa Sesrulebuli. amitomac, Cven
1936 wlis gamocemis winasityvaobas
Tavidan bolomde guldasmiT gavecaniT
da Cven winaSe sruliad moulodneli
ambavi gacxadda _ am gamocemaSi redaqciis
winasityvaobisa da 1940 wels s. qavTaraZis
mier dawerili naSromis _ `SoTa
rusTaveli da misi poema `vefxistyaosani~
_ teqstebi TiTqmis identuria. Cven
saguldagulod SevadareT aRniSnuli
naSromebi.
s. qavTaraZis naSromis pirvel gverdze,
sadac saubaria poemis daweris savaraudo
TariRze, gamocemis winasityvaobaSi
damatebiT ikiTxeba _ `es monakveTi _ XII-
s bolo da Cveni welTaRricxvis XIII
saukune~.
1
winasityvaobaSi poemis daweris
TariRis garkvevisaTvis istoriuli
xasiaTis sakiTxTa CamonaTvali
(4 punqtisagan Sedgeba) sruladaa
warmodgenili, maSin, rodesac s. qavTaraZis
naSromSi me-2 punqti (goris samefos
mouxsenebloba), rogorc ukve aRvniSneT
a. svaniZis naSromTan Sepirispirebisas,
gamotovebulia. s. qavTaraZis naSromSi
ramdenime adgilas saukuneebi arabuli
cifrebiTaa aRniSnuli, winasityvaobaSi
_ romauliT. masSi araa s. qavTaraZis
naSromis me-3 gverdze mocemuli erTi
mozrdili nakveTi, romelSic rusTavelis
saidumloebiT mocul biografiaze saubari.
unda aRiniSnos, rom 1936 wlis
k. balmontis Targmanis gamocemis
winasityvaobasa (gv. ) da s. qavTaraZis
naSromSi (gv. 4) gansxvavdeba prolog-
epilogidan moxmobili, rusTavelis
avtorobis warmomaCeneli taepebis Targmani
da maTi raodenoba, kerZod, winasityvaobaSi
vkiTxulobT:
` , ,
.
1
, .. , , 1937.
gv. V. SemdgomSi citatebs amave gamocemidan movixmobT.
internal rhymes, which are not used effectively in the
translation and make a mistaken impression about the
original. The translator cut long phrases of the poem into
pieces, thus obscuring the poets original ideas (p. 16).
It is signifcant that Kavtaradzes critical point of view
about Balmonts translation was prefaced in Balmonts
translation that was published in Moscow in1936. For this
reason, we also studied the preface of this 1936 edition. This
preface and the essay Shota Rustaveli and his poem The
Knight in the Panthers Skin by Kavtaradze are identical.
We compared the frst page of Kavtaradzes essay
to the preface, where the date of composition of the poem
is given as the late 12
th
and early 13
th
centuries.
1
While
the preface about the date of the poem consists of four
paragraphs, Kavtaradzes essay does not contain the
second paragraph. While Kavtaradze used Arabic numerals
in his essay, the preface contains Romanian numerals.
There is nothing written in the preface about the little known
details of Rustavelis biography.
Noteworthy is that page 7 of Balmonts 1936 translation,
about the authorship of Rustaveli (stanzas from the prologue
and epilogue), differs from the page 4 of Kavtaradzes
translation about the same issue. The following is read in the
preface:
` , , .
` , -
, -
.
, , ,
, ,
1
, .. , ,
1937, p.V. We will quote from this edition below.
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` , -
, -
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, ,
,
, , ~
(` ~) (gv. VII).
aRniSnuli Targmani k. balmonts
ekuTvnis.
s. qavTaraZis naSromSi am adgilas
Semdegi taepebi gvxvdeba:
` .
,
` ,
~ (`~), 7 ).
amiran darejanis Ze moses uqia xonelsa
` ~
tariel missa rusTvelsa, misTvis
creml SeuSrobelsa:
` , ( )
(`~, ).
winasityvaobaSi ar Cans s. qavTaraZis
naSromis erTi monakveTi, romelSic
saubaria rusTavelis mesxobaze da amis
damadastureblad poemidan moxmobili
avTandilisa da fridonis kaTalikos-
mawyverelTan Sedareba (gv. 4); aseve
araa ramdenime winadadeba, romlebSic
warmoCenilia s. qavTaraZis pozicia
poemis originalobis Sesaxeb prologis
erT taepTan (`ese ambavi sparsuli...~)
dakavSirebiT. igi aRniSnavs, rom am
sakiTxze aRar SeCerdeba, radgan mas
iseTive safuZveli aqvs, rogorc `hamletis~,
`faustis~, `mkvdari sulebis~ da sxv.
originalobis sakiTxs (gv. 6).
winasityvaobis Sesabamis adgilas am
sakiTxTan dakavSirebiT sakmaod vrceli
msjelobaa gaSlili; naTqvamia (gv. IX),
rom poema nacionalur-qarTul xasiaTs
ar atarebs, rom gmirebi sxvadasxva
qveynis warmomadgenlebi arian. aqve `am
ucnauri~ movlenis axsnacaa mocemuli,
moxmobilia samecniero literaturaSi
gamoTqmuli Sexeduleba, rom `...arabi
da indoeli da sxva personaJebis qveS
qarTveli nacionaluri gmirebi imalebian,
xolo movlenebi, avtoris mier daxatuli
da gaTamaSebuli sivrceSi _ indoeTidan
mavritaniamde da gibraltaramde, TiTqos
simbolurad asaxaven saqarTvelos
cxovrebis istoriul movlenebs. Cven
es mosazreba sakmaod xelovnurad da
nakleb sarwmunod migvaCnia. SeiZleba,
rom poemis avtori Tavad gvaZlevs
gasaRebs poemis am Taviseburebis
(concluding stanza on page 7).
This is a translation by K. Balmont.
The following is read in the translation by S.
Kavtaradze:
` . ,
` ,
(Epilogue, stanza 7).
`
` , ( ) (Epilogue,
last stanza).
The preface did not contain the passage from
Kavtaradzes essay about Rustavelis ancestry being from
Meskheti (p. 4). The sentences from Kavtaradzes essay
about Rustavelis original style were omitted from the
preface. Kavtaradze said that he would not discuss this
issue, because it was as senseless as debating the same
issues in Hamlet, Faust and Dead Souls (p. 6).
This issue was discussed at length in the preface (p.
9). According to this, the poem was not national because
the characters were foreigners. This fact was explained
based on an extract from the scientifc literature: Arabic and
Indian characters are symbols of Georgians, and the place
between India and Mauritania symbolizes Georgia. But this
opinion seems unlikely to be true. The author himself gives
us a clue in the prologue: This is a Persian story translated
into Georgian. Probably Rustaveli actually used a Persian
story as the background and composed his highly lyrical and
brilliant poem (p. 9).
Kavtaradze wrote about the borders of Georga from the
Black Sea to the Caspian Sea in Rustavelis epoch (p.6). The
preface provided with further information about the border of
58
gasagebad, roca is gveubneba: `ese ambavi
sparsuli, qarTulad naTargmanebi...~
(`Sesavali~). araa gamoricxuli imis
SesaZlebloba, rom avtorma marTlac
gamoiyena raRac sparsuli ambavi, romlis
fabula man Tavis poemas safuZvlad
daudo, romelSic CaRvara istoriis
sferoSi Tavisi kolosaluri codna misi
Tanamedrove xalxebis Sesaxeb da misca mas
maRalmxatvruli poeturi forma~ (gv. IX).
rogorc Cans, aq `xelovnur mosazrebad~
miCneuli sakiTxi (mavritaniis samefosa da
gibraltaris Taobaze) a. svaniZes ukavSirdeba,
xolo s. qavTaraZis Sexeduleba poemis
originalobis Sesaxeb, winasityvaobaSi
ufro gavrcobilia da rusTavelis
mier sparsuli ambis sesxebis variantis
SesaZleblobisken ixreba.
s. qavTaraZis naSromSi rusTavelis
epoqis saqarTvelos sazRvrebis gafarToeba
Savi zRvidan kaspiis zRvamdea aRniSnuli
(gv. 6), winasityvaoba am adgilas damatebiT
informacias gvawvdis _ `Crdilo
kavkasiidan sparseTis azerbaijanamde
da erzrumamde~ (gv. X). s. qavTaraZis
naSromSi rusTavelis msoflmxedvelobaze
gamoTqmuli azri (rom poetis
filosofiur-religiuri msoflmxedveloba
_ mzis gaRmerTeba _ bunebis, religiur-
nacionaluri sulisa da azrovnebis
specifikur elfersaa moklebuli, gv. 7),
winasityvaobaSi amgvarad ikiTxeba: `misi
filosofiur-religiuri msoflmxedveloba
moklebulia nacionaluri sulisa da
azrovnebis specifikur Tvisebebs~ (gv. XI).
rogorc Cans, redaqciisaTvis araa misaRebi
rusTavelis msoflmxedvelobaSi mzis
gaRmerTebis hipoTezis warmodgena.
s. qavTaraZis naSromSi, rodesac
prologis mixedviT mijnuris Tvisebebzea
saubari da maTi CamonaTvalia, erT
adgilas wertilebiT gamotovebuli
adgilia naCvenebi (gv. 9), winasityvaobaSi
am adgilas ikiTxeba `simdidre~,
`axalgazrdoba~ (gv. XIII). sityva `mijnuris~
SinaarsTan dakavSirebiTac mcireodeni
sxvaobaa; rusTvelur `Sairze~ saubrisas,
s. qavTaraZis naSromisagan gansxvavebiT (gv.
13), winasityvaobaSi damatebiT aRniSnulia
maRali da dabali Sairi da rom rusTaveli
`Sairis~ didostatia (gv. XVI).
kidev erTi gansxvaveba _ s. qavTaraZis
naSromis me-13 gverdze sqolioSi
moyvanilia poemis prologis erTi strofi
p. petrenkos TargmanSi, winasityvaobaSi ki
es strofi sxva, balmontis TargmaniTaa
Georgia: From the South Caucasus to Persian Azerbaijan
and Erzrum (p. 10). While according to S. Kavtaradzes
essay, Rustavelis outlook about philosophy and religion is
identifed with the Sun and the Nature (p. 7), according to the
preface His outlook about philosophy and religion shows
a lack of national spirit (p. 11). Probably the editors did not
approve of the idea about the Sun and nature.
There were some missing words in Kavtaradzes
essay when speaking about the characteristics of a beloved
person. These places were flled with richness and youth
in the preface (p. 13). In addition to the discussion of
Rustavelis shairi (akind of verse) in Kavsadzes essay, the
preface provided information about low and high shairi,
mentioning that Rustaveli was a master of both (p. 16).
Another difference is that Kavtaradze provided the
translation of one stanza from the prologue by Petrenko in
his essay (p. 13), while in the preface the stanza is from
Balmonts translation.
We shall not spend time here discussing unimportant
lexical and spelling differences, but let us say a few words
about conclusive parts of the essay and the preface.
According to Kavtaradze, Balmonts translation is not good
enough, but I give it to you because it is the only translation
of the poem. I hope that Rustavelis poem would to be
translated very soon in Russian (p. 19). It is well know that
Stalins shared this opinion about Balmonts translation.
The prefaces to Balmonts translation of The Knight
in the Panthers Skin published in 1936 and in 1937 are
identical, as well as the preface to Balmonts translation
and Kavtaradzes essay. But one question arises here:
how was it possible to that the 1936 preface was based on
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Secvlili.
Cven aRar SevCerdebiT patar-patara
xasiaTis gansxvavebebze (leqsikuri
xasiaTis iqneba is Tu marTlweris
sakiTxebTan dakavSirebuli), mxolod
dasasrulis Sesaxeb mogaxsenebT.
winasityvaobaSi balmontis Targmanis
zemomoxmobili Sefasebis Semdeg (romelic
identuria qavTaraZesTan), naTqvamia:
`balmontis Targmans, romelsac Cven ar
vTvliT Sesabamisad im moTxovnebisa,
romlebic SesaZlebeli iyo am genialuri
poemis mTargmnelisaTvis wagveyenebina,
Cven gawvdiT imdenad, ramdenadac igi
erTaderT Targmans warmoadgens. dgeba
savsebiT bunebrivi survili axlo
momavalSi rusul enaze rusTavelis poemis
srulyofili Targmanis xilvisa~ (gv. XIX).
rogorc viciT, es stalinis Sexedulebaa
balmontis Targmanis Sesaxeb.
s. qavTaraZis naSromi, rogorc ukve
iTqva, mTavrdeba Semdegi sityvebiT:
`rusTaveli yvelaze ukeTesad unda
aJRerdes didi oqtombris enaze
Sesrulebul TargmanSi, msoflios erT
meeqvsed nawilze dasaxlebuli Zmuri
respublikebis saerTo saxelmwifoebriv
enaze~ (gv. 16).
`vefxistyaosnis~ balmontiseuli
Targmanis 1936 wlis gamocemis
winasityvaoba (redaqciisgan) amave
Targmanis 1937 wlis gamocemaSi meordeba.
redaqciis am winasityvaobisa da
s. qavTaraZis naSromis mimarTebebis
daZebnis Sedegad irkveva, rom TiTqmis
identur teqstebTan gvaqvs saqme. ismis
kiTxva, rogoraa SesaZlebeli s. qavTaraZis
mier 1940 wels stalinis davalebiT
dawerili da misi mowonebuli naSromi, 1936
wlis gamocemis winasityvaobad yofiliyo
gamoyenebuli (garkveuli SesworebebiT).
SesaZlebelia davuSvaT, rom stalinma s.
qavTaraZes daavala am narkvevis dawera,
roca is 1931-1936 wlebSi muSaobda
mxatvruli literaturis redaqciaSi
moskovSi. 1936 wels, rogorc viciT, s.
qavTaraZe daapatimres da, amdenad, misi
xseneba ar SeiZleboda da amitomac, 1936
wlis gamocemis winasityvaoba, redaqciis
saxeliT dabeWdes; xolo 1939-1940 wlebSi,
roca s. qavTaraZe gaaTavisufles da
partiaSi aRadgines, maSin moindoma beladma
namdvili avtoris gacxadeba. magram aqac
kidev erTi ukiduresoba Cndeba _ Tu asea,
es naSromi ratom aravin icis? is sxvisi
dawerili rom yofiliyo, 1940 wels s.
Kavtaradzes essay that was written by the order of Stalin in
1940? Perhaps Stalin ordered Kavtaradze to write this essay
when he served in the publishing-house in 1931 to 1936. His
preface must have been published specially for the edition,
because in 1936 Kavtaradze was under arrest and it was
forbidden to even mention his name. Stalin wanted to restore
the authors authority when he was released later that year.
Thus, his essay was published. But if this is true, why is it
that nobody knows this essay and how Kavtaradze would
dare to submit another authors work to Stalin in 1940? The
edition was published on Stalins order in 1936, and he must
have known the preface very well.
Another person connected to this ambiguous event
is Alexander Svanidze, whose letter extracts were used in
Kavtaradzes work. Svanidze was an editor of the Balmont
translation in 1936 and had published an essay about The
Knight in the Panthers Skin. Perhaps he used his essay in
the preface.
A few words about Alexander Svanidze . The following
can be read about him in the encyclopedia of the Soviet
Georgia: Svanidze Alexander Simonis dze (born in the
village of Baji, in the current region of Ambrolauri in 1886
died on November 14, 1942); Soviet state fgure and
historian; member of the Communist Party since 1903;
graduated from Yale University, history-philology faculty. He
led illegal revolutionary activities in the Trans-Caucasus;
was a combatant in the Civil War (1918 20); In 1921-24 he
served as Commissar of Peoples Education and Finance; at
the same time he was Commissar of Foreign affairs. In 1924
1937 he was a trade representative in Germany. He was
the chairman and deputy chairman of The USSR Foreign
60
qavTaraZe rogor gaubedavda stalins
amave narkvevis mitanas? 1936 wlis gamocema
xom stalinis davalebiT ganxorcielda
da mas winasityvaobis Sinaarsic kargad
ecodineboda.
am daxlarTul da gaugebrobiT
mocul ambavs kidev erTi, im droisaTvis
mniSvnelovani pirovneba ukavSirdeba _
aleqsandre svaniZe (romlis werilis
nawyvetebi s. qavTaraZem Tavis naSromSi
gamoiyena) da ai ratom _ k. balmontis
Targmanis 1936 wlis gamocemis redaqtori
swored a. svaniZea (mas gamoqveynebuli aqvs
naSromebi `vefxistyaosanze~, romelTa
monakveTebs am gamocemis winasityvaobaSi
vxvdebiT).
cota ram aleqsandre svaniZis
biografiidan. saqarTvelos sabWoTa
enciklopediaSi mis Sesaxeb vkiTxulobT:
`svaniZe aleqsandre svimonis Ze (1886,
sof. baji, axland. ambrolauris r-ni, _
14. XI. 1942), sabW. saxelmwifo moRvawe da
istorikosi. komunisturi partiis wevri
1903-idan. moismina ienis (germania) un-tis
ist.-fil. fak-tis kursi. amierkavkasiaSi
aralegalur rev. moRvaweobas eweoda.
samoqalaqo omis (1918-20) monawile. 1921-24
ganaTlebis sax. komisari da finansTa sax.
komisari; imave dros _ saq. ssr sagareo
saqmeTa sax. komisari. 1924-1937 ssrk savaWro
warmomadgenlad muSaobda germaniaSi. s. iyo
ssrk sagareo vaWrobis bankis sammarTvelos
Tav-re, ssrk saxelmw. bankis sammarTvelos
Tav-ris moadgile. Zv. aRmosavleTis ist.
TvalsaCino mkvlevari, asur. da urartul
wyaroebze dayrdnobiT amierkavk. uZvelesi
istoriis narkvevi moamzada. Jurn. `
~ pirveli redaqtori iyo~.
1

aq araa aRniSnuli (rac mosalodneli iyo),
rom `didi leninis yuradReba miapyres
imas, rom qarTvel bolSevikebs Soris a.
svaniZe iyo erT-erTi didad ganaTlebuli
da iniciativiani pirovneba~.
2
arc imis
Sesaxebaa Tqmuli, rom a. svaniZe stalinis
colis Zma iyo da rom 1937 wels igi
daapatimres da 1942 wels sapatimroSi
gardaicvala.
i. megreliZe Tavis wignSi _
`rusTvelologebi~ (1970) _ a. svaniZes
eTmoba erTi werili, saidanac vigebT, rom
igi `exmareboda Tbilisis universitets,
muzeumebsa da arqivebs~, did yuradRebas
iCenda inteligenciis mimarT, 30-ian wlebSi
iv. javaxiSvili `daicva daumsaxurebeli
1
qse, t. 9, Tb., 1985, gv. 311.
2
i. megreliZe, `rusTvelologebi~, Tb., 1970, gv. 265
Trade Administration. He was a renowned researcher of
Eastern history. He wrote an essay about the ancient Trans-
Caucasus based on Assyrian and Urartu resources, and was
the frst editor of the journal
.
1
It is not mentioned that Lenin said that A. Svanidze was
one of the most educated Bolsheviks.
2
A. Svanidze was
the brother of frst Stalins wife. He was arrested in 1937 and
died in prison in 1942.
According to the letter in Rustvelologebi (1970) by
I. Megrelidze, A. Svanidze supported Tbilisi University,
museums and archives. He was greatly interested in the
intelligentsia. In the 1930s he defended Ivane Javakhishvili
from unfair oppression. For this reason, the scientist was
very greatly obliged to A. Svanidze. I. Megrelidze noted,
that A. Svanidze helped G. Tsagareli and K. Chichinadze
to publish the Russian translation of The Knight in the
Panthers Skin. Foreign specialists often visited the
USSR at his invitation. In 1933, the Rustaveli Institute
was founded near Tbilisi University under his auspices.
According to this letter, A. Svanidze was the chairman of
Rustavelis anniversary committee, which started working
in 1936. He was an initiator of the publication of Balmonts
translation of The Knight in the Panthers Skin in 1936.
I. Megrelidze noted that In 1936 and 1937, K. Balmonts
and G. Tsagarelis translations of the poem were edited and
prefaced by A. Svanidze (ibid, p. 268).
Thus, according to Megrelidze, Svanidze is the
author of the preface. Megrelidze himself was a secretary
of Rustavelis anniversary committee (the chairman of
1
V.9, Tbilisi, 1985, p. 311
2
I. Megrelidze, Rustvelologebi, Tbilisi, 1970, p. 265.
61
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Seviwrovebisagan~, ris gamoc mecnieri,
rogorc misi werilidan irkveva, `didad
davalebuli iyo~. i. megreliZe aRniSnavs,
rom a. svaniZem daxmareba gauwia g. cagarelsa
da k. WiWinaZes `vefxistyaosnis~ rusuli
Targmanebis gamocemaSi. misi mowveviT
ssrk-Si Camodiodnen ucxoeli mecnierebi.
a. svaniZis didi xelSewyobiT 1933 wels
Tbilisis universitetTan rusTavelis
instituti daarsda. aqve naTqvamia, rom
a. svaniZe gaxldaT rusTavelis saiubileo
komitetis Tavmjdomare (komitetma muSaoba
1936 wels daiwyo). swored misi meSveobiT
moxda 1936 wels ssrk-Si k. balmontis mier
Sesrulebuli `vefxistyaosnis~ pirveli
rusuli sruli Targmanis gamoqveyneba (red.
a. svaniZe). i. megreliZe aRniSnavs, rom `...
1936 da 1937 w. gamoica k. balmontis da
maSin pirvelad gamoqveynda g. cagarlis
Targmanebi a. svaniZis winasityvaobiTa da
redaqciiT~ (iqve gv. 268).
i. megreliZis sityvebidan vigebT, rom
a. svaniZea winasityvaobis avtori. Tavad
i. megreliZe, rogorc werilSi aRniSnavs,
rusTavelis saiubileo komitetis mdivani
iyo (Tavmjdomare _ a. svaniZe). aqedan
gamomdinare, mas ecodineboda 1936 wlis
Targmanis gamocemis winasityvaobis
avtori. aqve unda aRiniSnos isic,
rom g. imedaSvilis mier Sedgenil
`rusTvelologiur literaturaSi~ (1712-
1956) k. balmontis Targmanis 1936 da 1937
wlis gamocemebis anotaciebSi es faqti
araa naxsenebi, mxolod miTiTebulia,
rom winasityvaoba redaqciisaganaa,
uavtorod. arc qse-Si a. svaniZis naSromTa
CamonaTvalSi da arc l. menabdis
redaqtorobiT gamocemul krebulSi
`rusTaveli msoflio literaturaSi~
(t. III, Tb., 1988) a. svaniZis saxelTan
dakavSirebul naSromebSi araa miTiTebuli,
rom aRniSnuli winasityvaobis avtori
a. svaniZea. l. andRulaZe ki wignSi
`balmonti da saqarTvelo~ (Tb.,
1972) vkiTxulobT: `vefxistyaosnis~
balmontiseuli Targmanis sruli teqsti
pirvelad 1933 wels parizSi gamoica.
winasityvaoba al. svaniZem daurTo~ (gv.
121), Tumca aq araferia naTqvami 1936 da 1937
wlebis gamocemaTa winasityvaobis avtoris
Sesaxeb. aqve unda aRvniSnoT, rom 1933 wels
parizSi gamocemul k. balmontis Targmans
Tavad mTargmnelis winasityvaoba uZRvis, a.
svaniZis saxeli aq arsad ixseneba.
Tu gaviTvaliswinebT, rom a. svaniZe im
periodSi mniSvnelovani sazogado moRvawe
which was Svanidze). Hence it follows that Megrelidze
must have known who the editor of the publication was. It
is signifcant that Literature about Rustaveli, 1712 1956
by G. Imedashvili does not contain any information about
the authorship of the preface when speaking about the
annotations of Balmonts translation. Neither does it appear
in the list of Svanidzes work, or in the collection Rustaveli
in World Literature (v.III, Tbilisi, 1988) by L. Menabde.
According to Balmont and Georgia (Tbilisi, 1972) by L
Andghuladze, Balmonts translation of The Knight in the
Panthers Skin was frst published in Paris in 1933, and it
was prefaced by A. Svanidze (p. 121). But there is nothing
said about the preface of the 1936 and 1937 editions.
Noteworthy is that the translation published in 1933 was
prefaced by the translator himself.
A. Svanidze was an important public fgure and Rustveli
specialist. He was an author of many works about The
Knight in the Panthers Skin, and he oversaw many editions
of the works translation. For this reason, he was more
competent to write a preface of Balmonts translation than S.
Kavtaradze, who was a lawyer by profession and who had
not written any scientifc essays about The Knight in the
Panthers Skin or about any other theme. But signifcant is
that there are some passages in the preface that go against
Svanidzes ideology. Namely, he considered the prologue
and epilogue of the poem to be written by a false Rustaveli.
His point of view about the historical and geographical
backgrounds (Mauritania, Gibraltar) of the poem was not
supported. For this reason, there is nothing said about these
invented countries in his preface, despite the fact that it was
a key issue of his works.
62
iyo, rusTvelologiuri sakiTxebis mcodne,
`vefxistyaosnis~ Sesaxeb werilebis avtori,
poemis gamocemebis momzadebis monawile-
Taosani, mas savsebiT xelewifeboda
TargmanisaTvis winasityvaobis dawera,
vidre _ profesiiT iurist s. qavTaraZes,
romelsac `vefxistyaosanze~ naSromebi
da arc sxva Tematikaze Sesrulebuli
samecniero kvlevebi ar aqvs. magram
isic unda iTqvas, rom winasityvaobaSi
iseTi epizodebi gvxvdeba, romlebic
SeusabamobaSi modis a. svaniZis
SexedulebebTan, kerZod, igi poemis
prolog-epilogs rusTveliseulad
ar miiCnevs, winasityvaobaSi ki poemis
avtorobis sakiTxis garkvevisas swored
prologisa da epilogis taepebzea
gamaxvilebuli ZiriTadi yuradReba;
winasityvaobaSi ar iziareben mis zogierT
mosazrebas poemis istoriul-geografiul
`sarCulTan~ dakavSirebiT (mavritania,
gibraltari). swored am mizeziT a. svaniZis
naSromebSi rusTvelis mier gamonagoni
qveynebis dawvrilebiT ganxilva da
TiToeulis safarqveS realurad arsebuli
istoriuli qveynebis dasaxeleba saerTod
araa naxsenebi (es ki misi naSromebis
mTavari Temaa).
sainteresoa kidev erTi garemoeba.
a. svaniZes ar moswonda ziCis ilustraciebi,
romelTa Sesaxeb igi wers: `mgosani
yvela am internacionalur tips erTnairi
siyvaruliT agviwers. ra acxia am
universalizmisa da internacionalizmisa
ziCis ilustraciebs? sruliad araferi;
piriqiT, ramdenadac rusTaveli
universaluri da internacionaluria,
imdenad provincialuria `vefxistyaosnis~
ilustraciebi. tarieli, magaliTad, zogan
operetis gmirs gavs, zogan ki maZiebel
aznauriSvils. fatmani zedgamoWrili
`despinea~. avTandilic ver gaSorebia
imereli keTilSobilebis msgavsebas.
Seadare gansakuTrebiT suraTi `fatman
ferxTa moexvia...~ am suraTs rom warwera
gaukeTo `scena valerian gunias dramidan~,
mgonia aravis ar gaukvirdeba~.
1

a. svaniZes miaCnda, rom `vefxistyaosani~
damaxinjebuli iyo amgvari ilustraciebiT
da jobda, poemis dausuraTeblad gamocema.
ziCis naxelavis amgvari Sefasebis
Semdeg, cotaTi ucnauria, rom k. balmontis
Targmanis 1936 wlis gamocema, romlis
erT-erTi iniciatori (rogorc i. megeliZe
1
a. svaniZe, `vefxistyaosnis~ istoriul-geografiuli sarCuli~, Tb.,
1934, gv. 44.
Noteworthy is another fact: Svanidze did not like the
illustrations by Zichy. In his words, the poet described all
international characters with love. The illustrations of Zichy
do not depict internationalism and universalism. While
Rustaveli is universal and international, these illustrations
of The Knight in the Panthers Skin are provincial. For
example, in some pictures Tarieli looks like a hero of an
operetta, and in another like a nobleman. Patmani is a
prototype of Despoina. Avtandili resembles an Imeretian
man. The illustration He hugged Pathmans legs can easily
be inscribed as a Scene from Valerian Gunias drama.
1

Svanidze thought that the poem was disfgured by
these illustrations. For this reason, it would have been better
to publish the edition without them.
After such an estimation, it is surprising that the
translation of the poem by Balmont edited by Svanidze was
published with these illustrations of Zichy. But we should
remember that Stalin liked Zichys illustrations, and on whose
order this edition was published in Moscow.
Thus in conclusion, it is unclear who the author of
the preface to Balmont translation is, A. Svanidze or S.
Kavtaradze. Perhaps it is prefaced by the editorial board,
namely by Stalin who edited it. Nothing about The Knight in
the Panthers Skin was published without Stalins correction,
as he was greatly interested in the poems publication. He
appointed holidays and himself chose the organizers of
his anniversaries, translators of the poem, the authors of
the preface and the editors. He chose repressed persons
who were the most educated ones (such as Nutsubidze,
Svanidze, and Kavtaradze). Perhaps it was Stalin himself
1
A. Svanidze, Historical and Geographical Backgrounds of The Knight in the Panthers
Skin, Tbilisi, 1934, p. 44.
63
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SeniSnavs) da redaqtori Tavad a. svaniZea,
swored ziCis ilustraciebiTaa Semkuli.
Tumca, arc is unda dagvaviwydes, rom
stalinis davalebiT moxda moskovSi am
gamocemis dabeWdva da beladi ki ziCis
ilustraciebis didi moyvaruli iyo,
rac kargad gamoCnda 1941 wels poemis
nucubiZiseuli Targmanis gamocemis
staliniseuli direqtivebiT Sesrulebul
gaformebaSi.
yovelive zemoTqmulidan gamomdinare,
kvlavac gaurkveveli, burusiT moculi
rCeba sakiTxi _ vinaa am winasityvaobis
avtori, a. svaniZe Tu s. qavTaraZe? iqneb
_ arcerTi da marTla redaqciis erTiani
azria masSi warmodgenili, stalinis,
rogorc koreqtor-redaqtoris, mier
gazomil-awonili? `vefxistyaosnis~
gamocemiT dainteresebuli beladis
TvalTaxedvisa da neba-survilis gareSe
xom poemasTan dakavSirebuli arc-erTi
sakiTxis ganxilva da movlenis aRniSvna
ar xdeboda (iseve rogorc nebismieri
sxva mniSvnelovani problemisa). igi
awesebda dResaswaulebs da irCevda
rusTavelis saiubileo dReebis
momwyobTac, poemis mTargmnelebsac da
winasityvaobis damwerTac, gamocemaTa
redaqtorebsac, Tanac ganaTlebul, niWier
da saqmis mcodneT, aseTebi ki, ZiriTadad,
represirebulni iyvnen, iseve rogorc S.
nucubiZe, a. svaniZe da s. qavTaraZe. iqneb
swored stalinma Seitana gaugebroba
da sagangebod daxlarTa Targmanis
winasityvaobis avtorobis sakiTxi?
Tu winasityvaoba 1936 wels a. svaniZem
dawera da mas 1937 wels stalini represias
umzadebda, maSin mis saxelsac, ra Tqma
unda, gaaqrobda; SemdegSi svaniZis
nacvlad cixidan gaTavisuflebuli s.
qavTaraZis saxeli dasWirdeboda da misi
gvariT aRniSnuli naSromis wardgena ar
gauZneldeboda. SesaZloa, belads Semdgom
aRarc s. qavTaraZis saxeliT esargebla
(s. qavTaraZis avtorobiT Sesrulebuli
naSromi xom aravin icis).
Cven ufro im azrisaken vixrebiT,
rom naSromi s. qavTaraZes ekuTvnis. amas
gvafiqrebinebs poemis Targmanis 1936 wlis
gamocemis winasityvaobisa da s. qavTaraZis
naSromis zemoaRniSnuli Sedareba, rac imis
STabeWdilebas qmnis, rom es ukanaskneli
pirveladi teqstia, romelic redaqciis
mier Targmanis winasityvaobisaTvis
Casworda, `gaiCalxa~ da garkveuli
cvlilebebiT gamoqveynda (damatebiT
who had made the issue about the authorship of the preface
so obscure.
Perhaps Svanidze wrote the preface in 1936. But in
1937 he was repressed by Stalin who would have banned
his name. Later Stalin released Kavtaradze from prison and
published the work under his name. Maybe for the same
reason Kavtaradzes work was lost.
We lean to the view that the preface has been written
by S. Kavtaradze. We came to this conclusion based on
the comparison between the preface of the translation of
the poem (1936) and S. Kavtaradzes work. We consider
that the latest one with several corrections has been
published as the preface. (It has been indicated: by extra
information of S. Kavtaradzes work; paragraphs of the
text; changing the Arab numerals with Romanian ones;
changing of a few words, punctuation marks and spelling.
For example, - has been replaced
by -, - - by
. By the time K. Balmonts translation of
the The Knight in the Panthers Skin was published (1936)
S. Kavtaradze had already been repressed. For this reason,
an arrested person should not have been mentioned as
an author of the preface. Perhaps later (in 1940) his name
would have been mentioned as the author but this issue was
up to Stalin to decide. We must also remember as follows:
twenty-eight years later after writing the work, a retired
Bolshevik appealed to Moscow archives for the photo copy
of his work with Stalins inscription. He must have needed
it in order to prove his authorship. V. Chachanidze (who
worked on the translations and editions of the poem, and
who tried to obtain the copy with Stalins inscription) knew
64
davZenT, rom amaze mianiSnebs
s. qavTaraZis naSromSi zogierT sakiTxTan
garkveuli informaciis Camateba,
teqstSi abzacebis gamoyofa, saukuneebis
arabuli cifrebiT aRniSvnis romauliT
Secvla, zogjer calkeuli sityvis,
sasveni niSnebisa da zogierTi sityvis
marTlweris Sesworeba, magaliTad, -
- -Ti,
- - -
Ti da sxv.). Tu imasac gaviTvaliswinebT,
rom 1936 wels, rodesac `vefxistyaosnis~
k. balmontiseuli Targmanis gamocema
gamoqveynda, s. qavTaraZe represirebuli
iyo, Sesabamisad, dapatimrebul bolSeviks
winasityvaobis avtorad ar moixsenebdnen.
mxolod mogvianebiT, Tundac, 1940
wlisaTvis, SesaZlebeli iqneboda (an _ ara)
misi avtorobis gacxadeba, rac kvlavac
beladze iqneboda damokidebuli. isic unda
gavixsenoT, rom pensiaze gasuli bolSeviki
naSromis daweridan 28 wlis Semdeg
moskovis arqivebidan iTxovda sakuTari
naSromis fotoasls stalinis warweriT,
romelic, safiqrebelia, s. qavTaraZes
sakuTari avtorobis damadasturebel
dokumentad sWirdeboda.
v. CaCaniZisaTvis, romelic poemis
Targmanebsa da gamocemebze muSaobda (da
romelic cdilobda, s. qavTaraZis stalinis
warweriani naSromis mopovebas), cnobili
iyo redaqciis winasityvaobis teqsti,
romlis avtorad s. qavTaraZe sakuTar
Tavs asaxelebda, rac mecnierisTvis,
iseve rogorc CvenTvis, gaurkvevlobas
iwvevda. amgvari saqmeebis gasaidumloeba
da gabundovaneba stalinis gegmazomieri
politikis nawili iyo da im epoqisaTvis _
friad niSandoblivi garemoeba.
yovel SemTxvevaSi winasityvaoba
da misi, TiTqmis identuri, s. qavTaraZis
saxeliT Sesrulebuli naSromi,
im periodisaTvis sayuradRebo da
mniSvnelovania ara marto rusulenovani
mkiTxvelisaTvis, aramed, zogadad,
kulturuli sazogadoebisaTvis. yuradRebas
imsaxurebs masSi Tavmoyrili, sworad
SerCeuli da ganxiluli Temebi. avtori
sakmaod kargad erkveva `vefxistyaosnis~
istoriul-filologiur sakiTxebSi,
safuZvlianad icnobs im periodisaTvis
rusTvelologiaSi arsebul samecniero
literaturas, amJRavnebs Tavis mravalmxriv
erudicias da Tavisi epoqisaTvis
saintereso kvleva-Ziebas gvTavazobs, qmnis
naSroms, romelic Tavisi lakonurobiTa
the preface of the edition board. S. Kavtaradze claimed to
be the author of that text. This issue is ambiguous to the
scientists and also to us.
It was part of Stalins politics and noteworthy detail of
that time to make the cases alike to this one obscure and
ambiguous.
In any case, this preface that was identical to
Kavtaradzes work was very important to the Russian
readers and to cultured society, and all of the themes that
were discussed there were signifcant. The author was very
well versed in the historical and geographical aspects of
The Knight in the Panthers Skin and thus he presented
a very interesting work that helped the Russian readers to
make their own and correct impressions of Rustaveli and his
great poem.
An advanced copy of Nutsubidzes translation of The
Knight in the Panthers skin (1940) is preserved in the
department of special editions of Ilia Chavchavadze national
Library of Parliament. S. Kavtaradze made the following
inscription to a two-paged preface of the editor board:
`, 1940, . ~ S. Kavtaradze seemed to
prove his authorship of this preface.
In conclusion, let us discuss one fnal issue. Shota
Nutsubidze patronized the advanced copy of his translation.
His last will is inscribed on the edition, which is as follows:
After my death, please transfer my work to Georgian
Writers Museum in Tbilisi. Moscow, July 21, 1941. Sh.
Nutsubidze. At the age of ffty-three he still worried about his
work and wanted to preserve it.
At the end of the interview with Kavtaradze, L.
Chantladze noted that the Old Bolshevik said to him I
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da mravalmrivi problematikiT
rusulenovan mkiTxvels savsebiT naTel
warmodgenas uqmnis SoTa rusTavelsa da
`vefxistyaosanze~.
parlamentis i. WavWavaZis sax.
erovnuli biblioTekis iSviaT gamocemaTa
ganyofilebaSi inaxeba `vefxistyaosnis~
nucubiZiseuli Targmanis 1940 wlis
sasignalo gamocemis erTi egzemplari,
romelSic redaqciis winasityvaobisaTvis
(moculobiT _ ori furceli) s. qavTaraZes
sakuTari xeliT miuweria _ `,
1940, . ~. amgvari qmedebiT s.
qavTaraZe, rogorc Cans, am winasityvaobis
avtorobasac adasturebda.
dasasuls kidev erT garemoebaze
SevaCerebT yuradRebas.
S. nucubiZe `vefxistyaosnis~
sakuTari Targmanis gamocemis sasignalo
egzemplarze im periodSive zrunavda,
rasac am erTaderT gamocemaze misi xeliT
Sesrulebuli anderZ-minaweri mowmobs: `Tu
daviRupebi, gTxovT TbilisSi saqarTvelos
mweralTa muzeums gadasceT. moskovi,
21.VII. 41. S. nucubiZe~. mTargmneli, 53 wlis
asakSi, Tanac ukve Sewyalebuli, kvlavac
mosalodnel safrTxeebze fiqrobs,
windaxedulebas iCens, Tu Tavad
ver gadarCa, es erTaderTi
egzemplari mainc gadaarCinos.
s. qavTaraZesTan intervius
dasasruls, P. S.-Si, interviueri,
l. CantlaZe, aRniSnavs, rom
damSvidobebisas Zvelma
bolSevikma uTxra: `aTasgverdiani
memuarebi Cavabare marqs-engels-
leninis instituts. gamoqveynebas
ar vdardob, sxva rame ar daemarTos~
(gv. 46).
interviu 1999 wels ibeWdeba, 30
welia gasuli s. qavTaraZesTan saubris
Semdeg da misi memuarebi, rogorc
irkveva, ar upovniaT. am intervius
gamoqveynebidan kidev erTi aTeuli
weli gavida. mxolod axla ibeWdeba
misi gvariT xelmowerili naSromi,
romelic Sss-s arqivSi aRmoCnda
daculi. albaT aqamde ucnobi misi
memuarebic gamomzeurdeba. SesaZloa,
maT mravali saidumlo gaacxadon da
mraval upasuxo kiTxvas gascen pasuxi.
handed in my memoirs of a thousand pages to the Marx-
Engels-Lenin Institute. I dont care if they will publish it or not.
I care only that my work not to be destroyed or appropriated
(p. 46).
This interview was published in 1999, thirty years later
after speaking with Kavtaradze. His memoirs were not found
that time. Ten years has passed after this interview was
published. It is the frst time that his work has been published
with his signature. This document is preserved in the archive
of the MIA. We hope that we will also fnd his memoirs.
Maybe it will contain clues to some of the unanswered
questions.
This article is written based on the document below
66

SoTa rusTaveli da misi poema `vefxistyaosani
1

cnobebi rusTavelis pirovnebis Sesaxeb istoriul qronikebsa da mxatvruli
literaturis ZeglebSi Semonaxuli ar aris. avtoris vinaobaze erTaderT sarwmuno wyaros
misive nawarmoebi _ `vefxistyaosani~ _ warmoadgens. rusTaveli da misi poema Cven winaSe
dgas, rogorc giganti winaprebisa da memkvidreebis gareSe. yvelaferi, rac poetsa da mis
nawarmoebs exeba, CvenTvis problemas warmoadgens. Cven ar viciT misi winamorbedebisa da
memkvidreebis Sesaxeb, ar viciT teqstis namdvili istoria; ucnobia poetis socialuri
warmoSobac da garemoc, romelic mas gars ekra. SesaZlebelia poetis cxovrebisa da
moRvaweobis epoqis dadgena, magram erTob Zneldeba poemis daweris zusti TariRis
gansazRvra. poemis Sinaarsze mxolod istoriuli faqtebis Sejerebis gziT, anu Tavad
poemaSi arsebuli istoriuli miniSnebebiT, SesaZlebelia im epoqis monakveTis dakonkreteba,
romlis farglebSic unda daweriliyo poema.
cnobili istoriuli faqtebisa da movlenebis poemaSi moxseneba an armoxseneba,
`vefxistyaosnis~ daweris drois Sesaxeb kiTxvaze, samecniero-savaraudo pasuxisTvis swor
gezs iZleva.
am mimarTebiT Cven win Semdegi sakiTxebi warmodgeba:
1) rogor aixsneba is garemoeba, rom aRmosavleTisa da dasavleTis umniSvnelovanesi
saxelmwifoebis CamoTvlisas da maTi dawvrilebiTi aRwerisas rusTaveli arafers
ambobs Sua saukuneebis udidesi imperiis bizantiis Sesaxeb? 3) igive kiTxva Cndeba
monRoleTis did imperiasTan dakavSirebiT, romlis Sesaxebac poemaSi araferia naTqvami,
maSin, rodesac aRmosavleTis sxva saxelmwifoebi, magaliTad, xvarazmi da xataeTi, poets
detalurad aqvs aRwerili? 4) ra saxelmwifoa `romania~, romelzedac poeti dawvrilebiT
saubrobs. rogoria misi arsebobis istoriuli TariRebi da rogor unda moxvedriliyo igi
rusTavelis poemaSi? am kiTxvebis analizi wamoWril sakiTxebs garkveul Suqs hfens.
poemaSi bizantia moxseniebuli rom ar aris, es, erTi SexedviT, marTlac ucnaurad
Cans, magram martivad aixsneba, Tu Tavad bizantiis istorias mivmarTavT. rusTavelis
dros bizantiis imperia ar arsebobda. is jvarosnebisa da venecielebis mier dangreuli
da erTmaneTSi ganawilebuli iyo. amiT bizantiis arseboba savsebiT ar Sewyvetila, magram
igi 57 wlis manZilze ar arsebobda (1204-1261). rusTavelis poema, usaTuod, am monakveTSia
dawerili, anu konstantinopolis dacemidan _ mis aRdgenamde. am daskvnas adasturebs
rusTavelis mier `romaniis~ saxelmwifos moxsenieba. romania frangi raindebis mier
konstantinopolis aRebis Semdeg bizantiis imperiis nangrevebze aRmocenda, anu 1204 wels.
roca indoeTis sakiTxs vexebiT, istoriuli faqtebis Sejerebis gziT mivdivarT imave
daskvnamde: goris saxelmwifo, romlis provincia iyo indoeTi, mahmud xvarazmelma 1204
wels daangria, xolo damoukideblad indoeTis sasulTno goris saxelmwifos yofili
provinciebidan 1206 wels Seiqmna. ai, ratom saubrobs rusTaveli ase farTod indoeTis
Sesaxeb da arafers ambobs im periodSi ararsebul goris saxelmwifoze. aRmosavleTis
udidesi saxelmwifoebis istoriis monacemebi, umTavresad, monRoleTis, xvarazmisa da
xataeTisa, gvaZleven miTiTebas SefardebiT droze, romelze gvianac rusTavelis poema
ver daiwereboda. cxadia, rom poetma igi dawera monRolTa Semosevamde, Cingiz-xanis mier
xvarazmis ganadgurebamde da wina aziaSi monRolTa samflobelos daarsebamde 1236-38 w.w.-
Si.
amrigad, TviT poemaSi aris sakmao istoriuli cnobebi, romelTa mixedviTac misi
Seqmnis TariRis gansazRvraa SesaZlebeli. es unda yofiliyo Tamaris mefobis dro (1184-
1213), qarTuli kulturis renesansis brwyinvale dasawyisi, saqarTvelos istoriis `oqros
xana~. poemis Sesaval da daskvniT strofebSi rusTaveli xotbas asxams Tamarsa da mis
meuRles, daviT soslans.
mocemuli istoriuli faqtebis garda, Tavad rusTavelis poemis ena warmoadgens
masalas poemis warmoSobis daTariRebis problemis gadasawyvetad. es garemoeba gamoricxavs
poemis Seqmnis TariRis me-16-17 saukuneebSi gadatanas. meore mxriv, ar aris SesaZlebloba,
rom es nawarmoebi ufro gviandel xanas ganekuTvnos, vidre me-13 saukunis pirvel meoTxeds,
radgan monRolTa da, gansakuTrebiT Temuris, Semosevam, romelmac saqarTvelos mosaxleoba
1 vvbeWdavT s. qavTaraZis aRniSnul naSroms, romelic gaigzavna saqarTvelodan moskovSi e. qurcikiZis (partiis istoriis partarqivis direq-
toris moadgile) mier marqsizm-leninizmis institutis direqtoris moadgilesTan _ a.soloviovTan.
`
saqarTvelos Sinagan saqmeTa saministros arqivSi dacul
s. qavTaraZis msoflmxedvelobis teqsts vaqveynebT srulad.
67
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xuTgzis amoZirkva, srulebiT Cakla qarTuli kulturisa da literaturis ganviTarebis
yovelgvari piroba. klasikuri periodis, romelsac monRolTa Semosevis Sedegad tragikuli
dasasruli hqonda, Semdeg qarTulma literaturam gamococxleba mxolod me-16-17
saukuneebSi daiwyo.
Tu istoriuli faqtebis analizs mivyavarT garkveuli CarCos dadgenisken, romelic
XIII s-is sam-oTx aTwleuls aerTianebs, roca mxolod maSin iyo SesaZlebeli rusTavelis
poemis Seqmna, Tavad poetis pirovneba, poetis biografia CvenTvis saidumlod rCeba. ar
arsebobs araviTari konkretuli monacemebi misi cxovrebis, moRvaweobis, dabadebisa Tu
gardacvalebis Sesaxeb. ar arsebobs iribi mniSvnelobis cnobebic, romelTa SepirispirebiT
SesaZlebeli iqneboda rusTavelis cxovrebisa da moRvaweobis etapebisa da faqtebis
Sesaxeb, zogierTi savaraudo monacemis miReba. SeiZleba iTqvas, rom rusTavels ar aqvs
biografia, misi biografia misi poemaa, Tu ar CavTvliT biografiuli xasiaTis ramdenime
xalxur gadmocemas, romelTa utyuaroba jerjerobiT arvisganaa dadgenili. poemis
prologis or da epilogis or strofSi naTqvamia, rom am leqsebs wers is, rusTaveli:
,, , , ~
(,,~, 7 )
,, , , ~ (,,~ 15 )
,, . ,
, ~ (,,~, 7 )
amiran darejanis Ze moses uqia xonelsa
,,
tariel missa rusTvelsa, misTvis creml SeuSrobelsa:
,, , ~ ( )
(,,~, )
moyvanili strofebi teqstSi gansazRvravs or mniSvnelovan moments: erTi mxriv,
rusTavelis avtorobas da, meore mxriv, samSoblos, misi dabadebis adgils. aRar
SevCerdebiT avtorobaze, radgan is problemas ar warmoadgens, es aris ucilobeli da
ueWveli sizustis faqti. poetis samSoblos Sesaxeb dasmuli kiTxva viwro-geografiuli
konkretuli azriT _ samecniero literaturaSi didi varaudebiTa da debatebiT
ganixileboda. magram CvenTvis cnobili ar aris imaze ufro avtoritetuli mniSvnelobis
miTiTeba, vidre Tavad poemis avtoris gancxadeba imis Sesaxeb, rom igi aris `sofel
rusTavis momRerali... mesxeTidan~. mesxeTi iyo Zveli saqarTvelos erT-erTi udidesi
kulturis mqone provincia. mesxeTis rusTavis Sesaxeb cnoba iribad dasturdeba poemis
kidev erT striqonSi (1667-e strofi. qarT. gamoc.), sadac avTandili da fridoni, romlebic
damwuxrebul tarielsa da mis mijnurs anugeSeben, Sedarebulni arian kaTolikos-
mawyverelTan. mawyverelis wodeba mesxeTis umaRles sasuliero pirs eniWeboda. xalxuri
gadmocemis Tanaxmadac, rusTaveli warmoSobiT mesxeTis sofel rusTavidan gaxldaT.
1

mcdelobas, miekuTvnebinaT rusTaveli, saqarTvelos provincia hereTis rusTavisTvis,
romelic Tbilisis aRmosavleTiT mdebareobda, araviTari safuZveli ar aqvs. rusTavelis
biografiis Sesaxeb yovelive zemoTqmuls Tu davurTavT xalxur gadmocemebs imis
Taobaze, rom poetma ganaTleba saberZneTSi miiRo da TiTqosda xandazmul asakSi
gaemgzavra ierusalimSi, sadac man Rrma siberemde icxovra da erT-erT qarTul monasterSi
gardaicvala, Cveni cnobebi rusTavelis pirovnebisa da cxovrebis Sesaxeb amowuruli
iqneba. rusTavelis berZnuli ganaTlebis Sesaxeb gadmocemebs WeSmaritebis garkveuli
safuZveli aqvs im azriT, rom poeti amJRavnebs Rrma codnas zogadad antikur filosofiaSi
da, kerZod, icnobs platonisa da neoplatonikosebis - prokles, nemesiosis, dionises,
areopagelis, plotinis naSromebs, agreTve _ empedokles swavlebas oTxi elementis
Sesaxeb. safuZvels araa moklebuli varaudic, rom man aseve kargad icoda homerosi,
`iliada~ da `odisea~, romelic masze udides gavlenas axdenda. am daskvnamde mivyavarT
poemebis kompoziciuri mxaris, siuJetis sarCulisa da misi gaxsnis meTodebis, mTavari
gmirebis xatvis da orive avtoris Semoqmedebis xasiaTis msgavsebas. Tumca, rusTavelis
droisTvis qarTulad naTargmni iyo berZeni neoplatonikosebis naSromebi da qarTul
filosofiur skolebs maTi komentarebi Sedgenili hqondaT. rusTavelis filosofiuri
horizonti Seudareblad farTo iyo romelime erTi filosofiuri skolis swavlebaze. igi
icnobda iseT literaturasac, romelic manamde ar iyo Targmnili, maT Soris sxvadasxva
filosofiur Txzulebebs originalSi. rusTaveli, udavod, Tavisi epoqis codnis
1
sofel rusTavis adgilas dRemde Semonaxulia mxolod mcire zomis cixesimagris nangrevebi.
68
mwvervalze idga da Tu im droisTvis berZnuli ganaTleba SesaZlebelia, CaiTvalos
umaRles ganaTlebad, maSin moyvanili xalxuri gadmocema utyuar xasiaTs iZens. dasavluri
literaturisa da filosofiis codnis paralelurad, rusTaveli aseve avlens iranuli da
arabuli literaturis (firdousi,
gurgani, nizami da sxv.), agreTve _ sufizmis Rrma codnas. poeti
im nawarmoebTa citirebas axdens, romlebmac, rogorc Cans, mis
Semoqmedebaze didi gavlena iqonies. `igi Wiri ar unaxavs ar ramins da arca vissa~,
1

_ ambobs erT adgilas rusTaveli, axdens ra citirebas sparseli poetis, faxar-ed-din
gurganis romanidan, romelic CvenTvis cnobilia 1048 wels Sesrulebuli galeqsili
TargmaniT. aseve SeiZleba dasaxeldes: sagmiro poema `amirandarejaniani~, romelic
`yisai-hamzas~ sparuli nawarmoebis nawilobriv gadakeTebas warmoadgens, firdousis
`mefeTa wigni~ da `leili da majnuni. ar SevCerdebiT poemis originalobis sakiTxze,
romelic, Cveulebriv, prologis erT adgils ukavSirdeba: `ese ambavi spasruli qarTulad
naTargmanebi, vpove da leqsad gardavTqvi~. es sakiTxi karga xania fuWad aris miCneuli
da iseTive safuZveli aqvs, rogorc `hamletis~, `faustis~, `mkvdari sulebis~ da a.S.
originalobis sakiTxs.
rusTaveli misi Tanadrouli kulturis mwvervalebze idga, aRWurvili iyo
literaturisa da filosofiis Rrma codniT, Tavisi epoqis uganaTlebulesi adamiani
gaxldaT. dasavleTisa da aRmosavleTis, iranul-arabulma da berZnul-bizantiurma
kulturam misi saxiT brwyinvale gamomxatveli hpova. rusTavelis poema warmoadgens ori
kulturis urTierTqmedebis nayofs, maTs Tavisebur sinTezs. rusTaveli saqarTvelos
cxovrebaSi gamoCnda ara rogorc deus ex machina: igi Tavisi qveynis, xalxisa da mSobliuri
kulturis Svilia. XI-XIII saukuneebi saqarTvelos istoriaSi ekonomikuri, politikuri da
kulturuli cxovrebis udidesi ayvavebis xanaa. amas umTavresad xeli Seuwyo saqarTvelos
mdebareobam ori samyaros _ mahmadianuri aRmosavleTisa da Sua saukuneebis qristianuli
dasavleTis _ sazRvarze, ucxoel dapyrobTagan misi gaTavisufleba. jvarosnuli
laSqrobebis Sedegad saerTaSoriso da savaWro urTierTobebis gamococxleba da
teritoriuli sazRvrebis gafarToeba (Savi zRvidan kaspiis zRvamde), mis farglebSi iranis
erT-erTi mniSvnelovani literaturuli centris Sirvanis provinciis CaTvliT, romelic
iranis udidesi romantikosis, nizamis (XII s), xayanis da sxv. samSoblo iyo. qarTuli
saxelmwifos politikuri gaerTianebisa da aRzevebis saqmeSi gadamwyveti roli iTamaSa
agreTve saxalifosa da sasulTnos daSlam. XI-XIII saukuneebis qarTuli literaturisa da
kulturis ayvaveba warmoadgens ramdenadme dagvianebul gagrZelebas
arabul-iranuli ganaTlebis `oqros xanisas~ da pirvel ylorts
evropuli aRorZinebisa, romelmac ramdenime saukunis Semdeg yvela ganviTarebuli
qveyana moicva. gamoCenili adamianebis didma pleadam _ xuroTmoZRvrebma, romlebmac
qarTuli arqiteqturuli stilis Zvirfasi nimuSebi datoves, mecnierebma da
filosofosebma, romlebic gaerTianebulni iyvnen mTel rig skolebSi da samecniero
dawesebulebebSi, mwerlebma da poetebma, rusTavelis TaosnobiT, maRla aRmarTes da azides
qarTuli renesansis droSa.
rusTavelis poemaSi asaxulia aRorZinebis xanis ZiriTadi ideebi, misi msoflaRqmis
sifarTove da Tavisufali azrovneba, misi humanizmi. SeuZlebelia ar aRiniSnos mcdari
pozicia zogierTi mkvlevrisa, romlebic cdilobdnen, poemis mniSvneloba da Sinaarsi
nacionaluri SezRudulobis CarCoSi moeqciaT. aseTi viwro-nacionaluri Sefaseba da
poemis TviTneburi ganmarteba mowmobs, rom poema srulebiT araa gagebuli. rusTaveli
arRvevs erovnul karCaketilobas, is zogadsakacobrio problemebis simaRleze adis,
religiur-qristianuli idologiisa da Suasaukuneobrivi azrovnebis jaWvs amsxvrevs.
misi nawarmoebi internacionaluri humanizmis suliTaa gajerebuli da misi geografiuli
horizonti moicavs naxevar samyaros CineTidan da indoeTidan _ atlantikamde da
afrikidan Sua aziis Turanamde. misi personaJebi sxvadasxva qveynis warmomadgenlebi
arian, misi filosofiur-religiuri msoflmxedveloba mzis, bunebis gaRmerTeba
moklebulia religiur-nacionaluri sulisa da azrovnebis specifikur elfers da
mimarTulia mahmadianuri da qristianuli ideebis, pozitiuri religiebisa da sawesCveulebo
religiurobis winaaRmdeg. rusTaveli RmerTs moiazrebs, rogorc erTgvar sinaTlis
1
balmonts es adgili naTargmni ar aqvs.
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arss da mzes RmerTis emanaciad miiCnevs. poemis personaJi nestan-darejani wers: `RmerTs
Semavedre, iqneb man damixsnas amqveyniuri tanjvisgan da cecxlTan, wyalTan, miwasa da
haerTan (oTx elementTan) erTobisagan. momces frTebi. me avfrindebi da Cems survils
mivaRwev. dRiTa da RamiT SevZleb TvalismomWreli mzis sxivebis Wvretas. mze Senc
SegiTvisebs, radgan misi wili xar. rasakvirvelia, miekvrebi mas, Sen misi zodiaqo xar da
ara uaryofili qmnileba. iq (mzeze) gnaxav, mzed dagsaxav da Sen Cems dabnelebul guls
gaanaTeb. da Tu Cemi cxovreba mware iyo, sikvdili tkbili meqneba~. poemis gmiri avTandili
ambobs: `o, mzeo, gevedrebi, romelic umZlesTa mZle xar, romelic mdabals aamaRleb, mefur
Zalauflebas Rirseuls miscem, Cemi dRe Ramed ar Semicvalo~. rusTavelis filosofiur-
religiuri koncefcia mimarTulia mzis gaRmerTebisken, mzisken, rogorc cxovelmyofeli
sawyisisken, sicocxlisa da moZraobis wyarosken, maradiuli da usasrulo arsisken.
rusTaveli uaxlovdeba samyaros panTeistur gagebas, bunebis gaRmerTebas, daaxloebiT,
TiTqos iseve, rogorc spinozaseuli natura naturans. am gagebiT igi Seudareblad maRla dgas
aRorZinebis xanis udides winamorbed danteze, romlis genialuri qmnileba Sua saukuneebis
azrovnebis, sqolastikis, qristianuli ideologiis mZime beWeds atarebs.
1

rusTaveli ambobs: `RmerTman erTi raT acxovnos, Tu meore ar wawymidos~. rusTavels
samyaro gaazrebuli aqvs rogorc ori urTierTsawinaaRmdego sawyisis, sikeTisa da
borotebis brZola. amasTanave miaCnia, rom RmerTs ar Seswevs Zala erTdroulad qmnas
sikeTe da gandevnos boroti. magram am ori sawyisis dadebiTisa da uaryofiTis _
brZolaSi RmerTi exmareba dadebiT sawyiss gamarjvebaSi. sikeTe sabolood yovelTvis
imarjvebs. `borotsa sZlia keTilman, arseba misi grZelia~, _ ambobs poeti poemis
finalSi. rwmena sikeTis dResaswaulSi poemis gmirebSi aRZravs sagmiro da rainduli
saqmeebis Cadenis survils. aqedan gamomdinareobs rusTavelis socialuri koncefcia. igi
cxovrobda feodalizmis epoqaSi, im sazogadoebaSi, romelic feodaluri eqspluataciis
batonymur Sromaze iyo dafuZnebuli. vaWarTa fenis elementebis gaCena daqvemdebarebul
rols TamaSobda, magram is garkveulwilad politikaSi iCenda Tavs. vaWarTa klasis
interesebSi Sedioda gaerTianebisTvis brZola da Zlieri saxelmwifos Seqmna.
rusTavelisdroindel feodalur sazogadoebaSi ibrZoda ori Zala, ori mimarTuleba:
absolutizmi da feodaluri partikularizmi. absolutisturi Zalaufleba warmoadgenda
dadebiT, progresul, keTil sawyiss, feodaluri partikularizmi ki uaryofiTis,
regresis, borotebis sawyiss. feodaluri partikularizmi gulisxmobda qveynisa da
saxelmwifos daSlas calkeul mxared, romlebsac eyolebodaT TavianTi patara mefeebi,
mravalxelisuflebianobis sistemis warmomadgenlebi. feodaluri partikularizmi
uaryofiTi, regresuli, `boroti~ sawyisi iyo. rusTaveli absolutizmis mxares idga da
ewinaaRmdegeboda feodalur partikularizms.
miaCnda ra sazogadoebis organizebis saukeTeso formad absolutisturi mmarTvelobis
mqone feodaluri saxelmwifo, rusTavels unda mieRo misi safuZvelic batonymuri
Sroma. igi aidealebs batonymobas monobas, rogorc instituts, magram masSi Tavis
damokidebulebas, humanizmis elementebsac aqsovs. igi ambobs: `sjoban yovlTa moyvarulTa
patron-ymani moyvarulni~. rusTaveli emxroba monaTa individualur gaTavisuflebas
Sewyalebis gziT, adamianurobas, adamianis mimarT humanur damokidebulebas, magram
amasTanave feodalur-batonymuri urTierTobis sistemaze umjobess sxvas arafers
moiazrebs. marTalia, is iwonebs, roca misi erT-erTi personaJi anderZad ibarebs, rom
misi monebi gaaTavisuflon, raTa maT misi sulisTvis ilocon, magram Tavad monis piriT
aseTi institutis dadebiT Sefasebas iZleva: `monebisa ukeTesi ramc viSove, ramc viqone?~,
_ wamoiZaxebs mona. rusTaveli ukvdavyofs feodalur wyobas Tavisi sazogadoebrivi
klasebiT, bazisiT, zednaSenebiT da dgeba eqspluatatorTa da eqspluatirebulTa
urTierTobaSi humanuri reformebis niadagze. rusTavelis Tanamedrove feodaluri wyobis
SedarebiT mdgradoba aixsneba im umaRlesi rangis optimisturi suliT, romliTac ase
uxvad arian dajildoebulni poemis gmirebi.
rogoria nawarmoebis mTavari Tematuri ideebi?
ras umReris rusTaveli, ra aris misi poeziis mTavari motivi? qalisadmi siyvaruli.
magram es sulac ar aris Cveulebrivi, xorcieli siyvaruli. rusTavelis poemaSi siyvaruli
gansakuTrebul amaRlebul Tvisebebs iZens yovlismSTanTqmel vnebaze: is ar SeiZleba
gonebiT moicva, eniT gadmosce; imdenad mSvenieria, rom gamosaxvasac ar eqvemdebareba.
is umaRlesi netarebaa, aRfrTovanebisa da aRmafrenis wyaroa. mas, vinc amisken iltvis,
1
amitomac rusTavelis poema yovelTvis ganicdida samRvdeloebis mxridan devnas, rogorc eretikuli wigni. misi pirveli gamocemis didi
nawili /1714 w./ anton kaTolikosis brZanebiT cecxlSi gaanadgures.
70
unda gaaCndes Rirseuli Tvisebebi: sibrZne, guluxvoba, ..., mWermetyveleba, keTilgoniereba,
Tmoba ..., da yovelTvis SeeZlos uZlevelis daZleva. mxolod isaa aseTi siyvarulis Rirsi,
vinc mTel Tavis fiqrebs mijnurs uZRvnis da mis gamo SeuZlia Tavis gawirvac. mamakacs,
romelic am TvisebebiTaa dajildoebuli, poeti moixsenebs arabuli sityviT `mijnuri~,
romelic aRniSnavs siyvaruliT `ganwirul~ adamians; adamians, romelic morCilad itans
bedisagan gansazRvrul daniSnulebas; rusTavelis gmirebi, raindebi, mijnurTa erTgulebi
arian. `siyvaruli aRgvamaRlebs~, _ ambobs poeti Tavisi gmirebis piriT.
aseTi siZlieris siyvaruls TiTqos unda SeeZlos sxva yvela grZnobis dabneleba,
magram rusTaveli qalisadmi siyvarulis gverdiT da, SeiZleba, zogierT SemTxvevaSi
masze maRlac ayenebs Zmadnaficis, megobris siyvarulsa da erTgulebas, misadmi usazRvro
erTgulebas, romelic mTeli TavganwirviT aTqmevinebs uars sakuTar bednierebaze.
poemis gmiri avTandili, romelic didebisa da Zlevamosilebis simaRleze imyofeboda,
ramdenime wliT tovebs satrfos, dedofal TinaTins; rostevan mefis ganrisxebas iwvevs,
romelsac igi SviliviT uyvars; tovebs Tavis jars da Cumad midis ucxo qveynebSi mxolod
imisTvis, rom daexmaros Tavis axlad SeZenil megobars, tariels. mas ar izidavs piradi
bedniereba, sanam misi megobari gausaZlis mwuxarebaSi imyofeba.
meore gmiri fridoni, daufiqreblad midis tarielis dasaxmareblad, riTac safrTxis
qveS ayenebs sakuTar mdgomareobasa da sicocxles.
am or gmirs ar Camouvardeba Tavad tarielic. megobrobis gamo igi droebiT araTu uars
ambobs pirad bednierebaze, aramed iviwyebs Tavis Rrma mwuxarebas da mTeli TavganwirviT
ebmeba gaWirvebaSi Cavardnili ucnobi gmiris dasaxmareblad. maT yvelas erTnairad esmiT
megobrobis vali, romelic erT-erTi gmiris sityvebiT ase gamoixateba: `megobarma Tavisi
megobris gulisTvis yvela gasaWiri unda gadaitanos da guli unda misces gulisTvis, raTa
siyvaruli maTi SemaerTebeli gza da xidi iyos~.
erTob damaxasiaTebelia aseve poemis gmirebis Sexedulebebi cxovrebis faseulobebis,
misi sxvadasxva keTildReobis socialuri datvirTvis Sesaxeb, romlebsac Tavad poetic
iziarebs.
unda gaufrTxilde ki sicocxles, rogorc aseTs? ara, adamianisTvis yovelgvari
sicocxle araa Rirseuli. saxelovani sikvdili samarcxvino sicocxles jobia. sikvdili
adamians SeiZleba nebismier dros ewvios. misgan Tavis daRweva ar SeuZlia arc Zliers, arc
susts, arc axalgazrdas, arc moxucs. yvelaferi mtvrad iqceva, garda Rirseuli saxelisa,
romlis miRwevac sicocxleSi umaRlesi keTildReobaa, veraviTari SenaZeni ver Seedreba
Tavisi xangrZlivobiT. aqedan gamomdinareobs siZulvili im adamianebisadmi, romlebic
Tavis arsebobas arian CabRauWebulni. ra SeiZleba iyos sazizRari SiSiT mocaxcaxe
kacze, romelsac brZolis dros sikvdilis siaxloviTa da SiSis zariT saxe SeeSleba?
saWiroa, gardauval sikvdilTan erTxel da sabolood Segueba, xolo sicocxle ki unda
ganixilebodes misi kanonzomierebisa da Tanamdevi movlenebis mixedviT. roca vardi Wkneba
da xmeba, igi kvdeba da adgils uTmobs meores. aseTi ram emarTeba adamiansac, rameTu
amgvaria cxovrebis kanoni. ra faseulobas SeiZleba warmoadgendes aseTi mdgomareoba?
rad Rirs sinaTle, romelSic sibnele iWreba? amitom saWiroa, droulad daiWiro Tadarigi
sikvdilisTvis da mSvidad daelodo xvalindel dRes.
es Sexedulebebi bunebis movlenebis kanonzomierebis Sesaxeb emyareba bedisweris
uryevobis rwmenas, winaswargansazRvrulobas. araferi xdeba nebis gareSe aseTia
umTavresi principi, romelsac poemis yvela gmiri usityvod aRiarebs. miuxedavad amisa,
gangebis rwmena mis mimdevrebs fatalizmisTvis, pasiuri mWvretelobisTvis ar wiravs.
piriqiT, am rwmeniT adamiani yvelaze aqtiuri moRvaweobisTvis ikrebs Zalebs. poemis gmiri,
romelic sarisko saqmeze midis, ambobs: `Cemze veraferi ganmgeblobs, gangebis garda, im
SemTxvevaSic ki, Tu miwis mTeli Zalebi Cems winaaRmdeg gamova. Tu gangebas surs, rom
daviRupo, maSin verc miudgomeli cixe-simagreebi, verc axloblebi, verc Zmebi ver mixsnian.
vinc es icis, iseTive Zalgulovania, rogorc me~. gmirebs Tavgzas ar ubnevs imis codna,
rom samyaro cvalebad aminds hgavs: adamians xan mze unaTebs gzas, xan ki ca eqceva Tavze,
mexistexiTa da nislebiT. bednier wuTebs yovelTvis Tan sdevs cremlTa Rvari.
aqedan daskvna: adamians sxva gamosavali ar aqvs garda imisa, rom mihyves beds da
Seeguos misgan dadgenil wesebs, magram poemis gmirebi movlenaTa gansazRvrul mdinarebas
xSirad da mTeli SegnebiT arRveven. poeti mTavari gmiris piriT aqebs brZenTa Wkuas,
romlebic beds ar epuebian da mis winaaRmdeg midian. nawarmoebis dasawyisSive Cans
saukuneebis ganmavlobaSi SemuSavebuli wes-Cveulebis aSkara darRveva: samefo taxtze
71
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ahyavT qali da es dasabuTebulia imiT, rom igi gaTanabrebulia mamakacTan da mas araferSi
Camouvardeba.
am gamonaTqvamSi ukve igrZnoba poetis damokidebuleba qalisadmi, romelic poemis
msvlelobisas reliefurad iSleba. qalis kulti ganasxvavebs rusTavelis poemas
aRmosavluri literaturis tradiciisgan da dasavleT evropis trubadurTa poeziasTan
anaTesavebs.
rusTavelis qali-gmirebi ar arian pasiuri arsebebi, romlebic kmayofildebian mxolod
TavianTi mSvenierebis SecnobiTa da WvretiT, da lamazi da Zlieri raindebis mier maTdami
miZRvnili odebiT, isini aqtiurad erevian politikur cxovrebaSi, gmirTa qmedebas ama Tu im
mxares warmarTaven, xolo gansacdelis Jams maTs sityvebSi aranaklebi gmiroba vlindeba,
vidre mamakacebTan.
erT-erTi gmiri qali ase moZRvravs Tavis rainds: `gana tirili da Tavis mokvla
mijnuris saqmea? umjobesia, Tu siyvarulis saxeliT sagmiro saqmeebs Caiden~.
riT aixsneba `vefxityaosnis~ maradiuloba, gansakuTrebuli sicocxlisunarianoba
da cxovelmyofeloba? kiTxvaze amomwuravi pasuxis gasacemad mogvixdeba yvela im
didi poeturi nawarmoebis niSan-Tvisebebis CamoTvla, romlebiTac `vefxistyaosani maT
ukavSirdeba: Zlieri da Rrma grZnobebi, romlebsac moqmedi gmirebi ganicdian; maTi ideuri
ganmsWvaluloba, fabulis unikaluroba, siuJetis daxvewili damuSaveba da, bolos, leqsis
brwyinvale forma.
gansakuTrebiT unda aRiniSnos rusTavelis stilis ori niSan-Tviseba: aforistuloba
da metaforuloba. poemis zogierTi Tavi mTlianad aforizmebiTaa aWrelebuli,
romlebic Tavisi sityvieri formis lakonurobiT Crdilavs saukeTeso xalxur andazebs.
am aforizmebis sxva enaze gadmocema sakmaod rTulia. poema kidev ufro mdidaria
metaforebiT. rusTaveli metaforebis iseTive didostatia, rogorebic _ Sedarebebis
didostatebi, dante da puSkini. rusTavelis vrceli metafora xandaxan poemis mTel taepebs
moicavs, magram aris SemTxvevebi, roca is mTel strofs Tavidan bolomde faravs da maSin
arc ise advilia misi Sinaarsis gageba.
poema dawerilia Teqvsmetmarcvliani leqsiT, `SairiT~. masSi gansazRvruli
kanonzomierebebis gareSe erTmaneTs enacvleba Sairis ori forma. misi ostatoba,
umTavresad, leqsis mdidrul JReradobaSi vlindeba aliteraciebSi, asonansebSi, mJRer
riTmebSi. misi poemis teqsti mTlianad Semkulia gameorebebiT, xandaxan calke mdgomi, xan
ki bgeraTa jgufebis erTianobiT. aqcevs ra udides yuradRebas leqsis JReradobas, poets
arasodes aviwydeba, rom WeSmaritad harmoniul sityvaTaSeTanxmebebSi musika sityvaTa mkacr
SerCevasa da maTs azrobriv mniSvnelobas unda emyarebodes.
ufro dawvrilebiT unda visaubroT rusTavelis riTmebze. poema dawerilia katrenebiT
oTxtaepiani leqsi oTxive mxares erTi riTmiTaa daboloebuli. riTmebi sammarcvliani
(umetesad) da ormarcvliania.
magaliTisTvis dednidan moviyvanT erT strofs:
mefeTa Sigan siuxve, viT edems alva rgulia;
uxvsa morCilobs yoveli, igica, vin orgulia;
sma-Wama didad Sesargi, deba ra savargulia?
rasaca gascem Senia, rac ara dakargulia.
1

ZiriTadad, sirTules warmoadgens erTi sammarcvliani riTmis strofis yvela
taepisTvis morgeba. am mxriv rusTavelis gamomgloneblobas sazRvari ar aqvs. xandaxan
igi iRebs iseTi rTuli Sedgenilobis riTmebs, rom leqsTwyobis yvelaze daxelovnebul
ostatsac ki, romelic raime riTmas ipovis meore taepisTvis, mesamesTvis povna ukve
gauWirdeba. magram rusTaveli miniSnebebiT sityvisken debs azrobriv gzas, romelsac
TiTqosda mocemul konteqstTan aranairi kavSiri ar aqvs, mesame taepisTvis poulobs
riTmas, Semdeg ki moaqvs axali sityva, romelic saWiroa meoTxe taepis gasariTmad da mas
araCveulebriv, magram mocemul SemTxvevaSi Sesaferis xasiaTs aZlevs.
naTqvamidan SeiZleba davaskvnaT, Tu ramdenad mravalferovania rusTavelis riTmebi.
sainteresoa, rom rusTavelsa da dantes (`RvTaebriv komediaSi~) aRmoaCndaT erTi da imave
1
am oTxtaepiani leqsis Targmani, romelSic originalis gariTmvaa SenarCunebuli:
;
.
, ,,
, .
(. ).
72
raodenobis ZiriTadi riTma: pirvels _ 735, meores 750. magram dantesTan is 2 1/2 jer
metad meordeba.
gansakuTrebul yuradRebas imsaxurebs agreTve rusTavelis poemis mdidari leqsika da
gramatikul formaTa mravalferovneba. mTeli poema Sedgeba daaxloebiT 45 000 sityvisgan,
romelTagan 15 000-ze meti, morfologiuri TvalsazrisiT, warmoadgens ZiriTads.
Tamar mefis dros moRvawe cnobil mexotbeebTan, CaxruxaZesa da SavTelTan, rusTavelis
Sedarebisas unda aRiniSnos, rom rusTavelma Caanacvla maTi gacveTili da
maRalfardovani stili WeSmariti amaRlebulobiT, mTlianad
uaryo maT mier damkvidrebuli saleqso zoma da Seqmna Tavisi zoma (Sairi), romelic
SemdgomSi xuTi saukunis manZilze gabatonebuli iyo qarTul poeziaSi.
rusTavelma gaamartiva mis dros arsebuli poeturi ena. maRldeba ra yvelaze
maRal sadResaswaulo tonebamde, xandaxan is frazebis nawyvetebSi ubralo, xalxur
gamonaTqvamebamde Camodis, romlebic ara marto poeziaSi, im periodis prozaSic ar
gvxvdeba.
kidev erTxel unda aRiniSnos, rom gamorCeuli stiluri Rirsebebi da saleqso
ostatoba, romelTa Sesaxebac zemoT iyo saubari, rusTavelis poemaSi mxolod didi
da Rrma Sinaarsis gaformebas emsaxureba. rusTaveli, sxvebisgan gansxvavebiT, xSirad
didi epikosi poetebisganac ki, TiTqmis yovel strofs SinaarsiT tvirTavs da mas poemis
siuJeturi agebis sistemaSi garkveul mizandasaxulobas aniWebs.
`vefxistyaosnis~ yvelaze Zveli xelnawerebi, romlebmac Cvenamde moaRwia, XVII
saukunis dasawyiss miekuTvneba. isini erTmaneTisgan, met-naklebad, strofebis raodenobis
mixedviT da teqstis sxvadasxvagvari wakiTxviT gansxvavdeba. pirveli beWduri gamocema
1712 wels vaxtang mefis redaqciiT gamovida TbilisSi. vaxtangiseul redaqciaSi,
romelic rusTavelis poemis yvela Semdegdroindel gamocemas daedo safuZvlad (ricxviT
ocdaaTamde), Zveli xelnawerebisgan bevri ramiT gansxvavdeba. am redaqciaSi, jer erTi, bevr
adgilas calkeuli strofia gamotovebuli, romlebic zogierT problemas qmnis teqstSi
da, meore, rac yvelaze mTavaria, gamotovebulia poemis bolo sami Tavi (am gamocemis 48-
e, 49-e da 50-e). es moxda im redaqtoruli operaciis Sedegad, romelic vaxtangma, rogorc
Cans, poemis dasasrulze Caatara: uZvelesi xelnawerebis dasasruls aris mTeli rigi
saeWvo warmomavlobis Tavebi, romlebSic aRwerilia poemis gmirTa Semdgomi bedi da maTi
aRsasruli. vaxtang mefem mis mier dabeWdil teqsts es Tavebi CamoaWra, magram amasTan
dauSva sakmaod uxeSi Secdoma im adgilis gansazRvrisas, sadac mis makratels unda
gaevlo, ris Sedegadac man nawarmoebis mozrdili da savsebiT aucilebeli nawili CamoWra.
amis Semdgom poemis dasasruli rogorRac rom gaemTlianebina, mis mier
ukugdebuli teqstis sxvadasxva adgilebidan 22 strofi
aiRo da miaba poemis axal dasasruls (am gamocemiT, 47-e Tavs).
1

`vefxistyaosnis~ balmontiseuli Targmani vaxtangiseuli redaqciidanaa Sesrulebuli
da amitom masSi ukanaskneli sami Tavi sxvisi TargmniTaa mocemuli
2
dabolos, ramdenime
sityva balmontis Sesaxeb. Targmani dazaralebulia mTeli rigi iseTi naklovanebebiT,
romlebic xels SeuSlis rus mkiTxvels, savsebiT swori warmodgena iqonios rusTavelis
nawarmoebze originalSi. am SemTxvevaSi warumateblobis mTavar wyarod unda CaiTvalos
Sinagani riTmebi, romlebic leqsis musikalobasTan mimarTebiT ar iZleva efeqts da ramac
originalis ufro zust asaxvas xeli SeuSala. am Sida riTmebs dadevnebuli mTargmneli
patar-patara nakuwebad Cexs rusTavelis farTo JReradobis frazebs, romlebic originalSi
taepTa Soris pauzebs ar saWiroebs, ris Sedegadac iCexeba, saxes icvlis da fermkrTaldeba
poetis azri.
arsebobs evropul enebze naTargmni mTeli rigi SedarebiT warmatebuli da
warumatebeli Targmanebi. ra Tqma unda, survili gvaqvs, rusTavelis poema yvelaze kargad
JRerdes TargmanSi diadi oqtombris enaze, saerTo saxelmwifo enaze moZme respublikebisa,
romlis mosaxleobac samyaros erT-meeqvseds Seadgens.
s. i. qavTaraZe
seqtemberi, 1940 w.

1
es strofebia: 48-e Tavis 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 da 31 strofebi da xuTi damamTavrebeli strofi
2
am Tavebis Targmani Seasrula l. tarlovskaiam
dokumentis Targmanze muSaobdnen: irma laRiZe,
ekaterine kacitaZe, levan jiqia
Sinagan saqmeTa saministros arqivSi
daculi masalebidan gansakuTrebul
yuradRebas iqcevs kompartiis X
yrilobaze centraluri komitetis
pirveli mdivnis lavrenti berias
warmoTqmuli sityvebi:
`ukanaskneli xuTi wlis manZilze
qarTulma sabWoTa literaturam erT-erTi
wamyvani adgili daikava sabWoTa kavSiris
moZme respublikebis literaturebs
Soris. gansakuTrebuli roli sabWoTa
literaturis ganviTarebaSi Seasrula
amx. stalinis iniciativiT miRebulma,
() 1932 wlis 23 aprilis dadgenilebam
literaturul-mxatvruli organizaciebis
gardaqmnis Sesaxeb.
saqarTvelos literaturul
organizaciebSi arsebobda dajgufebebi,
romlebic xrwnidnen mweralTa kadrebs
da aferxebdnen qarTuli literaturis
ganviTarebas. am saqmeSi gansakuTrebul
rols e.w proletar-mweralTa qarTuli
asociacia () asrulebda, romelic
warmoadgenda -is filials da mas
xelmZRvanelobdnen: b. buaCiZe, S. radiani
da sxv.
proletar-mweralTa qarTuli
asociaciis xelmZRvaneloba SuRls
aRvivebda mweralTa wreebSi da yvela
urCsa da gansxvavebulad moazrovnes
lavrenti beria
qarTvel
mwerlebsa da
literaturaze
lavrenti beria / Lavrentiy Beria
ukomentarod /
No Comments
LAVRENTIY BERIA
ABOUT GEORGIAN
WRITERS AND
LITERATURE
Particularly noteworthy is one of the documents
preserved in the Archive Administration of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs: a report made by Lavrentiy Beria, the First
Secretary of the Central Committee, to the 10th Congress of
the Communist Party.
Georgian Soviet literature has held a leading position
throughout the Soviet republics for the last fve years. A
major contribution to the development of Soviet literature
was made with the resolution on the transformation of literary
organizations that was passed by the Central Committee
of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) on Comrade Stalins
initiative on April 23, 1932.
There were groups of agitators in the Georgian literary
73
74
sabWoTa xelisuflebis mtrebis banakSi
uCenda adgils.
proletar-mweralTa qarTul
asociaciasTan erTad qarTvel mweralTa
wreSi arsebobda gankerZoebuli jgufebi:
,,cisferyanwelebi, ,,akademiuri jgufi,
,,lefelebi, ,,arifionelebi da sxv.
,,cisferyanwelTa jgufSi Sediodnen:
p. iaSvili, t. tabiZe, v. gafrindaSvili,
n. miwiSvili, g. leoniZe da sxvebi. es
jgufi jer kidev 1916 wels Camoyalibda.
saxelwodebas ,,cisferyanwelebi
gadataniTi mniSvneloba hqonda da unda
aReniSna SemoqmedebiTi Troba, magram es
devizi cxovrebaSi, qeifebsa da RreobebSi
ufro xSirad xorcieldeboda.
(sicili darbazSi)
qarTul literaturaSi
,,cisferyanwelTa Semoqmedeba warmoadgenda
dasavleT-evropul da rusul burJuaziul-
dekadentur literaturis dagvianebul
gamoZaxils. socialisturi mSeneblobis
warmatebebisa da ,,cisferyanwelebis
winaaRmdeg ganxorcielebuli mZafri ideuri
brZolis Sedegad es jgufi daiSala.
Tuki adreul periodSi, ()-s
1932 wlis aprilis dadgenilebis Semdeg,
jguf ,,cisferyanwelebis zogierT poetTa
SemoqmedebaSi Warbobda uazro lirikis
motivebi da ar SeeZloT Tavisi viwro-
literaturuli samyarodan gamosvla,
ukanasknel xanebSi maTi SemoqmedebiTi
saqmianoba ukve socialisturi
mSeneblobis Temebis damuSavebis kuTxiT
gaiSala.
,,akademiuri jgufi, romelic
1922-23 wlebSi Seiqmna, ukidures
memarjvene frTas warmoadgenda qarTul
literaturaSi. masSi gawevrianebuli
iyvnen Semdegi mwerlebi: k. gamsaxurdia,
a. abaSeli, g. qiqoZe, p. ingoroyva da
sxvebi. am jgufis mier gamocemul Jurnal
,,kavkasionis pirvel nomerSi jgufi
Semdegnairad axdenda Tavisi poziciis
deklarirebas:
,,erTaderTi sazomi, romliTac mocemul
SemTxvevaSi ixelmZRvanelebs ,,kavkasioni,
_ es aris maradiuli xelovnebis idea,
romelic warmaval literaturul modaze
ufro maRla dgas...
Jurnali, bunebrivia mimzidvel
centrad iqca antisabWoTa-Sovinisturad
ganwyobili inteligenciis nawilisTvis,
magram socialisturi mSeneblobis
warmatebebis da Cveni socialisturi
kulturis ganviTarebis Sedegad, es. e.w.
organizations who had a negative impact on writers and
hindered the development of Georgian literature. The so-
called Georgian APP (the Association of Proletarian Writers)
contributed greatly to this process. It was a branch of RAPP
(the Russian Association of Proletarian Writers) and was
chaired by B. Buachidze, Sh. Radiani and others.
The authority of the Georgian Association of Proletarian
Writers provoked antagonism among the writers. Anybody
who was not obedient and held a different viewpoint was
considered to be an enemy of the authorities.
Besides the Georgian Association of Proletarian
Writers, there were also separate groups of writers, such
as the Tsisperqantselebi (The Blue Horns), the Academic
Group, the Lephels, the Ariphioners and others.
The members of the Blue Horns were: P. Iashvili, T.
Tabidze, V. Gaprindashvili, N. Mitsishvili, G. Leonidze and
others. The group originated in 1916, and its name The
Blue Horns had a fgurative meaning and denoted a creative
drunkenness. But this motto was turned into reality at parties
and bashes. (Laughter in the hall)
The creative work of the Blue Horns was a late echo
of the Western European and Russian bourgeois-decadent
literature. On the heels of the construction of socialism, the
Blue Horns came under ideological pressure and the group
was fnally dissolved.
While prior to the passing of the Central Committee
resolution in April 1932 the creative work of the Blue Horns
members was full of senseless poetry and the writers could
not come out of their narrow-minded world, now their activity
is devoted to the construction of socialism.
The right-wing Academic Group originated in 1922-23.
The following writers were involved with it: K. Gamsakhurdia,
A. Abasheli, G. Kikodze, P. Ingorokva and others. They
published the journal Kavkasioni (the Caucasus). Its frst
edition was devoted to the groups major ideology, which
was as follows: The leading idea of the journal will be the
conception of eternal art that transcends the idea of transient
modern art
The journal became a shelter for the intelligentsia that
was of anti-Soviet and of a chauvinistic inclination. But soon
75
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,,akademiuri jgufic daiSala.
am jgufis erT-erTi warmomadgeneli
a. abaSeli iwyebs aqtiur sazogado
saqmianobas da arc ise cud leqsebs wers
sabWoTa Temebze.
`akademiuri jgufis~ kidev erTi
warmomadgenelia k. gamsaxurdia,
romlis msoflmxedveloba mebrZoli
nacionalizmiT ganisazRvreboda da mas
mkveTrad gamoxatuli faSisturi elferi
dahkravda, Tavis bolo nawarmoebSi,
,,mTvaris motaceba, Seecada CamoSoreboda
Zvel ideur poziciebs da socialisturi
sinamdvile daexata, magram es jerjerobiT
sustad gamouvida.
Tuki k. gamsaxurdias surs iyos
sabWoTa mwerali, igi unda gaTavisufldes
burJuaziul-nacionalisturi ideebisa da
ganwyobilebisagan, ufro dauaxlovdes
Cvens socialistur sinamdviles da Tavisi
didi SemoqmedebiTi unari qarTvel muSa
xalxs moaxmaros.
jgufisTvis ,,lefelebi, romelic 1924
wels Camoyalibda da romelSic Sediodnen
_ s. Ciqovani, d. Sengelaia, b. JRenti,
l. asaTiani da sxvani, damaxasiaTebeli
iyo formaluri novatoroba, wvril-
burJuaziuli meamboxeoba. isini
gamoscemdnen specialur Jurnals ,,H
2
SO
4
,
(gogirdmJavas qimiuri formula).
(sicili darbazSi)
,,lefelebi ukanaskneli xuTi wlis
ganmavlobaSi gaTavisufldnen maTTvis
warsulSi damaxasiaTebeli abdaubdisgan,
gadavidnen sabWoTa literaturis
ideur poziciebze da amJamad qarTuli
literaturis mowinave rigebSi ibrZvian.
d. Sengelaiam ramodenime moTxroba
socialisturi mSenelobis Temaze dawera.
mas mzad aqvs axali romanic, romelic
stalinis Wabukobis wlebs eZRvneba.
poetma s. Ciqovanma kargi leqsebi
Seqmna Tanamedrove sabWoTa Temebze.
jgufSi ,,arifioni, romelic 1928
w. daarsda, Sediodnen mwerlebi: m.
javaxiSvili, S. dadiani, s. SanSiaSvili,
l. qiaCeli, g. qiqoZe, i. mosaSvili
da sxv. ,,arifi jgufis erT-erTi
wevris ganmartebiT _ g. qiqoZe _ ,,es
aris Tanamesufre, xolo arifioni _
gadakrulSi myofi xalxis kavSiria.
(sicili darbazSi)
,,magram Cven vTvrebiT, _ werda qiqoZe
_ ara RviniT, aramed SemoqmedebiTi
urTierTzemoqmedebiT.
es jgufi Tavisi arsebiT naklebad
after, the so-called Academic Group was dissolved as a
result of the construction of socialism.
A. Abashidze was one of the representatives of this
group who became involved in public activity. His poems
praising the Soviet Union are not bad.
One more representative of the Academic Group is
Konstantin Gamsakhurdia, whose work was the echo of
fascist ideology. The writer attempted to abjure his national
ideology and wrote a socialist novel, Kidnapping the Moon,
but this work was not good enough.
If K. Gamsakhuria wants to be a Soviet writer, he will
have to free himself from bourgeois-nationalist ideology and
become closer to the socialism. He must subordinate his
great talent to the Georgian working class.
The Lephels group originated in 1924. Its members
were S. Chikovani, D.Shengelaia, B. Zhghenti, L. Asatiani,
and others. Their approach was formal innovation and petty-
bourgeois revolt. They published the journal H2SO4 (the
formula for sulphuric acid).
(Laughter in the hall)
The ideology of this group was nonsense. Five years
ago its members became involved in a more proper direction
in Soviet literature. At present they are in the front line of
Georgian literature.
D. Shengelaia wrote a few socialist stories. His novel
describing Stalins youth is now fnished.
The Georgian poet S. Chikovani wrote good poems
about on the Soviet theme.
The Ariphion group was formed in 1928. Its members
were M. Javakhishvili, Sh. Dadiani, S. Shanshiashvili, L.
Kiacheli, G. Kikodze, I. Mosashvili, and others. According
to G. Kikodze, the word ariphi refers to someone who is
a table-companion and the word ariphioni is a union of
drunken people.
(Laughter in the hall)
Kikodze wrote as follows: We are drunk not with the
wine, but with the creative impulse.
This group was similar to the Academic Group. Its
ideology was also hostile and bourgeois-nationalist. G.
Kikodze wrote the following in the frst edition of the journal
76
gansxvavdeboda zemoxsenebuli
,,akademiuri jgufisagan da am
ukanasknelis msgavsad, CvenTvis aSkarad
mtrul, burJuaziul-nacionalistur
poziciebze idga. Tavis statiaSi, romelic
Jurnal ,,arifionis pirvel nomerSi
gamoqveynda da jgufis deklaracias
warmoadgenda, g. qiqoZe werda:
,,...revoluciam ver SeZlo evraziis
farglebs gacdenoda, is dedamiwis erT
meeqvsed nawilSi Caiketa. ra daupirispira
man Zvel kulturas? eleqtrofikacia,
industrializacia, kooperacia... Zveli
RmerTebi daixocnen, kritikulma
azrovnebam gaanadgura Zveli iluziebi,
ar arsebobs crurwmenisaken ukan dasaxevi
gza, magram suli dacarielda da am
dacarielebuli sulis eleqtrodeniT
Sevseba SeuZlebelia.
es iyo aSkara kontrrevoluciuri
mowodeba, romelic mimarTuli gaxldaT
sabWoTa xelisuflebis da Cveni
socialisturi mSeneblobis winaaRmdeg.
socializmis warmatebebisa da jguf
,,arifionis winaaRmdeg gaSlili ideuri
brZolis Sedegad, jgufma moaxdina
TviTlikvidacia da amJamad jgufis yvela
wamyvani wevri cdilobs aqtiurad imuSaos
sabWoTa literaturis sferoSi.
m. javaxiSvilma dawera sakmaod kargi
romani saxelwodebiT: ,,arsena marabdeli,
romelic XIX saukunis 30-iani wlebSi
glexTa revoluciur moZraobas exeba.
S. dadianma Seqmna romani samegrelos
glexTa revoluciuri brZolis
cxovrebidan _ ,,urdumi. man aseve dawera
piesa, romelic miuZRvna saqarTveloSi 1905
w. revoluciuri periodis bolSevizmis
istorias.
l. qiaCelma dawera axali romani
,,gvadi bigva, romliTac surda eCvenebina,
Tu rogor mihyavs sakolmeurneo
mSeneblobas glexoba axali, dovlaTiani
cxovrebisaken.
i. mosaSvilma bolo periodSi
bevri kargi leqsi Seqmna, romlebic
socialisturi mSeneblobis Temebs
miuZRvna.
ukanasknel wlebSi gaZlierda
da gafarTovda proletar mweralTa
kadrebi _ a. maSaSvili, k. lorTqifaniZe,
k. kalandaZe, i. abaSiZe da sxv. Tavis
nawarmoebebSi maT gamoamJRavnes ideur-
SemoqmedebiTi zrda da xSir SemTxvevaSi
ostatobiT Zvel, kvalificirebul
mwerlebs ar Camouvardebian.
Ariphioni, stating the opinion of the group as well:
Revolution spread only over Europe and Asia, but
over one sixth of the globe. What was its weapon against
culture? These were: electrifcation, industrialization and
cooperation The Old Lords have died and old illusions
have been annulled by critical thought. There is no way back
to superstition. The soul has been emptied and it cant be
flled with electricity.
These words were an open revolutionary proclamation
against Soviet power and socialism.
On the heels of the evolution of socialism, and as a
result of ideological activity against the Ariphioni group, the
latter disbanded itself. At present the leading members of the
group are trying to work in the feld of the Soviet literature.
M. Javakhishvili composed a suffciently good novel
called Arsena Marabdeli about the peasants revolutionary
movement in the 1930s.
Sh. Dadiani composed the novel Urdumi about the
revolutionary movement among the Mingrelian peasants. He
also composed a play wherein he described the history of
Bolshevism during the 1905 Revolution in Georgia.
L. Kiacheli composed the novel Gvadi Bigva, in which
he told the story of how the organization of collective farms
led the peasants to a rich life.
I. Mosashvili has composed many good poems lately
on the socialist theme.
The number of proletarians has increased over the last
few years on account of the following writers: A. Mashashvili,
K. Lortkipanidze, K. Kalandadze, I. Abashidze and others.
They have developed ideologically and creatively and thus
they are the equals of the older and more experienced
writers.
Many new poems have been composed that greatly
contributed to the development of the Georgian Soviet poetry
that has made a big step forward for the last few years.
Noteworthy is the work, a tribute to the Great Stalin who
is praised and eulogized as a symbol of our victory by the
Soviet writers.
A set of the best songs and poems have just been
published in a book entitled Georgian poems and songs
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ukanasknel wlebSi gansakuTrebiT
swrafad ganviTarda qarTuli sabWoTa
poezia, romelic gamdidrda axali,
mniSvnelovani nawarmoebebiT.
pirvel rigSi unda aRvniSnoT, diadi
stalinisadmi miZRvnili nawarmoebebi.
sabWoTa mwerlebi beladis saxes, rogorc
yvela Cveni gamarjvebis simbolos asxamen
xotbas.
saukeTeso simRerebi da leqsebia
Tavmoyrili axlaxans gamocemul wignSi
_ ,,qarTuli leqsebi da simRerebi
stalinze.
gansakuTrebiT unda aRiniSnos g.
leoniZis axali poema _ ,,beladis bavSvoba
da yrmoba, romelic didi poeturi
aRtacebiTaa dawerili.
udavoa, rom qarTuli poeziis miRwevas
warmoadgens qarTveli mwerlebis mier
leqsad gadmocemuli ,,qarTvel mSromelTa
werili xalxTa did belads, stalins,
romelic sabWoTa saqarTvelos 15
wlisTavs mieZRvna.
kritika jer kidev sust mxares
warmoadgens qarTul sabWoTa
literaturaSi. Cveni kritikosebi
mwerlebis nawarmoebebSi cudad avlenen
naklsa da xarvezebs. maT obieqturobac
akliaT. imis magivrad, rom kargad
Seiswavlon yvela calkeuli nawarmoebi da
obieqturi analizis safuZvelze daweron
seriozuli kritika, isini kritikas
xSirad calkeuli mwerlebis mimarT
piradi simpaTiebisa da antipaTiebis
safuZvelze weren, gamomdinare iqidan, Tu
romel jgufs miekuTvnebodnen odesRac
da xelmZRvaneloben principiT ,,Cemiani
an ,,mowinaaRmdege. aseTi muSaobis
Sedegad, kritikosebi calkeuli mwerlebis
nawarmoebebSi droulad ver avlenen
klasobriv-mtrul da miuRebel ideebs.
miuxedavad mniSvnelovani warmatebebisa
qarTuli literaturis saqmeSi, Cvenma
gmirulma sabWoTa sinamdvilem jer kidev
ver hpova masSi Rirseuli, srulfasovani
gamoxatuleba. Cveni literatura unda
iyos saxalxo da asaxavdes kacobriobis
mowinave ideebs, lenin-stalinis partiis
ideebs.
mweralTa kavSirs bevri mniSvnelovani
nakli aqvs da arasrulfasovnad
xelmZRvanelobs mweralTa SemoqmedebiT
process. mweralTa Soris ar aris
gavrcelebuli TviTkritika.
unda moxdes Cveni mwerlebis ideur-
politikuri donis amaRleba, amaRlebis
about Stalin.
Extremely noteworthy is a new epic Childhood and
Youth of the Great Leader by G. Leonidze. This work is
composed with great poetical admiration.
It is beyond debate that the poem A Letter of the
Georgian workers to Stalin, the Great Leader of the People
is a signifcant achievement of Georgian poetry. The poem,
dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Soviet Georgia, was
composed by various Georgian poets.
The criticism of Soviet Georgian literature is feeble.
Our critics hardly expose all the defects in the works of
the Georgian writers. They are not objective. Instead of
thoroughly studying every work and criticizing it only after
objective analysis, they are very subjective. Their maxim
is as follows: is the writer their friend or enemy? Hence
it follows that the critics are not able to expose anti-
propagandistic ideas in the writers works.
Although Georgian literature has made great progress,
our heroic Soviet reality is not fully and deserving depicted in
it. Our literature should be public. It must refect the leading
78
mizniT brZolis organizeba, brZola,
bolSevizmis dauflebisaTvis, romelic
unda idges mTeli mweralTa organizaciis
centrSi.
rogorc naxeT, qarTvel mweralTa
da poetTa didi umravlesoba, romlebic
warsulSi antisabWourad iyvnen
ganwyobilni da Tavis garSemo ukmayofilo
pirebi Semoikribes, amJamad aqtiurad
muSaoben sabWoTa Tematikaze.
bevrma maTganma kargi nawarmoebebi
Seqmna, romelTa nawili iTargmna sabWoTa
kavSiris xalxTa enaze, magram qarTvel
mwerlebsa xelovnebis warmomadgenlebs
Soris arian calkeuli pirebi, romlebmac
unda gadasinjon TavianTi urTierToba
qarveli xalxis mtrebTan _ aRniaSvilTan,
lominaZesTan, jiqiasTan, eliavasTan
da sxvebTan. seriozulad daufiqrdnen
amas da TavisTvis yvela saWiro daskvna
gamoitanon, radgan aravis mivcemT
nebas iTvalTmaqcos, qarTveli xalxi
moatyuos da sabWoTa mwerlis an mxatvris
saxelwodebas amofarebulma xalxis
mtrebTan erTan Savi saqme akeTos.
magaliTad, paolo iaSvilma, romelic
ukve asakiT ormocs gadacilebulia, droa
Wkua iswavlos. sikeTe ar mohyveba mis
navards lominaZisgan jiqiasken, jiqiasgan
aRniaSvilisken da bolos eliavas
klanWebSi.
zedmeti ar iqneba seriozulad
Caufiqrdnen Tavis saqciels agreTve
gamsaxurdia, javaxiSvili, miwiSvili,
SevardnaZe da kidev zogierTebi.
sabWoTa mwerali pirvel rigSi is
adamiani unda iyos, romelic yvelafers
sabWoTa xelisuflebas, socialistur
samSoblos, leninisa da stalinis partias
miuZRvnis. mas unda uyvardes sabWoTa
xalxi, Tavisi sabWoTa samSoblo da Rrmad
unda swamdes misi Zala da Zliereba. is
marTali da gulwrfeli unda iyos Tavis
SemoqmedebaSi, man unda ganamtkicos da
gaafarTovos Tavisi kavSirebi muSaTa
farTo fenebTan.
Cems mier CamoTvlilma mwerlebma unda
icodnen, rom maTi Semdgomi saqcieli, is
garemoeba, Tu ra swrafad gardaiqmnebian
da dahgmoben Tavis warsul saqmeebsa da
kavSirurTierTobas, gansazRvravs Cveni
partiisa da sabWoTa xelisuflebis
damokidebulebas maTdami~.
1

1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #14, aRw. #11, s. #3
ideas of humanity and the ideology of Lenin and Stalin.
The Writers Union has a number of shortcomings. It is
weak in controlling the writers creative work. Self-criticism is
not a typical characteristic for the writers.
The political and ideological standard must be raised
in our writers. The center of the writers must be Bolshevist
ideology.
As you have seen, most of the Georgian writers and
poets who were involved in anti-Soviet activity in the past,
but they work on the Soviet theme at present.
Many good compositions have been made and
translated for the people of the Soviet Union. But some of
the writers must break off their relations with the enemies
of the Georgian people. These enemies are as follows:
Aghniashvili, Lominadze, Jikia, Eliava and others. Those
writers must carefully observe this issue. We shall not allow
anyone to wear a double face and deceive the Georgian
people. We shall not allow anyone to cooperate with the
Georgian peoples enemy under the cover of being a Soviet
writer or artist.
For example, it is high time that Paulo Iashvili, who is
more than forty years old, drew a lesson. He systematically
withdraws from Lominadze to Jikia, from Jikia to Aghniashvili,
fnally from Aghniashvili to Eliava. This cannot end happily.
It is high time that Gamsakhurdia, Javakhishvili,
Mitsishvili, Shevardnadze and certain others gave serious
thought to their activities.
The Soviet writer must dedicate his or her works to
Soviet power, his or her socialist country, and to the Party
of Lenin and Stalin. The Soviet writer must love the Soviet
people and the Soviet country. He or she must believe in
Soviet power. His works must be true and sincere. He must
become close to the working class.
The aforementioned writers must know that their
attitude toward the past relations will determine the attitude
of Soviet power towards them.
1

1
Section II of the Archive Administration of the MIA, f.14, op.11, d.3
79
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`fxizeli~ komunizmi
lidia gasvianis saqme
vladimer leninis gardacvalebam,
1924 wlis 21 ianvars, sabWoTa kavSirSi
xelisuflebisaTvis brZola kidev ufro
gaamwvava. erTmaneTs `triumvirati~
(ioseb stalini, grigori zinovievi
da lev kamenevi) da lev trockis
dajgufeba daupirispirdnen. es brZola
`triumviratis~ gamarjvebiT damTavrda.
1929 wlis ianvarSi lev trocki sabWoTa
kavSiridan gaaZeves.
lev trockis gaZevebas, sabWoTa
kavSirSi xelisuflebisaTvis brZola
ar Seunelebia. male, ioseb stalinis
opoziciaSi lev trockis winaaRmdeg
brZolaSi misi Tanamoazreebi _ grigori
zinovievi, lev kamenevi da sxv. aRmoCndnen.
ioseb stalinma xelisuflebisaTvis
mebrZoli yvela aqtiuri mowinaaRmdege
CamoiSora da sabWoTa kavSiris
erTpirovnuli mmarTveli gaxda.
`trockizmis~ winaaRmdeg brZola,
cxadia, saqarTveloSic aqtiurad
mimdinareobda. `qarTveli trockistis~
iarliyi miakeres yvela im maRali
Tanamdebobis pirs, visac adre
ioseb stalinis ideebis winaaRmdeg
raime SeniSvna hqonda gamoTqmuli.
`trockistebad~ moinaTlnen e.w. `nacional-
uklonistebi~, romlebic 1922 wels
amierkavkasiis federaciis Seqmnis ideas
ar iwonebdnen. 1926 wlis noemberSi
`qarTveli trockistebi~: konstantine
(kote) cincaZe, vladimer (lado) dumbaZe
da sxvebi komunisturi partiidan garicxes.
mixeil okujavas ki sastiki sayveduri
gamoucxades ukanaskneli gafrTxilebiT.
XX saukunis 20-iani wlebis
dasasrulsa da 30-iani wlebis
dasawyisSi saerTaSoriso arenaze
sabWoTa kavSirisaTvis arasasurveli
levan jiqia
LEVAN JIKIA
Savi sia / Black List
OPEN-EYED COMMUNISM:
THE CASE OF LIDIA GASVIANI
After the death of Vladimir Lenin on January 21, 1924,
the struggle for political authority in the Soviet Union became
even more aggressive. The key powers consisted of the
Triumvirate political alliance between Joseph Stalin, Grigory
Zinoviev and Lev Kamenev, and the opposing group, lead
by Leon Trotsky. This fght ended with the victory of the
Triumvirate. Finally, by 1929, Trotsky was deported from the
Soviet Union.
However, the struggle for power continued after the
departure of Trotsky. Soon after, Zinoviev, Kamenev and
other Stalinist supporters began to oppose their leader.
Though to combat this, Stalin removed any resistance from
within the authority and thus gained monopoly over the
Soviet Union.
Georgia too launched a front against Trotsky. Those
offcials who had denounced Stalins ideology were accused
of being Georgian Trotskyites. Among them were the
so-called Nationalists, who did not approve the idea of
establishing the Trans-Caucasian Federation in 1922. The
following Georgian Trotskyites were expelled from the
Communist Party in November 1926: Konstantin Tsintsadze,
and Vladimir (Lado) Dumbadze amongst others. In addition,
Mikheil Okudzhava was severely reprimanded.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, many atrocious
events took place in the Soviet Union. Militarists took
authority in Germany, Japan and Italy. Furthermore, the
Gomindan Revolution caused the failure of the Socialist
Revolution in China. In essence, worldwide redistribution of
80
cvlilebebi moxda. mTel rig qveynebSi
(germania, iaponia, italia) xelisuflebaSi
militarizmis momxreebi movidnen. amasTan,
gomindanuri gadatrialebis gamo, CineTis
socialisturi revolucia damarcxda.
TandaTanobiT aSkara xdeboda, rom
msoflios xelaxali gadanawilebisaTvis
gamalebuli mzadeba mimdinareobda. haerSi
axali msoflio omis suni datrialda.
axali msoflio omisaTvis
gamalebuli mzadeba iyo sabWoTa
kavSirSic. es mzadeba ki, imTaviTve, dRis
wesrigSi Semdeg amocanebs ayenebda:
sabWoTa kavSiri sabolood unda
gawmendiliyo `trockistul-zinovievuri~
`kontrrevoluciuri~ dajgufebisagan,
ucxo qveynebis `jaSuS-agentebisagan~,
`diversant-mavneblebisagan~ da a.S.
1
sxva
sityvebiT rom vTqvaT, komunisturi
partiis morigi `wmenda~, anu politikuri
represiebi unda ganxorcielebuliyo.
ioseb stalinma, Tavisi politikuri
mowinaaRmdegeebis sabolood
gasanadgureblad, 1934 wlis 1 dekembers q.
leningradSi sergei kirovis mkvleloba
kargad gamoiyena. sergei kirovis
mkvleloba `trockistul-zinovievur~
`dajgufebas~ dabralda. 1936 wels q.
moskovSi `trockistul-zinovievuri~
`opoziciis~ warmomadgenlebis winaaRmdeg
sajaro sasamarTlo procesebi daiwyo.
sasamarTlo procesze `trockistul-
zinovievuri~ dajgufebis wevrebi:
piatakovi, radeki, sokolnikovi da sxvebi,
iZulebuli iyvnen `eRiarebinaT~, rom maTi
mizani iyo: sabWoTa kavSirSi kapitalizmis
restavracia, kolmeurneobebisa da sabWoTa
meurneobebis likvidacia, eqsploataciis
sistemis aRdgena; germaniisa da
iaponiis faSistur ZalebTan kavSiris
damyareba sabWoTa kavSirTan am qveynebis
mosalodneli omis SemTxvevaSi; sabWoTa
kavSiris teritoriuli daqucmaceba
ukrainis gadacemiT germanelebisaTvis,
xolo primoriis _ iaponelebisaTvis;
sabWoTa kavSiris samxedro damarcxebis
momzadeba im SemTxvevaSi, Tu mas Tavs
daesxmodnen mtruli saxelmwifoebi;
sabWoTa kavSiris saidumloebebis misi
mtrebisaTvis gadacema
2
.
`trockistul-zinovievuri~ dajgufebis
aqtiuri `wevrebis~ Zebna saqarTveloSic
1
i. stalini partiuli muSaobis naklovanebebsa da trockist
da sxvaTa TvalTmaqcTa likvidaciis RonisZiebebze.
`partgamomcemloba~, Tbilisi, 1937, gv. 7.
2
iqve, gv. 18-22.
power had started, and consequently another world war was
soon to break out.
The Soviet Union too began its preparation for war.
The following tasks were set in the agenda: the Soviet
Union was to be cleansed from pro-Trotsky, pro-Zinoviev,
counter-revolutionary groups, and from foreign agents
and saboteurs.
1
Thus began the crucial refnement of
the Communist Party, where political repression became
fundamental.
Joseph Stalin used the assassination of Sergey
Kirovs, in Leningrad on December 1, 1934, in his favor.
The Trotskyite-Zinovievist group was blamed for Kirovs
assassination, and in 1936, many members of the Trotskyite-
Zinovievist group were accordingly trialed in Moscow.
Their key members consisted of Piatakov, Radek, and
Sokolnikov. They were forced to acknowledge that their
aim was to reorganize capitalism in the Soviet Union; to
liquidate collective farms and Soviet agriculture; to restore
the system of exploitation; to build bridges with fascist forces
in Germany and Japan; to break up any territorial integrity
within the Soviet Union, namely to transfer ownership of the
Ukraine to Germany and the Far East to Japan; to prepare
the military overthrow of the Soviet Union in case of an
attack from hostile states; and to give away the secrets of
the Soviet Union to their enemies.
2

Members of Trotskyite-Zinovievist group were also
exposed in Georgia. On Lavrenty Berias initiative, the so-
called Black Lists were created. Wherein the opponents,
namely the Nationalists and Trotskyites, and the supporters
of Joseph Stalin were all named alongside their friends and
family. The Great Purge subsequently began.
The following Georgian politicians were also included
on the Black List: Budu Mdivani, Malakia Toroshelidze,
Sergo Kavtaradze, Mikheil Okujava and many others.
Soviet authorities maintained that the process of
inquisition was legal. Where in reality, the evidence was
given under duress and physical pressure. Very often, the
1
For the negative perspective on Stalins activity, and on the liquidation of Trotsky, see-
Party Publishing House, Tbilisi, p.7, 1937
2
Ibid., pp. 18-22.
81
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daiwyo. lavrenti berias iniciativiT, e.w.
`Savi siebi~ Sedga. `Sav siebSi~ moxvdnen
warsulSi ioseb stalinis, rogorc
aqtiuri mowinaaRmdegeebi (e.w. `nacional-
uklonistebi~, `trockistebi~ da sxv.), ise
misi momxreebic. `Sav siaSi~ Sediodnen,
rogorc `mTavari damnaSaveebi~, ise maTi
ojaxis wevrebi, axloblebi, megobrebi da
sxv. qveyana arnaxulma represiebma moicva.
`Sav siaSi~ qarTuli politikuri
elitis warmomadgenlebi: budu mdivani,
malaqia toroSeliZe, sergo qavTaraZe,
mixeil okujava da sxv. aRmoCndnen.
sabWoTa xelisufleba cdilobda
`gamoZiebisaTvis~ garegnulad kanonieri
saxe mieca, sinamdvileSi `Cvenebebi~
muqarisa da arnaxuli fizikuri zewolis
Sedegad iwereboda. xSir SemTxvevaSi
patimars winaswar SeTiTxnil `Cvenebaze~
xels awerinebdnen. Tu rogor aRwevdnen
patimrisagan `sasurvel~ `aRiarebas~,
naTlad Cans `qarTuli trockistur-
zinovievuri~ dajgufebis `xelmZRvanel~
budu mdivanis magaliTze.
budu mdivani 1936 wlis 17
oqtombers daapatimres
1
(dapatimrebamde
saqarTvelos ssr saxalxo komisarTa
sabWos Tavmjdomaris moadgile _ avt.).
mis garSemo saqmis Seqmnaze, jer kidev
XX saukunis 20-ian wlebSi, lavrenti
berias mier TviT `saqCekasgan~ farulad
Seqmnili `saidumlo ganyofilebis~
e.w. `regionuli seqtori~ muSaobda.
lavrenti beria sxvebze ufro metad budu
mdivans ver itanda. igive Sexedulebis
iyo lavrenti beriaze budu mdivanic,
romelic sxva partiul muSakebTan
erTad, dabezRebiTi xasiaTis werilebs
moskovSi, filip ZerJinskisTan da
ioseb stalinTan agzavnida
2
. amitomac,
`kontrrevolucionerebis~ sabolood
aRmofxvris mizniT dawyebul axal
kampaniaSi, budu mdivani lavrenti berias
iniciativiT moxvda.
aRsaniSnavia, rom budu mdivani
wayenebul braldebebs kategoriulad
uaryofda. amis gamo masze e.w. `gamoZiebis~
dros mimdinareobda zewola, emuqrebodnen
mas da ase cdilobdnen misgan `aRiarebiT
Cvenebaze~ xelis moweras. b. mdivanma,
dakiTxvis es meTodebi inkvizicias da
iezuitobas Seadara
3
. erT-erT dakiTxvaze
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), fondi #6, saqme #29986, t. #1,
furceli 56.
2
manuCar (kako) Selia. memuarebi. masala moamzada daviT gelaSvilma.
gaz. `dilis gazeTi~, #152, 7 ivlisi, 1999, gv. 17.
3
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #1, furc. 84-85.
detainees were made to sign the evidence that had been
written beforehand. Budu Mdivani, the head of the Georgian
Trotskyite-Zinovievist group is a fne example of the illicit
process.
Budu Mdivani was arrested on October 17, 1936.
1

(At the time, he was the deputy chairman of the Georgian
Council of Peoples Commissars Authors note.) In the
1920s, the so-called Regional Sector of the Secret
Department, formed by Lavrenty Beria behind the Georgian
Cheka, was ordered to fabricate Mdivanis case. Beria
seemingly loathed Mdivani. Amongst party members,
Mdivani addressed Filipp Dzerzhinsky and Stalin in Moscow,
where he denounced Beria.
2
Thusly, Budu Mdivani was
among the counter-revolutionaries who were repressed
under Berias campaign.
It is also noteworthy that Mdivani fatly refuted the
accusations against him. He was put under signifcant
pressure during the investigation to sign the accusatory
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d. 29986, v.9, p.56
2
Manuchar (Kako) Shelia. The Memoirs - The material was written by Davit Gelashvili.
The Morning Newspaper No 152, July 7, 1999, p.17
82
budu mdivani acremlebuli TvalebiT
gamomZiebel gogliZes ekiTxeboda: `sad
aris Cemi coli, sad arian Cemi Svilebi?
arian ki isini cocxlebi?~
1
.
budu mdivani, rogorc wlebis
ganmavlobaSi maRal Tanamdebobebze
momuSave komunisti da xSir SemTxvevaSi
Tavad represiebis Tanamonawile, kargad
iyo Caxeduli, Tu rogor xdeboda msgavs
`gamoZiebebze~ saqmeebis fabrikacia. amitom
misi ukanaskneli imedi ioseb stalini da
lavrenti beria iyo. Sesabamisad, budu
mdivanma orive maTgans izolatoridan
werilebi miswera kidec, Tumca uSedegod
2
.
1937 wlis ianvarSi budu mdivani
Tbilisidan moskovSi, sabWoTa kavSiris
Sinagan saqmeTa saxalxo komisariatis
gankargulebaSi gadaagzavnes. aq erTi
Tvis ganmavlobaSi misi saqmis `Zieba~
mimdinareobda
23
.
sabolood, imedgacruebuli budu
mdivani, romelsac `ar daufases sabWoTa
kavSiris sakeTildReod gaweuli amagi~,
iZulebuli gaxda, misTvis wayenebuli
yvela braldeba `eRiarebina~. wayenebuli
braldebebi ki `amtkicebdnen~, rom:
`1. budu mdivani iyo erT-erTi aqtiuri
wevri im kontrrevoluciur-trockistul-
teroristul-diversiul-Spionuri
organizaciis, romelmac ganaxorciela 1934
w. sergei kirovis mkvleloba da momdevno
wlebSi komunisturi partiis xelmZRvanel
pirebze teroristul aqtebs amzadebda;
2. budu mdivanma Seqmna da Semdeg
xelmZRvanelobda kontrrevoluciur-
trockistul-teroristul-diversiul-
Spionur centrs saqarTveloSi. b. mdivanma
daamyara kavSiri qarTvel menSevikebTan da
sazRvargareTis biurosTan, konkretulad
ki noe JordaniasTan;
3. budu mdivans hqonda kavSiri
sakavSiro trockistul-zinovievur
blokTan, konkretulad ki piatakovTan
da serebriakovTan. maTi miTiTebiT, b.
mdivanma gaSala teroristul-diversiul-
mavnebluri muSaoba saqarTveloSi da
amzadebda stalinis da lavrenti berias
winaaRmdeg teroristul aqtebs;
4. b. mdivani xelmZRvanelobda
kontrrevoluciur muSaobas wiTeli
armiis qarTul nawilebSi. b. mdivanma
moamzada xelisuflebis xelSi Casagdebad
da saqarTvelos sabWoTa kavSiridan
1
iqve, furc. 85.
2
iqve, furc. 86.
3
iqve, furc. 276.
evidence. At the time, Mdivani compared his examination to
the Great Inquisition and to Jesuitism.
1
At the examination, Mdivani, with tears in his eyes,
asked Goglidze: Where is my wife? Where are my children?
Are they alive?
2
Naturally, Mdivani had been a communist offcial
for years and he was often involved in the process of
repression. Because of this, he had learnt every method
available to help fabricate a case, much like his own. Stalin
and Beria were his last hope. He fnally, in vain, wrote them
each a letter from prison.
3
In January 1937, Mdivani was deported from Tbilisi
to Moscow. He was under the control of the Peoples
Commissars of the Interior Ministry of the Soviet Union. His
case was studied for one month.
4
Finally, Mdivani, who was never praised for his service
of the Soviet Union, had to admit to all the accusations
against him. The accusations were as follows:
1. Budu Mdivani was an activist in the counter-
revolutionary, terrorist, sabotage and espionage organization
which plotted Sergey Kirovs assassination in 1934. This
organization also planned acts of terrorism on offcials of the
communist party.
2. Mdivani formed and lead the counter-revolutionary,
terrorist, sabotage and espionage center in Georgia. He was
associated with the Georgian Mensheviks and the foreign
bureau, namely with Noe Zhordania.
3. Mdivani was associated with the united Trotskyite-
Zinovievist block, namely with Piatakov and Serebryakov.
Mdivani followed their instructions and lead terrorist and
espionage activities in Georgia. He was preparing acts of
terrorism against Stalin and Beria.
4. Mdivani ran counter-revolutionary activities in the
Red Army division of Georgia. He organized an armed revolt
in order to separate Georgia from the Soviet Union.
5. Mdivani arranged espionage on the behalf of
capitalist countries. For which he received rewards in
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, pp.84-85
2
Ibid., p.85
3
Ibid., p.86
4
Ibid., p.276
83
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gamoyofis mizniT, SeiaraRebuli ajanyeba;
5. b. mdivani awarmoebda Spionur-
jaSuSur muSaobas kapitalisturi
saxelmwifoebis sasargeblod,
gasamrejelos sanacvlod gadascemda maT
politikuri da ekonomikuri xasiaTis
informaciebs;
6. b. mdivans, piradad hqonda
kavSiri somxeTis da azerbaijanis
kontrrevoluciur trockistul da
nacionalur organizaciebTan~.
1
yovelive
amis Semdeg, cxadia, budu mdivanis bedi
garkveuli iyo.
qarTvel `trockistebs~ Soris
sabWoTa xelisuflebam qalebic
`aRmoaCina~. maT Soris iyo lidia
ilarionis asuli gasviani, romelic
dapatimrebamde saqarTvelos ssr
saxelmwifo gamomcemlobis gamgis
moadgiled muSaobda. lidia gasviani 1918
wlidan komunistur partiaSi iricxeboda.
mogvianebiT, 1927 wels, lidia gasviani
komunisturi partiidan garicxes rogorc
`trockistuli~ organizaciis `aqtiuri
monawile~. Tumca, 1929 wels, is
komunistur partiaSi aRdgenil
iqna. `trockistebis~ sabolood
ganadgurebis procesSi, cxadia,
sabWoTa xelisufleba lidia gasvianis
pirovnebas kvlav daubrunda. 1936 wlis
20 ivlis lidia gasviani izolatorSi
aRmoCnda
2
. gasviani, iseve rogorc sxva
`trockistebi~, iZulebuli iyo xeli
moewera `aRiarebiT~ Cvenebaze.
lidia gasvianma lev trocki 1926
wlis zafxulSi arxangelskSi, mis
kuTvnil agarakze, boris futorianis
meSveobiT gaicno. Sesabamisad, lidia
gasvianis `aRiarebiT~ CvenebaSi, misi
`trockistuli~ muSaobis sawyisi
etapi 1926 wlidan ganisazRvra.
aqedan moyolebuli, lidia gasvianis
`aRiarebis~ mixedviT, is lev
trockisTan `mudmiv politikur
kavSirSi imyofeba~. am Sexvedrebis
Semdeg, lev trocki `mas srulad
endoboda~
3
(l. gasviani 1933
wlamde ruseTSi cxovrobda _ avt.).
lidia gasvians, rogorc `aqtiur
trockists~, `ar SeiZleboda~ ar mieRo
`monawileoba~ lev trockis sabWoTa
kavSiridan gaZevebis sawinaaRmdego
demonstraciaSi da, misi `aRiarebis~
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #1, furc. 37.
2
iqve, t. #3, furceli 39
3
iqve, t. #3, furceli 56.
exchange for such political and economical information.
6. Mdivani was associated with the counter-
revolutionary, Trotskyite and nationalist organization of
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
1
These accusations sealed Mdivanis fate.
There were also women among the Georgian
Trotskyites exposed by the Soviet authorities. One of the
most prominent was Lidia Gasviani, the daughter of Ilarion
Gasviani, who was the deputy head of the state publishing
house in the SSR of Georgia. In 1918, she became a
member of the Communist Party. By 1927, she was accused
of being an activist of the Trotskyite organization and was
expelled from the party. Although in 1929, she was once
again accepted in the Communist Party, nonetheless, later
she was again suspected as a Trotskyite. On July 20, 1936,
she was fnally imprisoned.
2
Lidia Gasviani, much like many
other Trotskyites, had to sign falsifed evidence.
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, p.37
2
Ibid., p.39
84
mixedviT, `miiRo~ kidec
1
.
lidia gasvians, lev trockis
garda, axlo urTierToba `daumtkicda~
radekTan, smilgasTan, serebriakovTan,
rakovskisTan, kraCkovskisTan da sxva
`kontrrevolucionerebTan~
2
.
lidia gasvianis perioduli Camosvla
samSobloSi _ saqarTveloSi `moinaTla~
rogorc `moskovis trockistuli centris~
`davalebis~ Sesruleba, `qarTuli
trockistuli organizaciisaTvis~
sxvadasxva davalebebis da direqtivebis
misacemad. erT-erTi aseTi `vizitis~ mizani
TiTqos is iyo `qarTul trockistul
organizacias daemyarebina kavSiri im
Jamad TurqeTSi myof lev trockisTan~
3
.
saqarTvelodan moskovSi dabrunebuli
lidia gasvianis mier sajarod
gakeTebuli gancxadeba `trockizmidan~
CamoSorebis Sesaxeb, `aRiarebiT~
CvenebaSi, serebriakovis da kote
cincaZis direqtivebis Sesabamisad,
erTgvar `taqtikur manevrad~ CaiTvala.
am taqtikuri manevris namdvili arsi
ki, `sinamdvileSi~, mdgomareobda imaSi,
rom `trockistebs~ `Tavi unda SeenaxaT~
komunisturi partiis rigebSi
44
.
lidia gasvianis Sexvedra
kapitonovTan, bogdanovTan,
verJblovskisTan, ianina kozlovskisTan,
Cesika kozlovskisTan, andrei
drozdovTan, iana polJianTan, ina
laSeviCTan da vilenskisTan, `moinaTla~
`trockistul~ kontrrevoluciur
Sekrebad. am `Sekrebaze~, rogorc wesi,
`gakicxul~ iqna ioseb stalinis politika,
`romelmac qveyana daRupvamde miiyvana~
5
.
lidia gasvianis `saqmis~ mixedviT,
komunistur partiaze da sabWoTa
xelmZRvanelebze `RvarZliani saubrebi~
iyo `trockistebis~ sxva Sekrebebze,
magaliTad, lidia isaias asul xlinovis
saxlSi. am `trockistul Sekrebas~
eswrebodnen mudmivad: serebriakovi,
zorini, voronski, qavTaraZe, alaverdova,
buZinskaia, futoriani, babaiani, salaviovi,
kaganoviCi, mdivani, gaseni, vuioviCi
6
.
sabWoTa xelisufleba `trockistuli
organizaciebisagan~, cxadia, saqarTvelos
ver `gamijnavda~. saqarTveloSi
`trockistuli organizaciis~
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #9, furc. 56
2
iqve, furceli 56
3
iqve, furceli 57.
4
iqve, furceli 57.
5
iqve, furceli 58.
6
iqve, furceli 58.
Gasviani met with Trotsky in the summer of 1926, at
Trotskys country-cottage in Arkhangelsk. Boris Futorian
introduced them to each other. Therefore, the starting point
for her revolutionary activity is usually considered to be in
1926. According to Gasvianis evidence, she had been in
political relations with Trotsky from this period, and he held
her trust.
1
(Gasviani lived in Russia from 1933 Authors
note.) Lidia Gasviani was an active Trotskyite, and she
admitted that she was involved in the demonstrations held
against the deportation of Trotsky from the Soviet Union.
2
It has been asserted that Gasviani was associated with
Radek, Smilgas, Serebryakov, Rakovsky, Krachkovsky and
other counter-revolutionaries as well.
3
Lidia Gasviani used to arrive periodically in Georgia.
She paid these visits in order to give the instructions of
Moscows Trotskyite Center to the Georgian Trotskyite
organization. During one of such visits, she instructed the
Georgian organization to connect with Trotsky who, at the
time, was in Turkey.
4
When Gasviani returned to Moscow, she declared that
she had given up her Trotskyite activities. Serebryakov and
Kote Tsintsadze considered this to be her strategy. Where in
reality, many Trotskyites were soon to become members of
the Communist Party.
5
Gasviani at one stage met with the following people:
Kapitonov, Bogdanov, Verzhblovsky, Yanina Kozlovsky,
Chesika Kozlovsky, Andrei Drozdov, Yana Lashevich and
Vilensky. It was generally deemed to be a Trotskyite meeting,
where Stalins politics were denounced as destructive.
6
According to Gasvianis case, they held malicious
discussions aimed against the Communist Party and the
Soviet authorities. One of such meetings was held in Lidia
Khlinovs, the daughter of Isaia Khlinov, house. The following
people regularly attended such meetings: Serebriakov,
Zorian, Voronsky, Kavtaradze, Alaverdova, Budzinskaya,
Futoriani, Babaiani, Salaviovi, Kaganovich, Mdivani, Gaseni
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9 p.56
2
Ibid., p.56
3
Ibid., p.56
4
Ibid., p.57
5
Ibid., p.57
6
Ibid., p.58
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xelmZRvanelad, represiebis avtorebma,
budu mdivanis dasaxeleba moisurves.
`qarTuli trockizmis~ aqtiur wevrebad ki
sergo qavTaraZe, mixeil okujava, malaqia
toroSeliZe, simon CixlaZe, filipe
maxaraZe, nikoloz kiknaZe, beno kalandaZe,
vladimer jiqia, Tengiz JRenti, seiT
devdariani, nikoloz qarcivaZe da sxv.
`mogvevlinen~
1
.
`qarTuli trockizmi~, `sakavSiro
trockistul organizaciasTan~ kavSirSi
unda `mxilebuliyo~. dapatimrebulma
`trockistebma~ es `aRiares~. `gairkva~,
rom `qarTveli trockistebi~ direqtivebs
`moskovis trockistuli centrisgan~
`iRebdnen~ (anu, `sakavSiro trockistuli
centrisgan~). `gamovlinda~, rom
saqarTveloSi, iseve rogorc ruseTSi,
`arsebobda~ `teroristuli jgufi~,
romelsac komunisturi partiis
liderebis winaaRmdeg teroristuli
aqtebi unda ganexorcielebina. qarTul
`trockistul-teroristul~ jgufs
simon CixlaZe `xelmZRvanelobda~.
simon CixlaZis teroristul jgufSi
`Sediodnen~: gogitiSvili, sevasti
TalakvaZe, ZigraSvili, Tengiz Rlonti,
papava, lela alaverdova. lidia gasvianic
am jgufis `wevrad~ moiazreboda.
`qarTuli teroristuli~ jgufis
mizani, TiTqos, saqarTveloSi Camosul
ioseb stalinze da lavrenti beriaze
teroristuli aqtebis ganxorcieleba iyo
2
.
represiebis avtorebma `trockistebis~
Zebna saxalxo meurneobis sxvadasxva
dargebSic daiwyes. am Zebnam `gamoarkvia~,
rom TiTqos, moskovis direqtivebiT,
saqarTveloSi `Seiqmna~ `mavneblur-
diversiuli jgufi~ (ruseTis msgavsad
_ avt.). am jgufis `mizani~ saxalxo
meurneobaze `mavneblobis~ ganxorcieleba
unda yofiliyo. `qarTuli trockizmis~
aseTi agresiuli moqmedeba, `Ziebis~
mixedviT, 1933 wels daiwyo
3
. `qarTvel
trockistebs~ `mavneblur-diversiul~
saqmianobaSi unda `CaerToT~ saxalxo
meurneobis dargSi momuSave pirebi
4
.
1936 w. simon CixlaZem lidia gasvians
`dausaxela~ `mavneblur-diversiuli~
jgufis wevrebi: vasil (vasiko) wivwivaZe,
gigo kiknaZe, vano elbaqiZe, beno
kalandaZe, mixeil (miSa) kiknaZe. es jgufi
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #3, furc. 236
2
iqve, furceli 63
3
iqve, furceli 58
4
iqve, furceli 62
and Vuiovich.
1
Soviet authorities could not demarcate Georgia from the
Trotskyite organizations. Budu Mdivani was considered the
head of the Trotskyite organization in Georgia. Its members
were as follows: Sergo Kavtaradze, Mikheil Okujava, Malakia
Toroshelidze, Simon Chikhladze, Filipp Makharadze, Nikoloz
Kiknadze, Beno Kalandadze, Vladimir Jikia, Tengiz Zhghenti,
Seit Devdariani, and Nikoloz Kartsivadze amongst others.
2
The connection between Georgian Trotskyism and
all-union Trotskyism was soon to be exposed, as detained
Trotskyites had to admit to their union. It became clear
that Georgian Trotskyites were instructed by the Moscow
Trotskyite Center, i.e. the all-union Trotskyite center. It
was asserted that there were terrorist groups in Georgia,
as well as in Russia. They were tasked to organize acts of
terrorism against the leaders of the Communist Party. The
Georgian Trotskyite-Terrorist organization was under the
1
Ibid., p.58
2
Ibid., p.236
86
nikoloz kiknaZis xelmZRvanelobiT
muSaobda
11
.
1933 wels moskovidan saqarTveloSi
sabolood gamomgzavrebis win, lidia
gasvianisTvis `trockisti~ liderebisagan
raime konkretuli `davalebis~ ar micema,
`Ziebis~ saqmeSi `bundovanebas~ Seitanda.
amitomac, lidia gasvianma `aRiara~,
rom wamosvlis win masTan mivida sergo
qavTaraZe da `auwya~ mas lev trockisgan
miRebuli direqtiva, romlis Tanaxmad
`qarTveli trockistebi~ terorze unda
gadasuliyvnen. sergo qavTaraZem am
`direqtivis~ aucilebloba `dauzusta~ mas
da `ganucxada~, rom `terori erTaderTi
gza iyo stalinis mosaSoreblad~.
amasTan, terors sabWoTa kavSiris
sameurneo-ekonomikuri winsvla unda
Seeferxebina, romelic `trockistebs~
sasikvdilo laxvars uqadda. aRniSnuli
direqtivebi sergo qavTaraZes, Tavis mxriv,
serebriakovma `gadasca~.
lidia gasvianisTvis es direqtivebi
`moulodnelobas~ namdvilad ar
warmoadgenda, radgan `qarTveli
trockistebi~ jer kidev 1921-1927 wlebSi
`avlendnen~ TavianT `Seurigeblobas
komunistur partiasTan~. rogorc
lidia gasvianma `aRiara~, `qarTveli
trockistebis~ muSaobiT `kmayofilebas~
ver malavda TviT lev trocki. lev
trockim, erTxel lidia gasvianTan
saubarSi `aRniSna~: `yoCaR qarTvelebo,
erTgulebi xarT, saimedo da mamaci xalxi
xarT!~
2
.
lidia gasvianis `saqmeSi~,
`gamomZieblebma~ uxvad Caakeres rusi
`trockistebis~ saqarTveloSi `vizitebi~.
erT-erTi aseTi `viziti~, am `saqmis~
mixedviT, 1934 wlis dasawyisSi TbilisSi
Sedga, rodesac `sakavSiro trockistul-
zinovievuri centris~ `emisari~ s.
zorini Camovida. s. zorinis `mizani~ iyo
dakavSireboda `qarTul trockistul
centrs~. s. zorinTan `qarTveli
trockistis~ simon CixlaZis Sexvedra q.
TbilisSi agrafina jalaRanias saxlSi
Sedga. am Sexvedras `eswrebodnen~
simon CixlaZe, lidia gasviani,
lela alaverdova, agrafina jalaRania
da mwerali baCua kupraSvili.
marTalia mwerali baCua kupraSvili
am `organizaciis~ wevri ar iyo, magram
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #3, furc. 63
2
iqve, furceli 60.
control of Simon Chikhladze. Its members were as follows:
Gogitashvili, Sevaste Talakvadze, Dzigrashvili, Tengiz
Ghlonti, Papava and Lela Alaverdova. Lidia Gasviani was
also viewed as a member. The main aim of the supposed
Georgian terrorist groups was to organize acts of terrorism
against Stalin and Beria.
1
The authors of the repression additionally tried to
fnd the Trotskyites within the feld of public economics.
According to their research, on Moscows instructions, a
group for sabotage was formed in Georgia. (In Russia as
well Authors note.) This organization was allegedly tasked
to organize sabotage within public economics. According to
the investigation, Georgian Trotskyism began its aggressive
activities in 1933.
2
The Georgian Trotskyites were to involve
the economic workers in the sabotage activities.
3
In 1936, Simon Cgikhladze named the members of
the group of sabotage to Lidia Gasviani. These were as
follows: Vasiko Tsivtsivadze, Gigo Kiknadze, Vano Elbakidze,
Beno Kalandadze and Misha Kiknadze. The head of this
group was Nikoloz Kiknadze.
4
In 1933, Gasviani returned to Georgia from Moscow.
She admitted that Sergo Kavtaradze came to her and
gave the directives directly from Trotsky. According to the
directives, Georgian Trotskyites should carry out acts of
terrorism. Kavtaradze informed Gasviani that Stalin could
be removed only through terror. It was also seen as a good
method of hindering the development of Soviet economics,
which threatened the Trotskyites with liquidation. Kavtaradze
had also been instructed by Serebryakov.
These directives were not unexpected, because
Gasviani and the Georgian Trotskyites had protested
against the Communist Party even in 1921-1927. According
to Gasviani, Trotsky could not help from revealing his
approval for the activity carried out by the Georgian group.
Once he reported to Gasviani: Good for you, Georgians!
You are faithful, reliable and brave people!
5
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, p.63
2
Ibid., p.58
3
Ibid., v.9, p.62
4
Ibid., p.63
5
Ibid., p.60
87
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g
e
rac mTavaria, is `saqmis kursSi iyo~. s.
zorinma maT moskovis `teroristuli
jgufis~ Seqmnis Sesaxeb `auwya~ da
saqarTveloSic analogiuri jgufis
Seqmna `moiTxova~. aqcenti individualir
terorze unda gakeTebuliyo
1
. `ioseb
stalinze gagraSi teraqti~ unda
ganxorcielebuliyo
2
.
1934 wels TbilisSi `trockist~
vardinis Camosvla, lidia gasvianis
`saqmeSi~, `rusi trockistis~ `morig
vizitad~ Caiwera. vardini TbilisSi
`moskovis trockistuli centris~
`davalebiT~ Camovida. vardinis Camosvlis
`mizani~ `qarTuli teroristuli~
organizaciis aqtivizacia iyo.
vardini, aseve, q. ozurgeTSi Cavida
da daukavSirda parmen cincaZes,
romelic guriaSi `trockistuli~
organizaciis `xelmZRvaneli~ iyo
3

(samegreloSi `trockistul~ organizacias
`xelmZRvanelobda~ iustine gvasalia,
aWaraSi _ zekeria lorTqifaniZe)
4
.
afxazeTis komunisturi partiis
centraluri komitetis Tavmjdomare
nestor lakoba, aseve, `trockistad~
moinaTla.
5

lidia gasviani, iZulebulia Tavis e.w.
`saqmeSi~ agreTve Semdegi `trockistebi~
daasaxelos: germane maTiTaiSvili _
konservatoriis direqtori, konstantine
(kote) gordelaZe _ saqarTvelos ssr
mecnierebaTa akademiis Tavmjdomaris
moadgile; besarion kvirkvelia _
Tbilisis erT-erTi institutis
direqtori; galaqtion vaSaZe _ saxalxo
meurneobis sferoSi momuSave; karpez
modebaZe _ WiaTuris marganecis
sazogadoebis xelmZRvaneli; sevasti
TalakvaZe _ saqarTvelos ssr wignis
palatis Tavmjdomare; vasil (vasiko)
wivwivaZe _ saxalxo meurneobis dargSi
momuSave; lela alaverdova _ ekonomisti;
mixeil (miSa) kiknaZe _ saxalxo meurnebaSi
momuSave; gigo kiknaZe _ erT-erTi qarxnis
direqtori da sxv.
6
lidia gasviani gamoZiebas
`ganumartavs~, rom mas 1935 w. budu
mdivanTan morigi `trockistuli
saubari~ `hqonda~. es Sexvedra maTi
saerTo nacnobis qarTuli wiTeli jvris
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s.#29986, t. #3, furc. 1399-1400
2
iqve, furceli 1405.
3
iqve, furceli 1401.
4
iqve, furceli 1402.
5
iqve, furceli 1404-1405.
6
iqve, t. #1, furceli 60.
Many visitation documents from Russian Trotskyites in
Georgia were attached to Lidia Gasvianis case. According to
this case, one of these visits was paid in 1934, when Zorini,
an emissary of the all-union Trotskyite-Zinovievist center
arrived in Tbilisi. He was to connect with the Georgian
Trotskyite Center. Zoriani met with Simon Chikhladze in
Agrapina Jalaghanias house in Tbilisi. The following people
attended the meeting: Simon Chikhladze, Lidia Gasviani,
Lela Alaverdova, Agraphina Jalaghania, and the writer
Bachua Kuprashvili, who was not an offcial member of
the organization, but had been told of their activities. At
the meeting, Zorin informed them about a terrorist group
that had been formed in Moscow. He consequently gave
instructions for establishing a similar group in Georgia.
Individual terrorism was to be accentuated.
1
Namely, acts of
terrorism were to be carried out against Stalin in Gagra.
2
According to Gasvianis case, in 1934 another visit was
paid by the Russian Trotskyite, Vardin. He came to Tbilisi
under the instructions of the Moscow Trotskyite center. The
central aim of Vardins visit was to stir up a Georgian terrorist
organization. Vardin arrived in Ozurgeti where he met with
Parmen Tsintsadze, the head of the Trotskyite organization
in Guria.
3
In Samegrelo the Trotskyist organization was run
by Yustine Gvasalia, and in Adjara by Zekeria Lortkipanidze.
4

Nestor Lakoba, the Chairman of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party of Abkhazia was also viewed as a
Trotskyite.
5
Lidia Gasviani was also forced name the following
Trotskyites: Germane Matitaishvili, the director of the
conservatoire; Konstantine Gordeladze, the deputy
head of the Academy of Science of the Georgian SSR;
Besarion Kvirkvelia, the director of the Institute of Tbilisi;
Galaktion Vashadze, a worker in public economics; Karpez
Modebadze, the head of the Association of Chiatura
Manganese; Sevasti Talakvadze, the chairman of the Book
Chamber of the Georgian SSR; Vasil Tsivtsivadze, a worker
1
Ibid., v.9, p.1399-1400
2
Ibid., v.9, p.1405
3
Ibid., v.9, p.1401
4
Ibid., v.9, p.1402
5
Ibid., v.9, p.1404-1405
88
xelmZRvanelis, arCil miqaZis meSveobiT
`Sedga~. am Sexvedris dros budu
mdivanma `kidev erTxel `daadastura~,
rom serebriakovi `qarTul trockistul
organizacias~ `direqtivebs~ `aZlevda~. b.
mdivani `Tanaxma iyo~ ase gagrZelebuliyo.
radeks ki, lidia gasvianis `CvenebiT~,
`kavSiri~ hqonda simon CixlaZesTan
germane maTiTaiSvilis da konstantine
(kote) gordelaZis meSveobiT. germane
maTiTaiSvili da kote gordelaZe
moskovSi xSirad Cadiodnen da iq radeks
`xvdebodnen~. moskovSi, aseve, sergo
qavTaraZe imyofeboda, romelTanac
`kavSiri~ b. mdivans besarion kvirkvelias
da galaqtion vaSaZis meSveobiT hqonda
1
.
WiaTuris marganecis sazogadoebis
xelmZRvanel karpez modebaZes, Tavis
samuSaosTan dakavSirebiT, sazRvargareT
gamgzavreba xSirad uwevda. amdenad, is
`saeWvoTa~ siaSi savsebiT `bunebrivad~
moxvda. `damtkicda~, rom is am mgzavrobas
`sazRvargareTis kontrrevoluciur
organizaciebTan kavSirisaTvis farTod
`iyenebda~. karpez modebaZes sazRvargareT
qarTvel menSevikebTan (social-
demokratebTan _ avt.) `kavSiri hqonda~.
amaze informacia lidia gasvians sergo
qavTaraZem `miawoda~.
2

saqarTveloSi `trockizmis~
winaaRmdeg brZolas, sxva miznebic
`amoZravebda~. am brZolas saqarTveloSi
e.w. `separatistuli~ azrovneba unda
daesamarebina. Sesabamisad, `qarTvel
trockistebs~ `saqarTvelos ssr sabWoTa
kavSiridan gamoyofisaTvis muSaoba~
dabraldaT. am saqmeSi `qarTvel
trockistebs~, TiTqos, qarTveli
menSevikebi da qarTveli nacionalistebi
unda `daxmarebodnen~. rogorc 1933 da 1934
wlebSi lidia gasvianTan saubarSi budu
mdivanma `aRniSna~, `sabWoTa kavSirze
faSisturi germaniis da iaponiis mxridan
mosalodneli Tavdasxmebi, uTuod
gamoiwvevda sabWoTa kavSiris teritoriul
danakargebs. swored am dros _ b. mdivanis
TqmiT _ SesaZlebeli iyo saqarTvelos
damoukidebeli saxelmwifos Seqmna~. es
mosazreba `iyo~ b. mdivanis da s.
qavTaraZis `nacional-uklonisturi~
pozicia, romelmac axla xelaxla
`Seisxa frTebi~.
3
am saqmeSi `qarTveli
trockistebis~ `daxmareba~ SeeZlo
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #1, furc. 62.
2
iqve, furceli 62.
3
iqve, furceli 64.
in public economics; Lela Alaverdova, an economist; Mikheil
Kiknadze, another worker in public economics; and Gigo
Kiknadze, the director of a factory, amongst others.
1
According to Gasvianis testimony, she led a Trotskyite
talk alongside Budu Mdivani in 1935. Their meeting was
organized by their acquaintance, Archil Mikadze, the head
of the Georgian Red Cross. At the meeting, Mdivani re-
affrmed that Serebryakov had indeed given instructions to
the Georgian Trotskyite organization. According to Gasvianis
evidence, Radek was allied to Simon Chikhladze through
Germane Matitaishvili and Konstantine Gordeladze, who
often visited Moscow and met Radek. Sergo Kavtaradze
also went to Moscow. While Mdivani was allied to Chikhladze
through Besarion Kvirkvelia and Galaktion Vashadze.
2
Karpez Modebadze, the head of the Association of
Chiatura Manganese, often had to go on business trips
abroad. For this reason, he found himself on the list of
Trotskyite suspects. He was consequently accused of using
such business trips to fulfll revolutionary activities, and to
connect with foreign counter-revolutionary organizations.
He was allied to the Georgian Mensheviks (The Social-
democrats authors note). Gasviani was informed of
Modebadzes actions by Sergo Kavtaradze.
3
Anti-Trotskyite activities were also to be used for
another crucial aim. They were to be employed in order
to abrogate the so-called separatist ideology in Georgia.
Hence, the Georgian Trotskyites were accused of anti-Soviet
activities, and of having connections with both the Georgian
Mensheviks and the Nationalists. Recorded conversations
between Mdivani and Gasviani in 1933 and 1934, reveal
that- If fascist Germany and Japan attacked the Soviet
Union it would lose its territories. Thus, it would be a suitable
period for Georgia to establish an independent state. It was
Mdivani and Kavtaradzes idea that then had a chance of
reality.
4

England was interested in Caucasia. For this reason,
the Georgian Trotskyites hoped to take support from this
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, p.60
2
Ibid., p.62
3
Ibid., p.62
4
Ibid., p.64
89
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ingliss, romelic mniSvnelovnad iyo
kavkasiiT dainteresebuli. cxadia, inglisi
amis sanacvlod navTobs, marganecs,
ferad liTonebs da sxv. moiTxovda,
magram `qarTveli trockistebi~, rogorc
`gamoZiebam~ `gamoarkvia~, amaze `Tanaxma
iyvnen~. `qarTveli trockistebis~
azriT, inglisis proteqtorati qarTvel
xalxs kargs arafers moutanda, radgan
`ingliseli koncesionerebi da mrewvelebi
Seecdebodnen gaitanon saqarTvelodan
yvelaferi, rac ki SeiZleba~ da TavianT
`wkeplasac~ gamoiyenebdnen, magram, maTi
TqmiT, rac mTavaria ingliselebi qarTvel
glexebs namdvil muSaobas aswavlidnen
da Semdeg amis gamo qarTveli glexebi
kmayofilebi darCebodnen
1
.
`gamoZieba~ mxolod `trockistebis~
aRmoCeniT ar kmayofildeboda.
amitomac, `qarTvel trockistebs~,
`TavianTi miznebis misaRwevad~, qarTvel
menSevikebTan da nacionalistebTan mWidro
kavSiris damyareba dabraldaT. rogorc l.
gasvianma `auwya~ `gamoZiebas~, am sakiTxze
budu mdivans `kavSiri~ menSevik nikoloz
qarcivaZesTan da kompartiis wevr
vladimer jiqiasTan `hqonda~. ramdenadac
lidia gasvianma `Seityo~, vladimer
jiqia Tavisi `nacionalisturi ideebiT~
da agresiulobiT `gamoirCeoda~. jiqias
`miaCnda~, rom `qarTvel trockistebs
unda ewarmoebinaT Seurigebeli brZola
saqarTvelodan wiTeli armiis nawilebis
gasayvanad~. swored am mizniT, vladimer
jiqias qarTvel `nacionalistur-
faSisturi~ azrovnebis mweral
konstantine gamsaxurdiasTan `kavSiri
hqonda~. lidia gasvianTan saubarSi
konstantine gamsaxurdia aRfrTovanebuli
ambobda `jiqia namdvili qarTveli
patrioti da nacionalistia, ai aseTi
winamZRolebi gvWirdeba~. konstantine
gamsaxurdiasave TqmiT, is xSirad
xvdeboda vladimer jiqias da misi da
jiqias azrebi absoluturad erTmaneTs
emTxveodnen. rogorc konstantine
gamsaxurdiam uTxra lidia gasvians,
jiqia `qarTvel nacionalistebs~ Soris
didi avtoritetiT sargeblobda,
romlebic `jiqiaSi xedavdnen maT momaval
winamZRols~
. 2

lidia gasvianis kontaqtebi qarTuli
inteligenciis warmomadgenlebTan, mis
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #1, furc. 64.
2
iqve, furceli 64-65.
infuential nation. In exchange for this, England demanded
oil, manganese and precious metals. According to an
investigation, the Georgian Trotskyites agreed to the terms.
However, in the Georgian Trotskyites general opinion,
the English protectorate would do nothing to favor the
Georgian people, because the English Concessioners and
Industrialists would do their best to transfer everything that
was valuable from Georgia. Yet despite the aforementioned
quote, they thought that the English would teach Georgian
peasants how to work properly and thus the Georgian
peasantry would be content.
1
The investigators were not satisfed only by exposing
the Trotskyites. For this reason, they accused Trotskyites of
being allied to the Georgian Mensheviks and Nationalists.
According to Gasviani, Mdivani was allied with Nikoloz
Kartsivadze, a Menshevik, and with Vladimir Jikia, a member
of the Communist Party. Jikia believed that the Georgian
Trotskyites should lead the struggle for separating Georgia
from the Red Army. Jikia was associated thus with the
writer Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, who was in support
of the national-fascists. Konstantine Gamsakhurdia was
inspired and told Gasviani that, Jikia is a genuine patriot
and nationalist. We need the leaders alike to him. According
to Gamsakhurdia, he often met with Jikia and they shared
a similar ideology. Konstantine also informed Gasviani that
Jikia held authority amongst Georgian nationalists, who
considered him to be their future leader.
2
Lidia Gasvianis relationship with the representatives
of the Georgian intelligentsia was discovered to be an
attempt to convert them to Trotskyism, under the instruction
of Mdivani. Her aim was to get signifcant people involved in
anti-Soviet activities. According to Mdivanis instructions:
1. Gasviani was to gather important Georgians to
lead a propaganda campaign to help detach Georgia from
the Soviet Union, and to establish the bourgeois-democratic
state of Georgia. These people were to spread the rumors
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, p.64
2
Ibid., p.64-65
90
`pirad saqmeSi~ aisaxa, rogorc
budu mdivanis `davalebiT~ maTi
`gadmobirebis~ mcdelobebi.
`gadmobirebis~ Semdeg, TiTqos,
qarTuli inteligenciis
`arasando~ warmomadgenlebi
`sabWoTa xelisuflebis
winaaRmdeg brZolaSi~
aqtiurad unda `CarTuliyvnen~.
budu mdivanis `miTiTebiT~,
lidia gasvians qarTul
inteligenciasTan Semdegi
mimarTulebiT unda `emuSava~:
1. lidia gasvians iseTi
pirebi unda `Seekriba~,
`romlebic propagandas
daiwyebdnen sabWoTa kavSiridan
saqarTvelos gamoyofis da
saqarTvelos damoukidebeli
burJuaziul-demokratiuli
saxelmwifos SeqmnasTan
dakavSirebiT. garda amisa am
pirebs unda gaevrcelebinaT
azri imis Sesaxeb, rom qarTveli
`nacional-uklonistebi~,
qarTveli menSevikebi da
qarTveli nacionalistebi,
sabWoTa xelisuflebis
winaaRmdeg brZolaSi erTian
fronts qmnidnen. maT unda
moexdinaT farTo masebSi
popularizacia budu
mdivanis, sergo qavTaraZis,
mixeil okujavas, levan
RoRoberiZis, vladimer jiqiasi da
petre aRniaSvilis. aRsaniSnavia, rom l.
gasvians, konspiraciis mizniT, `qarTuli
trockistuli centris~ yvela wevri ar
unda daesaxelebina~;
2. lidia gasvians qarTveli
mwerlebisaTvis, unda `aexsna~, rom
`aqtiuri pirebisagan iqmneboda
teroristuli jgufi teraqtebis
gansaxorcieleblad da es jgufi
SeiaraRebul ajanyebaSic miiRebda
monawileobas~
1
.
`am sakiTxebze~ lidia gasvians
`saubrebi~, pirvel rigSi, konstantine
gamsaxurdiasTan da konstantine
WiWinaZesTan, `maTi meSveobiT~ ki
aleqsandre abaSelTan `hqonda~
2
. sabWoTa
xelisuflebam mSvenivrad icoda, rom
konstantine gamsaxurdia da konstantine
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #3, furc. 1391.
2
iqve, furc. 1392.
that the Georgian Mensheviks and Nationalists were united
against the Soviet authorities. They were to popularize the
following people: Budu Mdivani, Sergo Kavtaradze, Mikheil
Okujava, Levan Ghoghoberidze, Vladimir Jikia and Peter
Aghniashvili. It is noteworthy that Gasviani did not name all
of the members of the Georgian Trotskyite Center.
2. Lidia Gasviani was also to explain to Georgian
writers that a terrorist group was to be formed, which would
then organize acts of terrorism. The group would also
participate in an armed revolt.
1
Gasviani held talks about these issues with
Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Konstantine Chichinadze,
and with Alexander Abasheli.
2
The Soviet authorities knew
the negative attitude of Gamsakhurdia and Chichinadze.
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, p.1391
2
Ibid., p.1392
91
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s
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u
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g
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g
e
WiWinaZe sabWoTa xelisuflebis mimarT
`loialurebi~ ar iyvnen. amitomac, isini
lidia gasvianis `CvenebaSi~ `mavneblebad~
da `Camoyalibebul faSisturi ideologiis
matarebel mwerlebad~ dasaxeldnen.
lidia gasvianma, konstantine
gamsaxurdiasTan da konstantine
WiWinaZesTan dakavSirebiT `aCvena~, rom mas
am mwerlebTan, Tavis binaSi, `Sexvedra~
hqonda. am Sexvedraze `gamoaSkaravda~,
rom `isini saqarTvelos socialisturi
ganviTarebis gzas mxars ar uWerdnen da
socializmis principebs saqarTvelosTvis
miuReblad Tvlidnen~. uaryofiTad
iyvnen konstantine gamsaxurdia da
konstantine WiWinaZe ganwyobili
koleqtivizaciis mimarT. maTTvis sabWoTa
xelisuflebis politika erovnul
sakiTxSi da saqarTvelos e.w ~kulturuli
aRmSenebloba~ miuRebeli iyo. konstantine
gamsaxurdia da konstantine WiWinaZe
dasavlur kulturas `zedmetad~
adidebdnen, gansakuTrebiT ki faSisturi
germaniis kulturas. isini imedovnebdnen,
rom sabWoTa kavSirTan faSisturi
saxelmwifoebis omis SemTxvevaSi sabWoTa
kavSiridan saqarTvelos gamoyofa
inglisis proteqtoratiT SesaZlebeli
iyo
.1
konstantine gamsaxurdiasagan
lidia gasvianma Seityo, rom mwerlebi
aristo WumbaZe da leo qiaCeli erovnul
poziciebze idgnen.
2
lidia gasvianTan saubarSi
konstantine gamsaxurdiam `aRniSna~, rom
man, sxva qarTvel mwerlebTan erTad,
Tbilisis saxelmwifo universitetis
studentebisagan `kontrrevoluciuri
jgufi~ `Seqmna~. konstantine gamsaxurdias
azriT, `am studentebis gamoyeneba
SeiZleboda sabWoTa xelisuflebis
winaaRmdeg nebismieri aqtiuri
moqmedebisTvis~.
3
konstantine gamsaxurdiam
lidia gasvianTan saubarSi `aRniSna~,
aseve, rom somex da azerbaijanel
nacionalistebTan `erTiani frontis~
Seqmna saWiro iyo. rogorc gamsaxurdiam
aRniSna, is somex da azerbaijanel
`kontrrevoluciur-nacionalisturi~
azrovnebis pirebs egiSe Carencs da
musavaturi axalgazrduli organizaciis
yofil Tavmjdomares gogim veqilovs
`daukavSirda~. rogorc gamsaxurdiam
lidia gasvians `auxsna~, mas 1935 wels
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi. (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #3, furc. 1393
2
iqve, furc. 1397.
3
iqve, furc. 1393.
Therefore, they were deemed to be fascists in the later
evidence given by Gasviani.
According to Gasviani, she met Gamsakhurdia and
Chichinadze in her fat, where she deduced that these
writers were against the socialist development of Georgia.
They deemed socialist ideology unacceptable to the
country. For Gamsakhurdia and Chichinadze were both
against collective farms. The Soviet politics of national and
cultural issues were simply unacceptable to them. They
admired Western, and particularly, German culture. They
hoped that Georgia could be detached from the Soviet Union
with the help of the English Protectorate.
1
Gasviani also knew from Gamsakhurdia, that the
writers, Aristo Chumbadze and Leo Kiacheli, held positions
of national importance.
2
In another conversation with Lidia Gasviani,
Konstantine Gamsakhurdia said that he, with Georgian
writers, had formed a counter-revolutionary group with
students from Tbilisi State University. In Gamsakhurdias
opinion, these students could be used for anti-Soviet
activities.
3
Gamsakhurdia stressed that it was necessary to form a
united front with Armenian and Azerbaijani Nationalists. He
went on to connect with Armenian and Azerbaijani counter-
revolutionaries and nationalists, namely Egishe Charents
and Gogim Vekilov, the former chairmen of the Musavat
Youth Organization. Konstantine told Gasviani that in 1935
he met Charents, when it was clarifed that the political
platforms of Armenian Nationalists and of Konstantines
group were absolutely alike.
4
Gasviani knew that the Gamsakhurdia-Chichinadze
alliance had a tough political relationship with the Georgian
Trotskyite, Malakia Toroshelidze.
5
Mikheil Javakhishvili was also involved in Lidia
Gasvianis Trotskyite activities. Moreover, he had been
earlier suspected of disloyalty. During 1935-1936, Gasviani
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, p.1393
2
Ibid., p.1397
3
Ibid., p.1393
4
Ibid., p.1394
5
Ibid., p.1395
92
TbilisSi, Tavis
binaSi, CarencTan
`Sexvedra~ hqonda,
ra drosac `gairkva~,
rom `somexi
nacionalistebis
politikuri
platforma srulad
emTxveoda konstantine
gamsaxurdias jgufis
platformas~.
1
lidia gasvianma
`kargad icoda~,
rom `gamsaxurdia-
WiWinaZis jgufs~,
Tavis mxriv, mWidro
politikuri kavSiri
`hqonda~ qarTvel
`trockist~ malaqia
toroSeliZesTan

.
2
ar SeiZleboda lidia gasvianis
`trockistuli muSaobis~ arealSi
cnobili qarTveli mwerali mixeil
javaxiSvili ar moxvedriliyo.
mixeil javaxiSvili adrec iyo
`eWvmitanili~ sabWoTa xelisuflebis
mimarT `araloialurobaSi~. lidia
gasviani mixeil javaxiSvilTan Tavis
samuSao kabinetSi (saqarTvelos
ssr saxelmwifo gamomcemlobis
SenobaSi), 1935-1936 wlebSi `awarmoebda
`molaparakebebs~. am `molaparakebebis~
dros mixeil javaxiSvili lidia
gasvians srulad `daeTanxma~.
3
saqarTvelos ssr saxelmwifo
gamomcemlobaSi, mwerali nikolo
miwiSvili mxatvrul-literaturul
seqtors xelmZRvanelobda. `es garemoeba~,
lidia gasvianis `aRiarebis~ mixedviT,
lidia gasvianisa da nikolo miwiSvilis
`trockisturi saubrebis~ sababi `gaxda~.
`am saubrebis~ dros nikolo miwiSvilma
gamoTqva Tavisi survili `sabWoTa
kavSiridan saqarTvelos gamoyofis
Sesaxeb~.
4
lidia gasvianma `gamoZiebas~
srulad `dausaxela~ qarTvel mweralTa
`nacionalistur-faSisturi organizaciis~
wevrebi. l. gasvianis `Cvenebis~ mixedviT
am organizaciaSi `moxvdnen~: mixeil
javaxiSvili, konstantine gamsaxurdia,
geronti qiqoZe, ilo mosaSvili,
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #3, furc. 1394.
2
iqve, furc. 1395.
3
iqve, furc. 1396.
4
iqve, furc. 1396.
pirvel rigSi: aristo WumbaZe, ioseb griSaSvili, mixeil
javaxiSvili, sandro euli, grigol robaqiZe, nikolo miwiSvili,
paolo iaSvili, galaktion tabiZe, tician tabiZe, konstantine
lorTqifaniZe. meore rigSi: martini, viqtor golcevi, arazi,
demna Sengelaia, besarion JRenti, karlo kalaZe, iona vakeli,
benito buaCiZe, silibistro Todria, vano wulukiZe, Saqro
navTluReli. mesame rigSi: simon Ciqovani, petre samsoniZe,
sandro SanSiaSvili, Salva radiani, valerian gafrindaSvili,
giorgi quCiSvili, amierkavkasiis xalxTa megobrobis kongresi,
baqo 1928 w.
First row: Aristo Tchumbadze, Ioseb Grishashvili, Mikheil Javakhishvili, Sandro Euli,
Grigol Robakidze, Nikolo Mitsishvili, Paolo Iashvili, Galaktion Tabidze, Titsian Tabidze.
Konstantine Lortkipanidze; Second row: Martin, Victor Goltsev, Arazi, Demna Shengelaia,
Besarion Zhghenti, Karlo Kaladze, Iona Vakeli, Benito Buachidze, Silibistro Todria, Vano
Tsulukidze, Shakro Navtlugheli; Third row: Simon Chikovani, Petre Samsonidze, Sandro
Shanshiashvili, Shalva Radiani, Valerian Gaprindashvili, Giorgi Kuchishvili. Trans-
Caucasian peoples congress of friendship. Baku, 1928
held talks with Javakhishvili in his study at the State
Publishing House of the Georgian SSR. During these talks,
Javakhishvili agreed with Gasviani on every point.
1
At that time, Nikoloz Mitsishvili was the head of the
fction section of the State Publishing House. According to
Gasviani, she had revolutionary talks with Mitsishvili, who
had expressed his wish to separate Georgia from the Soviet
Union.
2
Gasviani named all the Georgian writers within the
Nationalist and Fascist Organization. They were as follows:
Mikheil Javakhishvili, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Geronti
Kikodze, Ilo Mosashvili, Konstantine Chichinadze, Koki
Abashidze, Nikolo Mitsishvili, Archil Jajanashvili, Pavle
Ingorokva, Titsian Tabidze, Paolo Iashvili, Giogi Leonidze,
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, p.1396
2
Ibid., p.1396
93
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konstantine WiWinaZe, koki abaSiZe,
nikolo miwiSvili, arCil jajanaSvili,
pavle ingoroyva, tician tabiZe, paolo
iaSvili, giorgi (gogla) leoniZe, daviT
suliaSvili, aleqsandre abaSeli, mixeil
patariZe, levan asaTiani, raJden gvetaZe,
Salva demetraZe, akaki gawerelia, Tedo
saxokia, iakinTe lisaSvili, apolon
wulaZe, aleqsandre quTaTeli, arCil
miqaZe da daviT wereTeli.
1
lidia gasvianma `icoda~ da,
Sesabamisad, `gamoZiebas~ `ar daumala~,
rom am `organizaciis~ wevrebs
literaturaSi unda `daenergaT~
`nacionalistur-faSisturi~ ideebi,
popularuli unda gaexadaT saqarTvelos
damoukideblobis sakiTxi da moexdinaT
`rasiuli Teoriis~ propaganda. `rasiuli
Teoriis~ propagandaSi gansakuTrebiT
mixeil javaxiSvili `gamoirCeoda~.
2
`gamoZiebas~ surda, qarTveli
mwerlebis saubrebi literaturaze
`nacionalistur-faSisturi~ sakiTxebis
garSemo `bWobad~ warmoCeniliyo.
`warmoCnda~ kidec. lidia gasvianma
`gaSifra~, rom qarTveli mwerlebis
Sekrebebi, `kargad SeniRbvis mizniT~, ilia
WavWavaZis saxlSi, saguramoSi xdeboda.
3
qarTveli mwerlebis kontaqtebi
rus mwerlebTan: boris pasternakTan,
brikTan, afinogenovTan, averbaxTan,
kirSonTan da sxv. `moinaTla~ rogorc
`kontrrevolucioner~ mweralTa brZola
sabWoTa xelisuflebis winaaRmdeg.
4
gasvianma, `dakiTxvis~ dros, qarTveli
mwerlebis `sxva miznebzec~ isaubra.
`aRmoCnda~, rom qarTveli mwerlebi im
donemde `gaTavxednen~, rom wiTeli armiis
qarTul nawilebSi `muSaobis~ mizniT,
`samxedro seqciac~ ki `Camoayalibes~.
mwerlebis `gegmiT~, ajanyebis dros levan
jorjaSvilis razms unda daepatimrebina
saqarTvelos ssr komunisturi partiis
centraluri komitetis mdivani lavrenti
beria da sxva maRali Tanamdebobis
komunistebi. levan jorjaSvilTan
`molaparakebas~ piradad mixeil
javaxiSvili `awarmoebda~
5
.
armiaSi maT `hyavdaT~ mxardamWerebi
giorgi quTaTelaZe, Tuxareli, mosiZe,
mirotaZe, nikoloz gedevaniSvili, valiko
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #4, furc. 1814.
2
iqve, furc. 1817-1818.
3
iqve, furc. 1822.
4
iqve, furc. 1832.
5
iqve, furc. 1822-1830.
Davit Suliashvili, Alexander Abasheli, Mikheil Pataridze,
Levan Asatiani, Razhden Gvetadze, Shalva Demetradze,
Akaki Gatserelia, Tedo Sakhokia, Iakinte Lisashvili, Apolon
Tsuladze, Alexander Kutateli, Archil Mikadze and Davit
Tsereteli.
1
Gasviani knew of their roles, and thus she informed the
investigation that the aforementioned members were to instill
a nationalist and fascist ideology through their literature.
They were to popularize the idea of the independence of
Georgia and propagandize their racial theory. Mikheil
Javakhishvili was distinguished in his activity.
2
According to the investigation, the Georgian writers
literary talks were found to be about nationalist and fascist
issues. Gasviani found out that the meetings of these
Georgian writers were commonly held at Ilia Chavchavadzes
house in Saguramo.
3
The association between Georgian and Russian
writers, like Boris Pasternak, Brik, Afnogenov, Averbakh, and
Kirshon amongst others, was later deemed to be an anti-
Soviet struggle between counter-revolutionary activists.
4

Furthermore, Gasviani spoke about the aims of such
Georgian writers. According to her testimony, the writers
abased themselves by forming a military division in order to
work in a Georgian detachment of the Red Army. According
to their plan, during the revolt Levan Jorjashvilis detachment
was to detain Lavrenty Beria, the then Secretary of the
Central Committee of the Georgian Communist Party, and
other infuential offcials.
Mikheil Javakhishvili led talks with Levan Jorjadze.
5

They had some support from within the army. These
were as follows: Giorgi Kutateladze, Tukhareli, Mosidze,
Mirotadze, Nikoloz Gedevanishvili, Valiko Georgadze, Mamia
Akhvlediani, Shavdia and Garsiashvili.
6
Thereafter, political cleansing began in the Georgian
divisions of the Red Army. The following people were
detained: Tukhareli and Kutateladze, the head of the
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, p.1814
2
Ibid., p.1917-1818
3
Ibid., p.1822
4
Ibid., p.1832
5
Ibid., p.1822-1830
6
Ibid., p.1819
94
georgaZe, mamia axvlediani, Savdia,
garsiaSvili.
1

amis Semdeg `politikuri wmenda~
wiTeli armiis qarTul nawilebSi
Catarda. diviziis meTaurebi Tuxareli da
quTaTelaZe, polkovniki
nikoloz gedevaniSvili, valiko
georgaZe, mamia axvlediani, Savdia,
garsiaSvili da sxv. daapatimres.
2
`sakmarisze meti~ masalebis dagrovebis
Semdeg, `eWvmitanili~ qarTveli mwerlebi
daapatimres. maT umetesobas daxvreta
Seefarda.
lidia gasvianTan Sexvedris dros,
saqarTvelos ssr erovnuli galereis
direqtorma dimitri (dito) SevardnaZem
sabWoTa kavSiri gaakritika. dito
SevardnaZesTan, Tavis mxriv, axlo
urTierToba hqondaT, rusTavelis Teatris
reJisors aleqsandre (sandro) axmetels,
profesor giorgi wereTels da mxatvar
erisTavs. amdenad, aRniSnuli pirebi
uTuod `sav siaSi~ unda moxvedriliyvnen
da moxvdnen kidec.
3
gasvians quCaSi hqonda mweral ioseb
mWedliSvilTan Sexvedra, romlis drosac
`gairkva~, rom ioseb mWedliSvili
`kontrrevolucioner-nacionalistebTan~
kaxeTSi iyo `dakavSirebuli~.
4
lidia gasvianma gervasi
ZigraSvilisagan `gaigo~, rom Tbilisis
saxelmwifo universitetis profesori
filipe gogiCaiSvili `kontrrevoluciuri
organizaciis~ wevri iyo da Tbilisis
saxelmwifo universitetis reqtoris
karlo oragveliZis mxardaWeriT
sargeblobda.
5
lidia gasvianma `aRiara~, rom sabWoTa
kavSirTan `mavnebluri~ damokidebuleba
hqondaT saxelmwifo tipografiaSi
momuSave aleqsandre lordels da makar
goguaZes.
6
lidia gasvianis piradi nacnoboba
rusTavelis Teatris reJisor aleqsandre
(sandro) axmetelTan, sabWoTa
xelisuflebis mier `kontrrevoluciuri~
Zalebis `aRmoCenis~ procesSi kargad
iqna gamoyenebuli. gasvianis `saqmis~
mixedviT, misi da sandro axmetelis
antisabWoTa muSaoba saTaves 1932
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #4, furc. 1819.
2
mayvala naTmelaZe. aleqsandre dauSvili. saqarTvelos uaxlesi
istoria (1921-2000 ww.), gamomcemloba `mematiane~, Tbilisi, 2004, gv. 149.
3
sSssa (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #3, furc. 1397.
4
iqve, furceli 1397.
5
iqve, furceli 1398.
6
iqve, furceli 1397.
division, Colonel Nikoloz Gedevanishvili, Valiko Georgadze,
Mamia Akhvlediani, Shavdia, and Garsiashvili along with
others.
1
Having accumulated more than enough documents,
Suspected writers were detained and sentenced to the
death penalty.
Dimitry Shevardnadze, the director of the State Gallery
of the Georgian SSR, denounced Soviet politics during a
conversation with Lidia Gasviani. Shevardnadze was closely
allied to Alexander Akhmeteli, a producer in the Rustaveli
Theatre, Professor Giorgi Tsereteli, and the artist, Eristavi.
These people were each recorded on the Black List.
2
At one stage, Gasviani met Joseph Mchedlishvili in the
street. She learnt that Mchedlishvili was in an alliance with
counter-revolutionaries and nationalists in Kakheti.
3
Gasviani learnt from Gervasi Dzigrashvili that Filipp
Gogichaishvili, a professor at Tbilisi State University, was a
member of a counter-revolutionary organization and that
he was supported by Karlo Oragvelidze, the Rector of Tbilisi
State University.
4
Gasviani admitted that Alexander Lordeli and Maker
Goguadze also led anti-Soviet activities.
The Soviet authorities then went on to use the
acquaintance between Gasviani and Alexander Akhmeteli.
According to Gasvianis case, she and Akhmeteli had
begun their anti-Soviet activities in 1932. They met not
only in Tbilisi, but in Moscow as well. Gasviani saw
Akhmeteli as an anti-Soviet activist and supporter of an
independent Georgia.
5
Akhmeteli formed a fascist group
within the Akhmeteli theatre. The members of this group
were as follows: Ilia Kantaria, the son of Nikoloz Kantaria,
Ivane Laghidze, the son of Vasil Laghidze, and Elguja
Lortkipanidze, the son of Gedevan Lortkipanidze.
6
The
actors, Akaki Vasadze and Akaki Khorava, also took to
Akhmetelis ideology.
7
1
Makvala Natmeladze & Alexander Daushvili, Modern History of Georgia (1921-2000),
Mematiane Publishing House, Tbilisi, 2004, p.149
2
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.29986, v.9, p.1397
3
Ibid., p.1397
4
Ibid., p.1398.
5
Ibid.,, p.1555
6
Ibid., p.1557
7
Ibid., p.1556
95
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wlidan iRebs. lidia gasvianis da
sandro axmetelis Sexvedrebi Tbilisis
garda q. moskovSic mimdinareobda. am
Sexvedrebma sandro axmeteli lidia
gasvianis TvalSi `warmoaCina~ rogorc
antisabWoTa pirovneba da saqarTvelos
damoukideblobis aqtiuri momxre.
1

sandro axmetelma rusTavelis TeatrSi
`faSisturi jgufi~ `Camoayaliba~,
romelic axalgazrdebSi `nacionaluri
kuTxiT~ muSaobda. am faSistur jgufSi
Sediodnen: ilia nikolozis Ze qanTaria,
ivane vasilis Ze laRiZe da elguja
gedevanis Ze lorTqifaniZe.
2
sandro
axmetelis `mosazrebebs~ iziarebdnen
msaxiobebi _ akaki vasaZe da akaki xorava.
3

lidia gasvians 1934 wlis bolos da
1935 wlis dasawyisSi, sandro axmetelis
samuSao kabinetSi hqonda did reJisorTan
saubari. mogvianebiT, erTi aseTi Sexvedra
funikuliorze gaimarTa. am saubrebis
dros, sandro axmetelma qarTveli
`nacional-uklonistebi~ saqarTvelos
damoukideblobis mopovebis saqmeSi
mTavar xelmZRvanel Zalad `daasaxela~.
sandro axmetelma lidia gasvians `gaando~
Tavisi azri imis Sesaxeb, Tu rogor
unda moepovebina saqarTvelos kavkasiis
sabWoTa respublikebSi hegemonis roli.
rogorc sandro axmetelma aRniSna, amaSi
gadamwyveti sityva rusTavelis Teatrs
ekuTvnoda. axmetelTan saubarSi gairkva,
isic rom mas am mimarTulebiT praqtikuli
muSaoba ukve dawyebuli hqonda. swored
am mizniT, axmetels hyavda gagzavnili
`Tavisi kacebi~ azerbaijanSi, daRestanSi
da sxv.
4
sandro axmetels, Tavis mxriv, mixeil
javaxiSvilTan, tician tabiZesTan, paolo
iaSvilTan, dimitri (dito) SevardnaZesTan
kavSiri hqonda. misi TqmiT, yvela isini,
nacionalur poziciaze idgnen

.
5
Sesabamisad,
sandro axmetelma, am mwerlebTan erTad,
gaiziara represiis susxi. sandro
axmeteli daxvrites.
lidia gasvianis mier `aRiarebiT~
Cvenebaze xelis moweris Semdeg,
TavisTavad dadga dRis wesrigSi misi
fizikuri likvidaciis sakiTxi. sabWoTa
kavSiris uzenaesi sasamarTlos samxedro
kolegiis 1937 wlis 25 ivnisis ganaCeniT,
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #3, furc. 1555.
2
iqve, furceli 1557.
3
iqve, furceli 1556.
4
iqve, furceli 1556-1558.
5
iqve, furceli 1558.
In late 1934 and early 1935, Gasviani met with
Akhmeteli in the study of a great producer, and they
once even met at the funicular. Akhmeteli suggested that
Georgian nationalists were a major force for establishing
independence in Georgia. Akhmeteli shared his design with
Gasviani, revealing how Georgia could gain hegemony over
the other Soviet republics in Caucasia. He suggested that
the Rustaveli theatre should play a major role. Akhmeteli had
already taken practical measures toward this direction. He
had sent his accomplices to Azerbaijan, Dagestan and to
other signifcant locations.
1
Akhmeteli was in alliance with Mikheil Javakhishvili,
Titsian Tabidze, Paolo Iashvili and Dimitry Shevardnadze.
According to Sandro Akhmeteli, they held nationally
signifcant positions.
2
Akhmeteli was thus culled in the
repression and shot along the aforementioned revolutionary
writers.
After Lidia Gasviani had signed the accusatory
document, which provided evidence against so many of her
previous compatriots, the issue of her own crime was set on
the agenda. Based on the resolution passed by the Military
Colleague of the Supreme Court of the Soviet Union on June
25, 1937, Lidia Gasviani, the daughter of Ilarion Gasviani,
was sentenced to the death penalty.
3
On June 9, 1937, the following leaders of the supposed
Georgian Trotskyite movement were also sentenced to
the death penalty: Budu Mdivani, son of Gurgeni, Malakia
Toroshelidze, son of Gurgeni, Simon Chikhladz, son of
Alexander, Mikheil Okujava, son of Stephane, Giorgi Eliava,
son of Gigolo, Giorgi Kurulov, son of Davit, and Nikoloz
Kartsivadze, son of Iotami.
4
In October 1937, Lavrenty Beria sent a secret letter
to Joseph Stalin containing exact number of the detainees.
According to the letter, over 12,000 people were held in
Georgia from October 1937, 5,236 of whom had already
been charged by the Troika. The Military Colleague of the
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d. 29986, v.9,
p.1556-1558
2
Ibid., p.1558
3
Ibid., p.39
4
Ibid., v.9, p.48
96
lidia ilarionis asul gasvians, Seefarda
sasjelis umaRlesi zoma daxvreta.
1
`qarTuli trockizmis~ `xelmZRvanel~
pirebs: budu gurgenis Ze mdivans,
malaqia gurgenis Ze toroSeliZes, simon
aleqsandres Ze CixlaZes, mixeil stefanes
Ze okujavas, giorgi gigolos Ze eliavas,
giorgi daviTis Ze yurulovs, nikoloz
ioTamis Ze qarcivaZes, 1937 wlis 9 ivliss,
sasjelis umaRlesi zoma daxvreta
Seefarda.
2
1937 wlis oqtomberSi, lavrenti
beria ioseb stalinTan saidumlod
gagzavnil werilSi azustebs
saqarTveloSi dapatimrebulTa
raodenobas. am monacemebis mixedviT,
1937 wlis oqtombramde saqarTveloSi
12 000 kacze meti iyo dapatimrebuli.
dapatimrebulebidan 5236 `sameulis~
mier ukve msjavrdebuli iyo. umaRlesi
sasamarTlos samxedro kolegiam 910
kaci gaasamarTla, sabWoTa kavSiris
Sinagan saqmeTa komisariatTan arsebulma
gansakuTrebulma sabWom _ 591,
saqarTvelos umaRlesi sasamarTlos
specialurma kolegiam _ 468,
samxedro tribunalma _ 99, saxalxo
sasamarTloebma _ 70. saqarTvelos
cixeebSi 5 000 kaci imyofeboda,
marto TbilisSi _ 2000. saqarTvelos
komunisturi partiis centraluri
komitetis 74 wevridan 41 `xalxis mteri~
aRmoCnda.
3
represiebis pirobebSi aTasobiT
qarTveli saqarTvelos farglebs
gareT cimbiris, Soreuli aRmosavleTis
specialur banakebSi (magadanSi,
kalimaze da sxv.) gadaasaxles. masobrivi
represiebis erT-erTi faruli mizani
xom isic iyo, rom nedleuliT mdidar
Soreuli aRmosavleTis miuval
terotoriebze asi aTasobiT iafi muSa-
xeli SeeyvanaT da iq sabWoTa ekonomikis
Zlieri dasayrdeni SeeqmnaT.
4
masobrivma represiebma, rogorc
aRvniSneT, sabWoTa kavSirSi arnaxuli
masStabebi SeiZina. SromiT koleqtivebsa
da SemoqmedebiT organizaciebSi uamravi
saqme iyo kidev `gansaxilveli~. maT
ganxilvas ki represiebis avtorebi ver
audiodnen. aseT viTarebaSi, 1938 wlis
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #29986, t. #3, furc. 39.
2
iqve, furceli 48.
3
mayvala naTmelaZe. aleqsandre dauSvili. saqarTvelos uaxlesi
istoria (1921-2000 ww.), gamomcemloba `mematiane~, Tbilisi, 2004, gv. 148.
4
iqve, gv. 150.
Supreme Court of the Soviet Union trialed 910 activists; the
Special Council, co-existing with the Commissariat of the
Interior Affairs of the Soviet Union, trialed 591 individuals;
468 were judged by the Special Colleague of the Supreme
Court of Georgia; 99 by the Military Tribunal; and 70
people were put on trial by Public Courts. There were 5,000
detainees in the prisons of Georgia, 2,000 detainees of
which were within Tbilisi. There were 74 members of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party, 71 of which
were viewed as enemy of the people.
1
During the Great Purge, thousands of Georgians were
exiled into special camps in the Far East, chiefy Magadani
and Kalimaze. One of the major aims of the Great Purge
was to fll this territory with the cheap labor, and to thus form
a strong base for Soviet economics in the East.
2
The huge scale Great Purge was launched en-masse
throughout the Soviet Union. The authors of the repression
1
Makvala Natmeladze & Alexander Daushvili, Modern History of Georgia (1921-2000),
Mematiane Publishing House, Tbilisi, 2004, p.148
2
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d. 29986, v.9, p.150
97
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ianvarSi, q. moskovSi gaimarTa sakavSiro
komunisturi partiis (b) centraluri
komitetis plenumi, romelmac miiRo
dadgenileba `sak. kp (b)-dan garicxulTa
apelaciisadmi formalur-biurokratiuli
damokidebulebisa da am naklovanebaTa
aRmofxvris RonisZiebebis Sesaxeb~.
am dadgenilebam ZiriTadad SeaCera
represiebis talRa, Tumca represiebis
calkeuli SemTxvevebi Semdeg wlebSic
xdeboda.
1
1938 wlis TebervalSi gamarTulma
saqarTvelos komunisturi partiis
(b) centraluri komitetis plenumma
sakavSiro kp (b) centraluri komitetis
gadawyvetileba moiwona da saqarTvelos
partiul organizaciebs daavala
SeewyvitaT `zedmeti gulmodgineba~
masobrivi represiebis saqmeSi. plenumma
aRniSna, rom 1937 wels saqarTvelos
komunisturi partiis (b) rigebidan
gairicxa 4379 kaci, maTgan 2642
daapatimres.
2
sabWoTa kavSirSi Catarebulma
masobrivma `wmendam~, mTlianad gaanadgura
ioseb stalinis yvela SesaZlo oponenti,
SemoqmedebiTi inteligenciis `miuRebeli~
nawili. am RonisZiebebma, sabWoTa kavSirSi,
sabolood ioseb stalinis diqtatura
ganamtkica da Sesabamisad, sabWoTa kavSiri
meore msoflio oms `momzadebuli~ Sexvda.
1
mayvala naTmelaZe. aleqsandre dauSvili. saqarTvelos uaxlesi
istoria (1921-2000 ww.), gamomcemloba `mematiane~, Tbilisi, 2004, gv. 149.
2
iqve, gv. 149-150.
actively discussed the revolutionary cases of creative
organizations and of individual collective farm workers. In
January 1938, the plenum of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party, the Bolsheviks, was held in Moscow.
A resolution was passed at the plenum concerning the
eradication of the lack of the bureaucratic procedures about
the appeals of the people who had been expelled from the
Communist Party. The harsh Soviet oppression was thus
suspended under this resolution.
1
The resolution passed by the Bolshevik, all-union
Central Committee of the Communist Party was approved by
the plenum of the Central Committee of Georgia in February
1938. The Georgian Party was subsequently tasked to
suspend the Great Purge. At the plenum, it was revealed that
4,379 people had been expelled from the Communist Party
of Georgia, 2,642 of which were detained in 1937.
2
During this period, Stalins opposition underwent a
mass cleansing process, where undesirable members of
the intelligentsia were often exiled or executed under the
massive reforms of the Soviet Union. Having removed his
opponents, Stalins dictatorship became yet more powerful
after the Great Purge. The Soviet Union was thus politically
ready for World War II.
1
Makvala Natmeladze & Alexander Daushvili, Modern History of Georgia (1921-2000),
Mematiane Publishing House, Tbilisi, 2004, p.149
2
Ibid., pp.149-150.
98
rostom CxeiZe
ROSTOM CHKHEIDZE
1921 wlis 25 Tebervlis Semdeg
adamianebi _ da maT Soris upirvelesad
mwerlebi _ dadgnen arCevanis winaSe:
Seguebodnen da morgebodnen axal
politikur realobas Tu yovelnairad
ecadaT bolSevikuri reJimis damxoba.
am arCevanis winaSe idga nikolo
miwiSvilic, erT-erTi cisferyanweli _
poeti, publicisti, mwignobari.
man gadawyvita axali xelisuflebis
mier damkvidrebul wesebTan Segueba
(paolo iaSvilisa da tician tabiZisa
ar iyos, general giorgi mazniaSvilis
davaleba: egeb ise imoqmedoT, rom
dedaqalaqi areulobasa da sisxlisRvras
gadaurCeso, _ marjved rom gamoiyenes
axal moweseebTan dasaaxloeblad da
dasamegobreblad) da Seecada Suamavlobas
bolSevikur mTavrobasa da patriotulad
da Seurigeblad ganwyobil inteligencias
Soris.
am SeTanxmebam xelisuflebasTan
gansazRvra is davaleba, romliTac
nikolo miwiSvili sagangebod gaigzavna
parizSi qarTul emigrantul wreebTan
mosalaparakeblad, raTa emigrantebs
erwmunaT bolSevikuri mTavrobisa
da maTi dapirebebis, oRondac
dabrunebodnen samSoblos da yovelgvari
piroba SeeqmnebodaT sazogadoebriv-
politikuri moRvaweobisaTvis, sicocxlis
xelSeuxebloba xom TavisTavad _ aramcTu
odnavi safrTxec ar daemuqreboda
maT arsebobas, araviTar pasuxs ar
mohkiTxavdnen `warsuli codvebisaTvis~.
niSandoblivia, rom nikolo miwiSvilis
nikolo miwiSvili da
qarTuli emigracia
medlis ori mxare
/ Two Sides of the Same Coin
NIKOLO MITSISHVILI AND THE
GEORGIAN EMIGRATION
After February 25, 1921, many Georgians, and
especially writers, faced this dilemma: either adapt to the
new political reality or try to overthrow the Bolshevik regime.
Nikolo Mitsishvili member of The Blue Horns
(Tsisperqantselebi), poet, publicist and bibliophile was
among these conficted writers.
He decided to adapt to the new authority (as did Paolo
Iashvili and Titsian Tabidze, who used General Giorgi
Mazniashvilis order to get closer to the new offcials. The
General did not want their activities to cause domestic
disturbances and bloodshed). The writer tried to act as
a mediator between the Bolshevik government and the
patriotic intelligentsia.
Nikolo Mitsishvili went to Paris on a special mission.
He was to negotiate with Georgian migrs and induce
them to trust the Bolshevik authorities and their promises. If
they returned to Georgia they were assured to have viable
conditions for their public and political activities. They would
be guaranteed secure lives and nobody would condemn
them for their past sins.
Its noteworthy that Nikolo Mitsishvili drew his inspiration
99
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nikolo miwiSvili / Nikolo Mitsishvili
SemoqmedebaSi mZafrad datrialdeboda
stamboluri da parizuli ganwyobilebani,
suraTebi, xilvebi.
prozauli poema `gardacvaleba~(wignSi
`samaradiso zRapari~, `inteleqti~, 2007)
sulac am kompoziciur xerxemalze _
stambolisa da parizis STabeWdilebebze
_ aigeboda da mcire winaTqmaSi amasac
ganacxadebda: rogorc poeti, CamovrCi
dRevandeli amboxebuli drois aqtualobas
da SesaZloa warsulSi davrCe, magram _
rogorc adamiani _ moqmedebis, gambedaobisa
da sicocxlis logikam gamaTanaswora
TanamedroveobasTano.
SesaZloa momavalSi es ori paraleli
SeerTebuliyo kidec?
dabejiTebiT saidan unda scodnoda,
magram es ki uwyoda, ufro sworad,
erCivna piradi tkivilebi ganezogadebina
Tanadroul realobaze:
_ am winaaRmdegobaSi Cavardnilia
mTeli Cemi dro.
Tumc atyobda, rom amgvari ganzogadeba
gamosavals ki ar apovninebda, unugeSo
perspeqtivas gadauSlida Tvalwin:
_ da poetisaTvis es winaaRmdegoba
xSirad Tavdeba katastrofiT.
iqve dasZenda: dasasruli jer Sorsaao,
_ da neta ras gulisxmobda _ is TxuTmeti
weliwadi eSoreboda Tu wamieri da
ucnauri xilva miviwyeboda da ufro
imedianad gahyurebda momavals?
yovel SemTxvevaSi droebas CamorCenili
poetisa da TanamedroveobasTan
gaTanasworebuli adamianis xatebi im
sayrdenad eguleba, romlebic SesaZloa
erT simaRleze avides imisda miuxedavad,
SeerTdeba Tu ara poezia da moqmedeba. eg
kia, aucilebeli xdeba ukuRma Sefaseba:
poetisa _ dRes, adamianisa _ momavalSi.
xolo es bolosdabolos sulerTi xdeba,
`Tu adamianis ambavi gahyva saukuneebs,
rogorc poema~.
Zneli amosacnobi ar aris am
winaTqmidan, rom `gardacvaleba~
aRmsareblobiTi yaidisa iqneboda, rasac
adasturebs poemis mxatvruli qsovili,
romlis suliskveTebisa Tu calkeul
SreTa da detalTa gansamartavadac
aucilebeli xdeba nikolo miwiSvilis
`epopeis~ igive `qarTuli qronika
revoluciis droidan,~ rogorc xelmeore
gamocemisas daasaTaura `artanujma~ 2006
wels _ moSveliebac, farTod ganzraxuli
qronikisa, romelic gaSliliyo
revoluciis fonze saqarTvelosa da
sazRvargareT.
eamayeboda weris is principi rom
from Istanbul and Paris for his prose poem Death.(In the
book:`Eternal Tale`,`Intellect`, 2007). The following is written
in the preface: As a writer, I am behind the times, but as a
person, I am contemporary in my activities, courage and life
view.
Perhaps these two aspects would resonate with
one another. But for the moment, he preferred to hide
his personal troubles and generalize common reality. He
said: This confict takes my time. However, he knew that
he would never resolve it. Moreover, he would devolve
into despair. He knew that confict very often ends with
catastrophe for the poet. He added that the end was far
ahead. I wonder what he meant. Maybe a ffteen-year
period was distant for him or he was an optimist.
In any case, his inner spirit as a traditional poet and as
a modern man might be identifed with one another, whether
his poetry and activities would coincide or not. It is important
to evaluate the poet today and the man going forward.
It is easy to surmise that his poem Death was
autobiographical. While reviewing the poem, we must
understand the chronicle of the poet (or `Artanuji`, `Georgian
chronicle since the Revolution` (2006) against the
100
gamoeyenebina, imxanad maincdamainc
did pativSi rom ar iyo mxatvrul
azrovnebasTan SedarebiT _ dokumenturi
proza. Tanac mis mier arCeuli stiluri
manera win uswrebda saqarTveloSi yvela
Teoriul deklaracias.
saqarTvelos xvedris, misi
sazogadoebriv-politikuri yofis
Sesacnobad maincdamainc sazRvargareTuli
fonis moxmoba risTvis dasWirdeboda?
Turme _ meti TvalsaCinoebisa da
damajereblobisaTvis.
_ ucxoeTidan Tanamedrove saqarTvelos
xedva mocemulia rogorc kontrastebze
damyarebuli xerxi. wigni iZleva
revoluciiT aforiaqebul fenaTa yofasa
da fsiqologias, rac emigraciis magaliTze
gansakuTrebiT reliefuri xdeba.
TavisTavad ra sjobs kontrastis
xerxsa Tu reliefurobas, magram... axalma
politikurma reJimma ise Caketa sazRvrebi,
aqedan gaRweva ukve SeuZlebeli gamxdara.
maS nikolo miwiSvils ase Tavisuflad
rogor gaurRvevia es daxSuli sivrce?..
miTumetes, igi sulac ar apirebs ucxoeTSi
saboloo darCenas.
raRac eWvi mokavSireTa samxedro
kontrolis TanamSromlebsac uCndebaT,
amitomac ipyrobs misi pirovneba maT
gansakuTrebul yuradRebas, da frangi
oficeri, romelic rusulad laparakobs,
nikolos pasports aiRebs Tu ara xelSi,
ekiTxeba:
_ bolSeviki xarT?
es miugebs, rom ar aris bolSeviki,
aramed poeti, da oficeri gamoTqvams
gakvirvebas: rogor gamogiSves
bolSevikebma, isini arabolSeviks ar
uSvebeno!
da poetis pasuxi:
_ rogorc xedavT, gamomiSves.
Zalian ukmayofiloa aseTi daxvedriT:
eseni bolSevikebs usayvedureben `reJimis~
Taobaze, TviTon ki aguriT gvipireben
gaxexvaso, _ rogor Tu cimcim ar gaixsna
yvela kari mis winaSe da eWviT ukvirdebian
mis pirovnebas, arada, Tu gavixsenebT, rom
nikolo miwiSvilma stambolSi franguli
vizac aiRo da parizSic Sexvda da
esaubra gadaxvewil qarTvelobas, advili
Sesafasebelia politikuri viTarebis
gansxvaveba sabWoTa sivrcesa da mis gareT.
warmoidgineT, amgvari pasuxi
ucxoels rom gaeca sabWoTa Semmowmebeli
oficrebisaTvis: rogorc xedavT,
gamomiSveso. da TbilisSi Camosuli
ki dakavSireboda xelisuflebisadmi
opoziciurad ganwyobil adamianebs da
background of the revolution in Georgia and abroad.
He was proud to use the documentary prose style that
was not very popular in writing. His style was ahead of all
theoretical declarations drawn in Georgia.
While trying to describe the public and political scenario
in Georgia he had to compare it with the situation abroad
in order to be more persuasive. His view of Georgia from
abroad was based on contrasts. The book is about the
revolutionaries who are bold in comparison with the migrs.
The contrasts were very good, but the new regime
closed the borders and it was impossible to emigrate. How
did Nikolo Mitsishvili manage to cross the border?
He was not planning to stay abroad.
The offcers at the military checkpoints were interested
in his personality. A Russian speaking French offcer took
Nikolos passport and asked him: Are you a Bolshevik? He
answered that he was not a Bolshevik and that he was a
poet. The offcer was surprised that the Bolsheviks would let
him cross the border. The poet said: As you can see they let
me go.
He was very dissatisfed with such a reception These
people did not approve of Bolshevik regime. At this time
Nikolo Mitsishvili obtained a French visa in Istanbul and in
Paris he met with Georgian migrs.
Imagine what would have happened if a foreigner had
given them the following answer: As you can see they let
me go, and if he would have connected with opponents of
the Bolshevik regime and advised them to return home.
Nikolo Mitsishvili dared to speak with the migrs in
Istanbul. He said to them: You wont be able to overthrow
the Bolshevik regime with the assistance of Europe. The
Bolsheviks will remain in power. Valiko Jugheli scolded him:
If I had not known that you are a Bolshevik I would have
thought that you were made a Bolshevik. But it must be
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maTTvis erCia, sazRvargareT gaxiznva
gerCivnoT ukeTesi drois molodinSio.
daujerebelia, ara?...
nikolo miwiSvili ki Tamamad
elaparakeba emigrantebs stambolSic:
araferi gamova Tqveni ganzraxvidan,
evropis daxmarebiT rom imedovnebT
bolSevikuri reJimis damxobas, bolSevikebi
mtkiced inarCuneben xelisuflebas da
kvlavac darCebiano. da valiko juReli
kidec usayvedurebs: rom ar vicode, rom
bolSeviki ara xar, vifiqrebdi, marTla
gaubolSevikebiaT-meTqi. magram es albaT
poeturi gatacebaa, albaT Senc agiyolia
zogierTma poetmao...
aSkaraa _ paolosa da ticianze
gadaukra, magram es mtkiced dgas Tavisaze:
_ Tqven iciT, rom me bolSeviki ara
var, magram bolSevikebi magrad arian da
maTi damxobis imediT cxovrebas aravis
vurCev...
sxva dros kidev rom gaimeorebs: me
bolSeviki ara var, ise ki, aq SimSils
Sin dabruneba gerCivnoT-meTqi xSirad
Tu vimeoreb, es imitom, rom mekiTxebian
da gulwrfelad vpasuxob, menSevikebis
sawinaaRmdego azrebs ki ar
vavrcelebo, _ miugeben: miT uaresi,
rom bolSeviki ara xar, amitomac
ufro dagijerebs yvelao.
bolSevikurma xelisuflebam
sagangebo misiiT swored amitom
gagzavna upartio poeti, raTa
Sefaruliyo davalebis mizani da
yvelaferi gasaRebuliyo Semoqmedi
adamianis gulwrfel azrebad da
rCevad.
magram TviT mis mier Sedgenil
qronikaSic ver imaleba avtorisa da
mis inspiratorTa ganzraxva _ poeti
gamoiyenon politikur agitatorad, raTa
gadmoabirebinon malemrwmeni adamianebi.
is yvelaferi, rac amosacnobia
striqonebs Soris, xelSesaxebad unda
daadasturos Sinagan saqmeTa saministros
arqivSi Semonaxulma dokumenturma
masalebma:
nikolo miwiSvilis sazRvargareTul
pasportze piradad lavrenti berias
xelmoweram.
piradma mimoweram levan
RoRoberiZesTan. (f.8, aRw.3, s. 968)
poetis oficialurma angariSma
lavrenti beriasa da levan aRniaSvilis
saxelze. (f.14, aRw.8, s. 306, f.21-32)
samxedro prokuraturis daskvnam,
romelic safuZvlad daedo nikolo
miwiSvilis oficialur reabilitacias. (f.6,
nikolo miwiSvilis pasporti
Nikolo Mitsishvilis passport
a poetic enthusiasm. It is clear that he meant Paolo and
Titsian. Nikolo answered: You know I am not a Bolshevik.
But they are very strong. Thus, I dont advise anyone to hope
for overthrowing their regime.
He was often asked and had to answer that although
he was not a Bolshevik he preferred returning to Georgia
to starving in emigration. This elicited the response: It was
bad for him that he was not a Bolshevik.
He was tasked with a special mission by the Bolshevik
authority because he was a non-party poet. Presumably,
therefore, the migrs would listen to him.
The author could not hide his and the offcials plan
even in his chronicle. They wanted the poet to be used as an
agitator who was to win the migrs over.
Everything that is hidden between the lines can be
read in the following documents that are preserved in the
archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia: Nikolo
Mitsishvilis passport with Lavrentiy Berias signature;
private correspondence with Levan Ghoghoberidze (f.8,
op.3, d.968); Poets report to Lavrentiy Beria and Levan
102
saarqivo #36, s. 29986).
am dokumentebis gamovlena kidev
ufro naTels xdis nikolo miwiSvilis
sulier tragizmsac da zogadad adamianis
bedsac bolSevikuri reJimis pirobebSi.
mas iseve ver warmoedgina axal moweseTa
uzomo sisastike, rogorc mogvianebiT,
vTqvaT, Salva nucubiZes, visac egona, rom
qarTvel emigrantebTan mosalaparakeblad
da maT dasarwmuneblad, araviTari
saSiSroeba ar gemuqrebaT, Tu sabWoTa
xelisuflebas SeurigdebiTo, imitom
gzavnidnen, axla mainc gadawyvites
xeli aeRoT ulmobelobaze da marTlac
morigeba-daaxloebis gzebs eZebdnen
gadaxvewil adamianebTan, gansakuTrebiT
maT inteleqtualur fenasTan.
umZimes sulier yofaSi vardebi da
gamosavals ki ver poulob.
verc dasxltomixar daundobeli
xelisuflebis marwuxebs da Tan imedsac
ebRauWebi, raTa TviTgvema autaneli ar
Seiqnas _ egeb uRvTod ar gawiron is
adamianebi da mec uneburad codvaSi aRar
gavexveo.
aseT dros mkvlevaris movaleobaa
arc araferi miaCumaTos da arc araferi
moapirkeTos.
is, rac adamianis biografiis nawilia,
xelovnurad ar unda amoikveTos am
qargidan, raTa xeli ar SegveSalos Tvali
mivadevnoT pirovnebis sulis moZraobas da
Rrma Sreebamdec CavyveT.
uamisod verc kerZo adamianis
cxovrebis suraTi daixateba met-naklebi
sisruliT da epoqis Sinaarsic bundovani
da calmxrivi darCeba.
visac nebavs _ gansajos da Tundac
simkacrec gamoiCinos ama Tu im movlenis
gaazreba-Sefasebisas.
mainc sjobs TanagrZnobiT movekidoT
sxedan: aleqsandre abaSeli,
tician tabiZe, pavle ingoroyva,
nikolo miwiSvili, mariam
oraxelaSvili, maqsim gorki,
silibistro Todria, b. kominovi,
varlam ruxaZe
dganan: platon keSelava, karlo
kalaZe, e. asirbekovi, mixeil
javaxiSvili, galaktion tabiZe,
benito buaCiZe, aleqsandre sulava,
Salva radiani, arkadi sitkovski,
giorgi kreitani, giorgi quCiSvili.
Tbilisi, mweralTa sasaxlis baRi,
24 ivlisi, 1928 weli
Sitting: Alexandre Abasheli, Titsian Tabidze, Pavle
Ingorokva, Nikolo Mitsishvili, Mariam Orakhelashvili,
Maxim Gorky, Silibistro Todria, B. Kominov, Varlam
Rukhadze.
Standing: Platon Keshelava, Karlo Kaladze, E.
Asirbekov, Mikheil Javakhishvili, Galaktion Tabidze,
Benito Buachidze, Alexandre Sulava, Shalva Radiani,
Arkadi Sitkovski, Giorgi Kreitani, Giorgi Kuchishvili. Tbilisi,
Garden of Writers Palace. July 24, 1928
Aghniashvili (f.14, op.8, d.306, pp. 21-32); Conclusion
passed by the military prosecutor that was the basis for
Nikolo Mitsishvilis rehabilitation (f.6, d. 36. c. 29986).
These documents reveal the tragic fate of Nikolo
Mitsishvili under the Bolshevik regime. Like Nikolo, Shalva
Nutsubidze believed that the new authorities had good
intentions. When Nutsubidze was sent to contact the
Georgian migrs he believed that the authorities really
wanted to reconcile the intelligentsia. He could not fnd a way
out of this situation. He hoped in vain that the authorities
would not doom these people to death.
The researchers duty is to render the facts without
modifcation, relating only actual facts from the subjects
biography. Everyone has the right to judge the person. But
its better to express sympathy for those who were repressed
under a severe regime. Perhaps these people were induced
to commit crimes. But it is those people who were the major
organizers whom we should judge without compassion.
Nikolo Mitsishvili is among those people who deserve
103
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droebis mier sazarel wnexSi moyolil
da xSirad sulac gasresil adamianebs,
oRond es maSin da mxolod maSin, Tu
isini uneblie codvilni arian, umweo
msxverplni... Torem vinc im sazarel
droebas qmnida da mefistofeluri
suliTac ganmsWvalavda, maT gaTeTrebas
tyuilubralod nuravin Seecdeba. bedi-
mdevris mier samarTlianad dasjilni
nuravis aereva umweo msxverplSi.
nikolo miwiSvili Cvengan sworedac
TanagrZnobas imsaxurebs.
parizi. 28 maisi 23
levan.
guSin Seni dis meSveobiT vrceli werili
gamogigzavne. damagvianda, radgan werilTan
erTad gudiaSvilis qaRaldebis gamogzavnac
mindoda, romlebic vera da ver mogawode.
isini pirdapir saqarTveloSi gavgzavne,
prof. janeliZis xeliT.
am werilis mowera ar msurda, magram
vifiqre da gadavwyvite, rom aucilebeli iyo.
gTxov, nuravis etyvi am werilis Sesaxeb,
es CemTvis Zalian mniSvnelovania. ai, raSia
saqme: ganvizraxe, aq gamovce qarTulenovani
Jurnali. amis Taobaze, mgoni, mogwere kidec.
am saqmis organizebis sakiTxebze ukve mesame
Tvea vmuSaob da TiTqmis ukve davasrule.
Jurnali mxolod da mxolod mxatvrul-
literaturulia da mravali cnobili
franguli saxe monawileobs masSi. sia ukve
gadavgzavne saqarTveloSi amx. kandelakTan,
romelsac aseve gavugzavne gancxadeba am
Jurnalis tfilisSi gagzavnisTvis uflebis
mosacemad.
Jurnals piradad me gamovcem da
redaqtirebasac TviTonve vikisreb. iqneba
32-gverdiani da yovelTviurad 1000-
egzemplariani tiraJiT gamova. swored
amasTan dakavSirebiT miwevs Seni Sewuxeba.
ar vici, ra mdgomareobaa axla
saqarTveloSi, TiTqmis erTi welia iqidan
arc werili mimiRia da arc gazeTi, arada
Senc kargad ici, erTis miRebacaa SesaZlebeli
da meorisac. swored amitom vSiSob, rom arc
me momcemen amis uflebas da Cemi muSaoba
amao aRmoCndeba. amasTan, SeiZleba gamoCndes
iseTi xalxi, romlebic ama Tu im mizeziT
damipirispirdebian da Suamdgomlobas ar
damikmayofileben. amas imitom vambob, rom
msgavs SemTxvevas Tavad Seveswari kandelakis
kabinetSi, roca ramdenime piri ganaTlebis
saxalxo komisariatis winaSe daJinebiT
iTxovda, CemTvis `figaros gamocemis ufleba
ar moeca. sabednierod, TviTonve gavxdi am
scenis mowme da movaxerxe kraxis Tavidan
acileba, magram axla iq ar var da Tu
our sympathetic understanding.
Paris. 28 May. 1923
Levan
I sent a long letter along with your sister yesterday. I
was late because I wanted to attach Gudiashvilis papers
to the letter, but instead I have now sent them to Tbilisi with
Professor Janelidze.
At frst I did not want to write you this letter. Please,
dont tell anybody about this. It is very important to me. I
have decided to publish the Georgian journal from here. I
think I have already written about it. I have been working
on it for three months and I have almost fnished it. It is a
fction and literary journal and many famous French people
will work on it. I have sent the list of the editorial board to
comrade Kandelaki in Georgia, and I am waiting for his
approval to send the journal to Tbilisi.
I am editing a 32-page journal. It will be published
monthly with an edition of 1000 copies. I have to trouble you
104
amgvari ram isev moxdeba, uTuod CemTvis
samwuxaro SedegiT dasruldeba. amitom
mWirdeba Seni daxmareba da megobruli
xelSewyoba.
radgan bevrs da SeiZleba Senc gagiCndes
eWvi Cems miznebsa da SesaZleblobebSi,
amitom gatyobineb yvelafers, rom mSvidad
iyo da ar ifiqro, rom me gavxdi `andantes
laqia da msoflio burJuaziis muqTaxora...
saqme isaa, rom am Jurnalis gamocemaze
didxans vifiqre da konstantinopolSi
yofnisas saubari mqonda amxanag
mgalobliSvilsa da modebaZesTan, romlebic
gaecnen ra Jurnalis ideasa da mTel Cems
ganzraxvebs, Tu ris gakeTebas vapirebdi,
siamovnebiT damTanxmdnen daxmarebaze
saqarTveloSi gamocemis legalizaciasTan
dakavSirebiT. magram axla evropaSi ar aris
arc mgalobliSvili, arc modebaZe da ar
maqvs saSualeba, romelimes mivmarTo. aq
rom Camovedi, iseT mdgomareobaSi aRmovCndi,
Jurnalze ki ara, saerTod rameze fiqric ki
warmoudgeneli iyo: marselSi rom Camovedi,
erTi suc ar gamaCnda da ar vicodi, rogor
CavaRwevdi parizSi. sad SemeZlo am dros
Jurnalze fiqri. magram roca fexze davdeqi,
kvlav daviwye fiqric da muSaobac am
mimarTulebiT.
pirvel rigSi, unda gamego iyo Tu ara
aq qarTuli Srifti. menSevikebma damimales,
ar miTxres misamarTi, sad SeiZleboda misi
Sovna. Semoviare yvela stamba, raTa Semetyo,
hqondaT Tu ara qarTuli Srifti. bevrma
damcina, meubnebodnen, saqarTvelos Sesaxeb
pirvelad gvesmiso.
rogorc iqna, vipove Srifti erTi
kaTolikur qristianuli sazogadoebis
stambaSi da erT-erTma arqiepiskoposma,
romelic am sazogadoebis saqmeebs ganagebda,
sixaruliT mimiRo da miTxra, ocneba
amisruldao: igi oc weliwads inaxavda
qarTul Srifts im imediT, rom odesRac
dasWirdeboda, da ai, rogorc iqna, gamoCnda
adamiani, visac es Srifti dasWirda. mas
yvelaferi avuxseni. damiangariSa: saukeTeso
xarisxis qaRaldis did formatze dabeWdili
32-gverdiani Jurnali, kargi xarisxis ydiT,
1000 egzemplari dajdeba 1200 frankio.
Semdeg jerze abats davukavSirdi erTi
darbaiseli qalbatonis meSveobiT... ar vici,
ram imoqmeda pativcemul moZRvarze, magram
igi udidesi qristiani aRmoCnda, gadasaxdeli
Tanxa 600 frankamde dagviklo da Tan, rom
gaigo, fuli ar gagvaCnda, gviTxra roca
geqnebaT, maSin moitaneT, me moxaruli var
rom gexmarebiTo. da a.S.
esaa mTeli istoria...
markebisa da gadagzavnis xarjebs
with concerns regarding the journal.
I have not received any letters or newspapers from
Georgia for a year. I dont know what is happening there,
but I am afraid I wont be allowed to send the journals. I
think my opponents will hinder the process. Once I was in
Kandelakis study when some people were trying to convince
the Educational Peoples Commissariat to prohibit me from
publishing Figaro. Fortunately I was able to overcome their
resistance. I am afraid that I wont be able to resist them this
time. For this reason, I need your friendly help.
I want to tell you everything so that you wont doubt
my intentions. I am afraid you would otherwise consider me
Andates footman and a supporter of the Bourgeois
I have been thinking about this journal for a long
time. In Constantinople I met comrades Mgaloblishvili and
Modebadze. I told them about my plans and they promised
to help me in legalizing the journal in Georgia. But now when
they are not in Europe, I cant appeal to them for help. When
I arrived in Marseille I didnt have a penny. I didnt know how
to get to Paris. I could hardly think of the journal. But when
my position improved I continued to work on it.
The frst thing I had to fgure out was whether I could
acquire a Georgian font. The Mensheviks refused to tell me
where I could get it. I asked in all the printing-houses in order
to get it, but I was mostly laughed at and told that this was
the frst time they had heard about Georgia.
Finally, I was able to get it in the Catholic Societys
printing-house. One of the archbishops was very glad to
meet me. He said that this was a dream come; he had
kept a Georgian font with the hope that one day somebody
would need it. I explained everything about the journal. He
calculated that I would need 1 200 francs to publish a high
quality 32-page journal, with a good cover and an edition of
1000 copies.
105
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TviTonve gadavixdi, radgan mec vSoulob
garkveul Tanxas `renosTan vmuSaob
avtomobilebs vRebav da 8-dan 3 saaTamde 20
franks mixdian. oTaxsa da kvebaze araferi
mexarjeba, radgan mdivanTan vcxovrob.
axla ki rac Seexeba Sinaarss. Jurnali
mxatvrulia, xelovnebaSi memarcxene
mimarTulebisa da rogorc aseT SemTxvevaSi
amboben `sabWoTa platformaze dgas.
qarTvelebidan vmonawileobT me, d.
kakabaZe da l. gudiaSvili, dawers aseve n.
mari /igi moskovSi gaemgzavra, magram datova
statia da... Tavisi leqsi/. danarCenebi
arian frangebi, italielebi, espanelebi:
mwerlebi, mxatvrebi, poetebi yvela axali
da memarcxenea da politikurad yvela
`iumanits emxroba. JurnalSi emigrantTagan
aravin monawileobs da maTTan aranairi saqme
ar makavSirebs. Tumca amas Tavadac dainaxavT...
saerTod, yovelTvis gavurbivar cocxal
gvamebs da zogadad gvamebs.
aseve minda gamomcemlobaSi davasaqmo
adgilobrivi axalgazrdoba, romelic
marTalia `arSin malalans mReris, magram
mainc vfiqrob garkveul saqmeebSi maT
gamoyenebas. mokled, amaze sityvas aRar
gavagrZeleb.
erTi sityviT, levan, es Jurnali
aucileblad unda gavgzavno saqarTveloSi
da, roca iq Caxval, saqmisTvis msvlelobis
misacemad, gTxov, mixvide kandelakTan.
aseve, Cemi didi Txovnaa, vidre
gaemgzavrebi, momwere, ras fiqrob amasTan
dakavSirebiT da ramdenad SesaZlebelia es.
momwere aseve, ra ismis saqarTvelodan,
Zalian mainteresebs, radgan sruliad
araferi vici. Tu saWiro iqneba iq besos
daxmareba - yvelaferi mouyevi da sTxove,
dagexmaros. Tu saWiro iqneba gancxadeba
ck-s saxelze momwere da, yoveli
SemTxvevisTvis, gamogigzavni.
nebarTvis Sesaxeb SegiZliaT macnoboT
berlinis warmomadgenelTa meSveobiT.
mouTmenlad velodebi Sens werils. momwere
vrclad, rogorc adre, magram gTxov
dawere ufro garkveviT, mis wasakiTxad
specialurad gamadidebeli SuSa SeviZine..
aba kargad. mokiTxva gadaeci nucas. Tu
ise gasuqdi, rom bolSeviks aRar gavxar,
gamomigzavne suraTi, Torem SeaSineb xalxs...
`suraTi - cxadia xelis dadebaa saSineli,
mara ise momenatra nacnobi saxeebi, rom
Tu, xumrobis gareSe, gamomigzavni Zaan
dagimadleb. wuxeli mesizmra gr. robaqiZe.
xom ar Camosula netavi berlinSi.
Cemi misamarTi ici: R des Eaux, 3. Paris.
XVI. General Mdivani. .
`guSin win 26 maisi iyo da aqaur
Afterwards, a lady organized a meeting with the abbot
who turned out to be a good Christian. He reduced the price
by 600 francs. When he learnt that we did not have much
money he said that he was glad to help us, and that we
could pay him later.
This is my situation:
I will pay for stamps and shipping. I work at Renos. I
paint cars and get 20 francs, working from 8a.m. till 3p.m. I
live at the secretarys house and thus I dont have to spend
money on accommodation and food.
Let me get back to the journal. It is fction and left-wing.
It stands on a Soviet foundation.
The following Georgians are involved in the project: I,
D. Kakabadze and L. Gudiashvili. N. Mari went to Moscow,
but left his article and rhyme for the journal. The other
members of the editorial board are French, Italian and
Spanish writers, artists and poets. In politics they support
the Humanists. The migrs are not involved in the journal
activity. In general, I am always far from the living dead
people.
I want to involve the local fellows in the journal.
Although they sing Arshin Malalan they can contribute to
the journal.
In short, I must send this journal to Georgia, Levan.
Visit Kandelaki when you arrive there.
Please, write me what you think about it before you
leave. Write me something about Georgia because I dont
know anything about what is happening there now. If you
need any help appeal to Beso. If a special application to the
Cheka is required, write to me and I will send it.
You can inform me about the permit through the
representative in Berlin. I am looking forward to your letter.
Write me with details and legibly. I had to buy a magnifying
lens to read your previous letters.
106
qarTvelebs qondaT kreba da laparaki kafe
`volterSi. viyavi mec. parizSi asamde Tu
meti ara qarTvelia. exla germaniidan
morbis studentoba. SiaT. ilaparakes da
daiSalnen. mara amaze Semdeg. exla ki
gavaTaveb da Tu Zma xar SemomiTvale
Tu ram ici saqarTvelos Sesaxeb. Tu ici
svimoniSvili isev -a (saqmeTa
mmarTveli) Tu ara. kandelaki xomaa kidev
narkompromi. samwuxarod, amasTanave ver
gigzavni Cem wigns, radgan ar damrCa arc
erTi egzempliari. aq minda xelmeored
gamovce Cemi `wmindaniani tfilisSi,
rom gamoveci da stamboluri wignic da
am ukanasknelis xelnaweri maqvs mxolod.
pirveli wigni maqvs, magram is mgoni `qe
mogeci. erTi sityviT aq minda ambebi, mara
jer sanam saqmeze ar gakeTebula ukanasknel
`toCqamde laparaki da baqibuqi ar Rirs.
levan, Tu Zma xar damadevi xeli da
SamamiTvale rame. titesi ar iyos `sTqvi
rame. SamamiTvale ramfer miiRe Cemi
pirveli werili. vin mogca da sad.
Seni nikoloz miwiSvili
levan.

, ,
.

, , ,
. ,
.
...
, , ... .
.
.
,
...
, , . , ,
- .
.
, ,
, .
-
,
,
...


,
. ,
.
.. (stili daculia)
gavagrZelebdi amave suliskveTebiT,
magram, samwuxarod, wminda mamebi
Send my best regards to Nutsa. Send me a photo of
yourself if you put on weight and dont look like a Bolshevik
anymore. I want photos of you because I miss you very
much. Yesterday I saw G. Robakidze in a dream. I wonder if
he had arrived in Bernil.
It was the 26th May the day before yesterday and
the local Georgians had a meeting at caf Walter. I also
attended the meeting. There are over 100 Georgians in
Paris. Now the students are coming from Germany. They
are starving, and speak dismissively. Lets discuss this issue
later.
Now, please, write me about Georgia. Is Svimonishvili
still manager or not; Is Kandelaki still the prosecutor of the
peoples commissariat. Unfortunately, I cant send my book.
Now I want to publish Tsmindaniani (Book about the saints)
here. I think I have already given a copy to you. Please, write
some news to me. I wonder if you received my letter. Where
did you get it, and who gave it to you.
Yours Nikoloz Mitsishvili
Levan
[In Old Church Slavonic]: I can only explain the bitter
and sad words of your letter by a certain powerlessness of
your body, my dear friend. This is because your letter is not
just full of harsh words, but of thoughts that are heretical, if
not incorrect. For you are truly uttering vain thoughts and
speaking futile judgments. I do not deserve these words at
all... In vain, my friend, in vain. . . What does this signify?
From whence did this descend on you? What has violated
the equilibrium of your spirit? Or the has the Devil destroyed
your soul, or the illusion of the poison of doubt has toppled
your cognition...
107
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saTanadod aRar maxsovs da rafo ivanickis
konkurentobac ar ZalmiZs, miTumetes, Tu
is kaTolikobaSi iwafeba, amitom ganvagrZob
araqristianuli eniT.
Senma werilma Zalian damamwuxra.
Seni avadmyofoba seriozulad mafiqrebs
da maSfoTebs. Cemi platonuri wuxili
SenTvis araviTari xeiria, magram
faqtobrivad SesaZleblobac ki ar gamaCnia,
moginaxulo. darwmunebuli viyavi, rom
savsebiT janmrTelad xar da karga xania
saqarTveloSi imyofebi. Seni avadmyofobis
ambavi Zalian moulodneli da usiamovno
iyo. vidre gamojanmrTeldebode, Tavi Seikave
gamgzavrebisgan, miTumetes, saqarTveloSi.
ar vici, ra materialur SesaZleblobebTanaa
dakavSirebuli Seni germaniaSi Casvla, magram,
vfiqrob, yvela SesaZlebloba bolomde
unda gamoiyeno. rogorc erTma Tqva,
mxolod mkvdrebi ar brundebian, Torem
janmrTeli yovelTvis SeZlebs dabrunebas da
amoqmedebas... xolo meorejer mkurnalobis
gavla rTuli iqneba SenTvis, is ki ara,
SeuZlebelic.
meore Seni buzRunia.
da saerTod, Cveni werilebi raRac
Sejibrebas da erTmaneTisa da sakuTari Tavis
gankiTxvas emgvaneba. da imdenad, ramdenadac
es Sejibreba da gankiTxva xdeba saqarTvelos
cxovrebaSi istoriuli gardatexis
perspeqtivasa da CarCoebSi, aseve fiqrSi,
`Cemi da `Seni simarTlisa, - es werilebi
mainc araa moklebuli erTgvar interess.
Sens werilSi CemTvis mniSvnelovani
da saintereso isaa, rac ar momwere, an
ar gindoda mogewera, magram rac weria
mianiSnebs da TavisTavad metyvelebs imaze,
rac ar aris, magram kanoniT unda iyos.
gadavikiTxe SenTan mowerili Cemi werili
/aslebs vinaxav. es metismeti pedantizmia,
magram amas ukve miveCvie/. masSi ver vipove
verc `siZulvili, verc `formaloba da,
miTumetes `fexebze dakideba. me mxolod
da mxolod mivuTiTebdi faqtebze, romlebic
Cemganac da Senganac Sors xdeba. da Sen
ucbad fafari aiSale, abuzRundi, Seigine
da waxvedi. dae, sZuldes, am vigindaras
gamosworeba ar SeiZleba, ase rom, azri
ara aqvs mis rameSi darwmunebaso, da
`gadaxvedi saqmeze... Sen ambob: Tavlafs
masxam mec da sakuTar Tavsac, ki batono,
da uflebas aZlev, es iyviro kidec. magram
gaige, me yvirili ar SemiZlia, xolo
sakuTari Tavisa da sxvebis lanZRva CemTvis
Zalian mtkivneuli da saZaglobaa da es arc
minda. es ar aris literatura, es faqtia
da TviTonac kargad ici, rom ase marto
me ar vfiqrob, ase fiqrobs yvela, visac
No, I say, no. Truly, truly, the pain of the fesh has
overcome you, and the words of censure came off your
tongue for this reason. How can one reproach those who are
ailing, as Lazar, or Job, awaiting rebirth. I place my hopes
in the strengths of the Lord, may He grant you, and not
augment your sins, but relive your weakness. . .
The same uplifts us and brings joy to our souls, and
with this joy may he lift the hearts of your beloved and your
friends. May this also uplift me, as I will be your friend now
and forever. Amen.
I would have continued but unfortunately I dont
remember the names of the Patron Saints. I cant compete
with Rapho Ivanitsky, who studies Catholicism.
Your letter made me feel sad. Your illness troubles me.
My friendly worry doesnt do you any good, but I dont have
the opportunity to visit you. I was sure that you felt good
and that you were in Georgia. The news of your illness was
sad and unexpected. Dont leave for Georgia unless you
108
ki fiqri SeuZlia. da Tu `yvela baTumis
revoluciur komisariatTan (revkomi) idga da
`varskvlavian furcels eloda, da Tu am
qaRaldis miRebisTanave Tqves `SeiZleba,
es aixsneba mxolod imiT, rom brbo mxolod
da mxolod brboa.
ai, me da `cisferyanwelebi brbo ar
varT, da kidev mravali sxva ar aris brbo.
ai, es fiqrebia, romlebic maSfoTebs da
maRelvebs, romlebmac maiZula am formiT
Camomeyalibebina Seni daSifruli werili.
vimeoreb, aq marto CemSi ar aris saqme,
is kidev ufro dids exeba, sadac, survilis
winaaRmdeg, viZirebi da viZirebi ara marto
me kidev bevri, da am garemoebas Sen Tavs
arideb da pasuxs verc me vpoulob.
ar minda, es yvelaferi alSibaiasa
da daTeSiZeebis, an menSevizmis sibrtyeSi
ganixilo. mSvenivrad vici, rom zogs
sakuTari tyavi ainteresebs, zogs
`dakarguli samoTxe. magram me kidev
Sors mivdivar. me vamtkiceb /wignSi/,
rom saqarTvelosTvis menSevizmi udidesi
borotebaa, romelic ara-marto moralurad,
fizikuradac unda ganadgurdes. am partiis
roli 30 wlis ganmavlobaSi mimarTuli
iyo saqarTvelos winaaRmdeg brZolisken,
qarTuli azrovnebis, ideis, inteligenciis
Cakvlisaken. maT menSevikuri kretinizmiT
daaavades saqarTvelos Taobis didi nawili
da, sanam es daavadebuli Taoba fizikurad
ar gaqreba, manamde saqarTvelo ar iqneba
aRqmuli, rogorc idea. fizikurado,
vambob, radgan menSevizmi mkurnalobas
ar eqvemdebareba. menSevizmi arsebiTad
Sulerobaa, qarTveli xalxis abuCad
agdeba, dacinva da mas ara Tu ar SeuZlia,
uflebac ar aqvs ilaparakos saqarTvelos
saxeliT an saqarTvelosTvis... amis Sesaxeb
saubris gagrZelebas aRar vapireb. es
Cemi susti wertilia da am satkivarma
mimiyvana am paradoqsul TeoriasTan, magram
darwmunebuli var, rom es paradoqsi ki
ara, mTeli istoriaa: menSevizmi, rogorc
qarTuli cxovrebis faqtori, unda
ganadgurdes am ideis mtvirTvelebTan erTad.
saqarTvelosTvis es aucilebelia.
rogorc xedav, Cven sxvadasxva mxridan
/tfilisi-moskovi/ erTsa da imave azramde
mivdivarT. magram, mgoni, me ufro
radikaluri var, vidre Tqven.
magram ra iqneba mas Semdeg, rac
saqarTvelodan gaitanen am nagavs, romliTac
Cven amovavsebT ufskruls Cven Soris. Tqven
dadgebiT pirispir namdvil, gaSiSvlebul
saqarTvelosTan. SeZlebT ki misceT mas is,
rac esaWiroeba? es ar iqneba menSevikuri
saqarTvelo. kapitalisa da umankoebis
recover. I dont know how much it costs but you should go for
treatment to Germany. According to one person, Only the
dead doesnt return.
Your other complaints:
I am interested in what you have not written to me.
What you have written refers to something that should exist.
I have reread the letters I sent you. I have a habit of
keeping the copies. I could fnd neither hate and formality,
nor carelessness in those letters. I only spoke about the
things that happen around us, without our involvement. But
you got angry, scolded me and turned away. You wrote that:
You drag the both of us in the mud. I cant reprimand the
people. This is not fction, it is fact. Everybody agrees with
me. And those going to the Revolutionary Committee to get
a paper with a star are just a mob.
Tsisperqantselebi, I and many others, we are not a
mob. This is what I think.
I dont want you to discuss this issue in connection with
Alshibaya and Dateshidzes or Menshevism. I know very well
that some people worry about themselves, and some about
the lost paradise. According to my book, Menshevism is
the greatest threat to Georgia. For this reason, it must be
destroyed physically and morally. The Menshevik Party has
been acting against Georgia, Georgian intelligentsia and
its ideology for thirty years. The party brought Menshevik
cretinism to most part of this generation. This illness is not
curable. For this reason, until this generation ceases to exist,
Georgia cant reach its ideal state. Menshevism cheats and
disregards the Georgian people. The party doesnt have the
right to speak in the name of Georgia. I dont want to speak
about this anymore because the topic is my weak spot. In
conclusion, Menshevism and its followers must disappear
from Georgia. It is essential for the country. In spite of our
different locations (Tbilisi-Moscow) our opinions coincide.
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Sesaxeb saubari uadgilo iqneba Cven uars
vityviT kapitalze. magram mgonia, rom am
dros Tqven ityviT: `viRebT kapitalsac da
umankoebasac, Tqven ki SegiZliaT ilanZRoT,
Tu es siamovnebas ganiWebT, da Tu gnebavT,
iyviroT kidec... ase ar aris? da rac
mTavaria, revolucia da misi interesebi
aq arafer SuaSi iqneba. es iTqmeba ara
revoluciis saxeliT, radgan Cven vambobT
`ai Cveni kapitali, aiReT, Cven TqvenTan
varT, magram...
da amitomac, mepareba ra eWvi `Cvens
simarTleSi da am SxamiT vwamlav sxvis
eWvebsac /Cemi wigni/, ar SemiZlia vuTxra
maT, rom es simarTle gaqvT Tqven...
`simarTle CemTvis saqarTvelos
problemaa, misi gza. is oria. ar SemiZlia
vTqva `diax, magram vici, rom iq, sadac
Cven gavCerdiT /maT Soris mec/, gaCereba
ar SeiZleba da SeuZlebelicaa. mesame gza ki
jer araa....
ai, daaxloebiT ase ikrunCxeba Cemi azri
/es aris Cems poemaSic/ da Tu imas, rom
saqarTvelodan geografiulad mowyvetili
var, ar Sevyavar SecdomaSi, mgonia, rom
es azri saqarTveloSic aSfoTebT da aseve
eZeben gamosavals, rasac, Cemi ar iyos, ver
miagnes...
ras ityvi amis Taobaze. CemTvis es
Zalian mniSvnelovania. da ara mxolod
imitom, rom es literaturul masalad
gamomadgeba, aramed ufro mniSvnelovani
mizeziT, ris Sesaxebac mogvianebiT mogwer.
am werilSi bevri ramaa bundovani, magram
Cven, `cisferyanwelebi, vwerT raRac SifriT,
romelsac vigebT da vgrZnobT mxolod Cven
da kidev sxvebic.
axla ki sxva danarCenze gadavdivar.
xvalamde.
poemis Seneuli SefasebiT, ra Tqma unda,
moxaruli da kmayofili var. moxaruli var
es gavigono swored araliteratorisgan,
`sityvierebis mcodnisgan, gareSe adamianisgan,
radgan literaturaSi es wigni urezonansod
darCeba. iseve, rogorc avtori, poeti
miwiSvili. mizezi ar vici, magram vgrZnob,
rom esaa Cemi bedi. aris `didebis manqana,
romelic unda ipovo, mas yvela poeti
eZebs. magram vici, rom `SeumCnevlad da
daviwyebulad yofna jer kidev ar niSnavs
rom uniWo xar. jerjerobiT amiT vimSvideb
Tavs, Tu saerTod SeiZleba amiT Tavis
damSvideba.
xolo rac Seexeba Cems Sexedulebas
sakuTar wignze, SemiZlia vTqva, rom
marTalia obieqturoba rTulia, magram Sen
mier dasaxelebul masStabSi is SeiZleba
gamovides asparezze. qarTuli poeziis
However, I am more radical than you are.
What will happen after this rubbish has been kicked
out? You will stand in front of a barren country. Will you be
able to give it everything required? It wont be a Menshevik
Georgia. We will give up the capital. But I worry you will say
that: We accept the capital. You may reprimand us or cry if
it gives you pleasure Is it not so? The major point is that it
wont have any business with the revolution and its interest.
I doubt in our truth. According to my book, I see two
ways for Georgia. There is not yet a third way.
This is what troubles me. In spite of the fact that I am
far from Georgia, I am not mistaken. I think that this idea
also troubles people in Georgia. They seek an exit from the
current situation, but cant fnd it
What do you think about this? Your opinion is very
important to me, not only as literary material. Much is
obscure and coded in this letter but it is the style of the Blue
Horns.
Now lets move on to other issues. See you tomorrow.
I am glad that you appreciated the poem. I am glad
because you are not a writer, and you are not involved in
literary activities. This book and its author poet Mitsishvili
- wont have a following in literary circles. I dont know why,
but I feel that this will be my fate. Every poet seeks glory
and fame. But if you are not famous it doesnt mean that you
arent talented. I console myself with this idea.
Although it is diffcult to be objective about my book,
I think it may distinguish itself. There are few swift-footed
horses in Georgian poetry and if my surname (Sirbiladze)
doesnt fail me, I will fnish frst and my black star will
twinkle with joy
And before that I must work, do my best and fght
This poem is means the life to me. I dedicated myself
and my love in writing it. I am not ashamed of it. I will never
110
`farTo sivrceSi Zalian cotaa fexmardi
cxeni, da Tu Cemi gvari /sirbilaZe/ ar
miRalatebs, mivaWeneb pirveli da Cemi `Savi
varskvlavi sixaruliT akiafdeba...
manamde ki `muSaoba, welebze fexis
dadgma, brZola...
piradad CemTvis es poema mTeli
cxovrebaa. masSi Cavde mTeli Cemi siyvaruli,
Cavmarxe sakuTari Tavi, davtirodi mas da
amis ar mrcxvenia... amaze ukeTess verasodes
davwer... esaa Cemi azri, araobieqturi,
magram Cemi azria, romelic Sen
gainteresebda.
gazeTebi miviRe. didad gmadlob.
gatacebiT vkiTxulobdi, magram unda
gamovtyde, vercerTi cocxali striqoni
ver vnaxe. mgoni, oraxelaSvili yvelaze
Wkviani komunistia kavkasiaSi. misi moxseneba
tfilisis organizaciisadmi brwyinvalea.
misi statiebi /zogierTi mowinave/ -
xelmouwerladaa: me vici misi xelwera
Zalian sainteresoa. robaqiZem viRacasTan
iCxuba. Cvenebma gamosces `rubikonis me-
6 nomeri. sadRac moawyves saRamo. wavikiTxe
besos statia zalikos Sesaxeb, kargi iyo,
magram - saSinlad awyobili. vinme mixailovi
wers navTobze: uSovia wigni `msoflio
brZola navTobisTvis, romelsac beWdavs
feletonebiT da awers sakuTar saxels.
Zalian sainteresoa... rogorme gamogigzavni
im wigns. Tumca saerTo jamSi gazeTebma
didi siamovneba momaniWa da `dapirebulic
movida momdevno fostiT. migzavnon
gazeTebi, da Tu saWiroa, davabruneb,
oRondac migzavnon. masalebi jerjerobiT
Sen gqondes. mgoni, raRac avurie, axla
varCev da Tavidan gamogigzavni. gudiaSvilis
gamo ki - gmadlob. movaxsene mas amis
Taobaze. Cemi pirveli werili misi Txovnis
Sesaxeb, rogorc Cans, kandelakma ukve
miiRo, radgan gudiaSvilma miiRo ustari
erTi mxatvrisgan, rom ganaTlebis saxalxo
komisariatSi saubrobdnen masa da misi
mxatvrobis Sefasebaze. da Tu Seni werilic
moaxdens gavlenas, raRac gamova. Ria baraTi,
romelic Sens das gamovugzavne, notr-damze
aris qimera `moazrovne. gaxsovs aldanovis
wigni? Tumca aris didebi da ukeTesebi.
movZebni da gamogigzavni.
janmrTelad iyavi, nu buzRuneb da nu
damiviwyeb.
Seni nikolozi
write a better poem than this one. This is my opinion. It may
be subjective, but it was my opinion that you were interested
in.
Thank you very much for sending the newspapers.
I have received them. I read them with interest but I must
say that there is not a single line of text that is alive. I
think Orakhvelashvili is the cleverest communist throughout
the Caucasia. His report was very good. Although
some of his articles are not signed I recognize his style.
Robakidze quarreled with somebody. The Rubikon No.
6 has been published. A party has been organized. I have
read Besos article about Zaliko. It was not bad but it was
badly composed. Mikhailov wrote about petroleum. He
got the book World fght for petroleum. He published it in
literary style and signed his name. Its interesting I will
send the book to you. Overall I enjoyed the newspapers.
I have received the one you promised by post. I want
the newspapers to be sent to me. I will return them, just
send them to me. Keep the materials. I have made a
mess of the newspapers. I am sorting them and I will then
send them back. Thanks for Gudiashvili. I have informed
him. I think Kandelaki have received my letter about him
because Gudiashvili received a letter. According to the
letter, Gudiashvili and his work was a topic at the Peoples
Commissariat of Education. I have sent a post-card to your
sister with a photo of a chimera in the Notre Dame. Do you
remember the book by Aldamov? Here are bigger and better
ones. I will fnd and send them to you.
Be healthy, dont complain, and dont forget me.
Yours Nikoloz

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nikolo miwiSvili Tbilisi, 14/IX-34 w.
plexanovis prospeqti 50
tel. 23-99

saqarTvelos komunisturi partiis
centralur komitets
amx. l. p. berias,
l. s. aRniaSvils

pativcemulo amxanagebo!
manam, vidre sabolood uars
vityode yovelgvar literaturul da
sazogadoebriv-politikur muSaobaze,
riTac bolo 14 wlis ganmavlobaSi
aqtiurad viyavi dakavebuli, minda
gadmogceT es dokumenti da gagacnoT
mizezebi, romelTa gamoc iZulebuli
var, miviRo CemTvis esoden rTuli
gadawyvetileba.
ra Tqma unda, SemeZlo ar damewera es
werili ck-s saxelze da ubralod ganze
vmdgariyavi.
magram TqvenTvis cnobilia, rom
saqarTvelos literaturul da
sazogadoebriv cxovrebaSi SemTxveviTi
adamiani ar var da es dokumenti ar unda
ganixiloT, rogorc erTi adamianis piradi
sakiTxi.
amx. miwiSvili xom im ramdenime
mweralTa Sorisaa, romlebic 1921 wels,
sabWoTa mTavrobis mosvlis pirvelive
dReebSi gamoCndnen. da rogorc unda
akninebdnen mis moRvaweobas, faqtia,
rom man didi Sroma gaswia xelovnebis
im dawesebulebaTa organizaciuli
formebis CamoyalibebaSi, romlebsac im
dros saqarTvelos ganaTlebis saxalxo
komisariati qmnida.
miwiSvili erTaderTi mwerali iyo
da albaT erTaderTi qarTveli, romelic
menSevikebisa da safrangeTis oxrankis
teroris qveS, or weliwads TavgamodebiT
ibrZoda emigraciis winaaRmdeg, riTac
yoveldRiurad sasworze debda sakuTar
sicocxles, da es im dros, rodesac
zogierTi moduri mwerali bolSevikTa
tyveobisgan Tavis daRwevaze fiqrobda
da patrioti meSCanebisa da filisterTa
winaSe aZagebda da lanZRavda mas.
sayovelTaodaa cnobili mkvlelobebis,
cemisa da dapatimrebaTa, cixeebisa da
gadasaxlebebis is atmosfero, romelSic
mweral miwiSvils evropaSi uxdeboda
muSaoba. miuxedavad imisa, rom partiis
winaSe araviTari valdebuleba ar gaaCnda,
sabWoTa saqarTvelos mtrebs ebrZoda
kalmiTac, sityviTac da moqmedebiTac.
Nikolo Mitsishvili
Tbilisi, 14/IX-1934
Tbilisi, Plekhanov Avenue 50
Tel.: 23-99
To the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Georgia
To Comrades L. P. Beria and L.S. Aghniashvili
Dear friends!
Although I have been involved in literary, public and
political activities for the last 14 years I must give them up.
Now I want to give you these documents and tell you the
reasons for my decision.
Of course, it was not necessary to write this letter in the
name of the Central Committee.
As you know, I am an important fgure literary and
public fgure. For this reason, this document must not be
reviewed as one persons private case.
Comrade Mitsishvili is among those writers who
appeared in 1921 when the Soviet government came to
power. Although his work is harshly criticized now, it is a fact
that he made a great contribution to forming those artistic
institutions that were created by the Georgian Peoples
Commissariat of Education.
Mitsishvili was the only writer, and perhaps the only
Georgian, who did not emigrate for two years under the
terror of Mensheviks and French Okhranki. His life was
daily under great risk. It was a time when some popular
writers thought how to free themselves from Bolshevik
captivity.
Everyone knows how people were executed, beaten,
detained or exiled. Mitsishvili also had to work in a very
diffcult atmosphere in Europe. Although he did not have
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Znelia samSoblosa da evropaSi
antisabWoTa Zalebis winaaRmdeg brZolis
istoriidan miwiSvilis saxelis amoSla,
radgan amas mowmobs
mravali dokumenti, maT Soris
mis mier parizSi dafuZnebuli gazeTi
da organizaciebi, misi wignebi da
publicisturi statiebi.
saqarTvelos sabWoTa sazogadoebas
kargad moexseneba, rom man sakuTari
Semoqmedebis dazaralebis fasad bolo
aT weliwads udidesi Sroma gaswia
saqarTvelos sagamomcemlo saqmeSi, xolo
saqarTvelos mweralTa kavSiris istorias
kargad axsovs igi, rogorc erT-erTi
aqtiuri Semoqmedi, romelsac arafriT
Seurcxvenia Tavisi, rogorc mwerlisa da
sazogado moRvawis saxeli da romelic
yovelTvis cdilobda Cveni literaturuli
Zalebis konsolidacias da partiasa da
xelisuflebasTan mis daaxloebas.
mweral miwiSvilis literaturul
gamosvlebTan dakavSirebiT SeiZleba
iTqvas, rom am wlebis ganmavlobaSi,
literaturul presasa da kritikaze
dayrdnobiT, Zneli araa darwmunde, rom
igi qarTuli sazogadoebis sakmaod
mravalricxovani nawilis saerTo
ganwyobilebas gamoxatavda. man Cvens
literaturaSi Taviseburi originaluri
Tematika Camoayaliba da, rogorc mxatvrul
prozaSi, aseve leqsebsa da literaturul-
publicistur statiebSi, werilis axali
Janri Seqmna.
cnobilia, rom mweral miwiSvils
sabWoTa qarTul literaturaSi am
mdgomareobisTvis arc Tavisi warmosadegi
garegnobiTa da rixiani xmiT da arc
imereTis tolumbaSis pirferuli da
farisevluri fandebiT ar miuRwevia. mas
arasodes uwuwunia da dauCivlia mTavrobis
warmomadgenlebTan, mis melans arasodes
asdioda Rvinis surneli, misi samuSao
magida Sromisa da fiqris TavSesafari iyo
da ara duqnis daxli ZmabiWuri garTobisa
da mxiarulebisTvis, isic literaturis
xarjze.
misTvis yovelTvis ucxo iyo
mliqvneloba da pirmoTneoba, Tvisebebi,
romlebsac am bolo dros zogierTi
avtoritetuli piri esoden didad afasebs.
igi arasodes Ralatobda Tavis rwmenas
da TanamoazreebTan arasodes eweoda
spekulacias ojaxuri problemebiTac
ki. sabWoTa xelisuflebis mier sisxlis
samarTlis kodeqsis arcerTi muxlis
mixedviT ar yofila nasamarTlevi,
ar gauyalbebia aravis xelmowera da
any responsibility to the party, he fought against the
enemies of the Georgian SSR with pen, words and actions.
It is impossible to remove Mitsishvili from the list of those
persons who fought against the anti-Soviet forces in Georgia
and Europe. Many documents tell about his activities. He
formed a newspaper and institutions in Paris, published
many books and articles.
The Soviet people know very well that he had been
involved in publishing for ten years. He is known as one of
the most active writer in the history of the Georgian Writers
Union. He had never known failure as a writer and public
fgure. He always tried to consolidate literary forces and to
connect the with the party and government.
According to the literary press and critics, the writer
Mitsishvili expressed the general ideas of the Georgian
society. He formed a new style of writing in prose and in
poetry. He reached his position in Soviet literature neither
with his appearance and pretty voice nor with blarney.
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Tamasuqi. masze veravin ityvis, antisabWoTa
SeTqmulebis gamo ijda da Semdgom xels
arTmevda im adamianebis mamebsa da Zmebs,
romlebsac sakuTari tyavis gadarCenisTvis
uRalatao.
amas xazs imitom vusvam, rom es
sulmdabluri Tvisebani bolo dros
Zalian dafasebuli da kultivirebulia
im mweralTa wreebSi, romlebic Cveni
literaturis beds ganageben da aviwydebaT
is Rirsebebi, romlebic yvela dros
amSvenebda poetebsa da moqalaqeebs
da romlebisTvisac mweral miwiSvils
arasodes uRalatia.
marTalia, zogierTTaTvis igi
garkveulwilad miuRebeli gaxldaT,
ramdenadac miiswrafoda, amaRlebuliyo
yovelgvar simdableze - literaturul
wreebSi Camjdari zogierTi usaqmurisa
da Worikanas Wkuanaklulobasa da
gonebaClungobaze, - cdilobda arasodes
emoqmeda vinmes karnaxiT, arasodes gaevlo
sxvis Wkuaze an esaubra sxvisi sityvebiT
da a.S. cdilobda daecva sakuTari Rirseba
da xSirad delikaturad, magram mainc
arqmevda yvelafers sakadris saxels.
mas ar dauweria arcerTi striqoni,
ar gamouTqvams arcerTi fraza, romlis
mixedviTac ifiqrebdi, mteri yofilao: igi
iyo, aris da darCeba sabWoTa adamianad,
miuxedavad axali don bazalioebisa
da tartiufebis qirqilisa, romlebic
moqmedeben Zveli da araoriginaluri
formuliT: ,,ciliswameba ukvalod ar
Caivlis, raRac mainc darCeba.
poet miwiSvils, aseTi mdabio saqmeebis
fonze, sakuTari Tavi bevrad Rirseulad
miaCnia da kmayofildeba Tavisi saflavis
warmosaxviT, Tu rogor pativs miageben mas
momavali Taobebi.
es arc lirikaa da arc fraza, aramed
cxovrebaa adamianisa, romelic Seguebulia
imas, rom mxars dauWeren, magram ar
ganadideben.
arasodes viRvwodi metisken, magram
is ,,sargebeli, rasac am bolo dros
mTavazoben, raskolnikovis sityvebs Tu
gavimeoreb, iZulebuli var, mokrZalebiT
davubruno maTve. qvemore swored maTze
meqneba saubari.
1932 wels ck-m damawinaura da mweralTa
kavSiris Tavmjdomaris moadgiled
damniSna. TvalebSi aravis veCxirebodi da
arc Cemi samuSaos sfero gaukicxavs vinmes,
yovel SemTxvevaSi, me ar msmenia.
bolo dros mweralTa kavSirSi samma
reorganizaciam gadaiara Cem Tavze. rogorc
Cans, TavmjdomarisTvis arasasurveli
He never complained about the representatives of the
government, and his pen had never smelled of wine. His
working table was a shelter for his thoughts.
He always followed his faith and never speculated
with his domestic problems. He had never been questioned
by the soviet authorities, never falsifed a signature or a
promissory note. Nobody can say that he was imprisoned for
anti-Soviet conspiracy.
I outlined this fact because it is very spread among the
writers. Mitsishvili was not among those writers who forgot
worthy characteristics.
He was unacceptable for many writers in literary circles
because he tried not to act on others instructions or to speak
using others words. He tried to defend his own dignity and
he often gave everything appropriate names.
He did not write anything that would make one think he
was an enemy. He was, is, and will be a Soviet man despite
the giggling of the new Bazanions and Tartiuphs. These
people follow the principle of Slander will leave its trace.
The writer Mitsishvili considered himself to be worthier
that those persons. He believed that future generations
would respect him.
It is neither lyrics nor praise. It is life of a man who is
used to the idea that he will not obtain fame and glory but he
will be supported.
I have never wanted something more. I have to return
back everything that I am offered.
In 1932 I was promoted and appointed as the deputy
chairman of the Writers Union by the Cheka. I did not
obstruct anybody and therefore nobody criticized my work. In
any case, I did not hear any rumors about it.
I have presented the reorganization of the Writers
Union three times. I was not appointed to the position of
chairman because I could not talk the necessary nonsense.
114
viyavi, radgan pirferoba da laquci ar
SemeZlo.
pirveli reorganizaciisas moadgilis
nacvlad, mdivnad gamiSves. araferi
SevimCnie, muSaobis tempi ar damigdia,
TiTqos arc araferi momxdariyos.
kvlav reorganizacia... amx. demetraZis
moadgiled mniSnaven... am adamianze araferi
maqvs saTqmeli, radgan, rogorc frangebi
amboben: arafrisgan araferi gamodis.
me mainc vagrZeleb da kidev ufro
vaZliereb gulmodgine muSaobas.
amomSales sruliad sakavSiro
yrilobis delegatTa siidan, magram
radganac sazogadoebis winaSe adamianis
mimarT aseTi Seuracxmyofeli qmedebis
gamarTleba Znelia, kvlav Camsves.
mTeli qalaqi laparakobs Cveni
Tavmjdomarisadmi amx. stalinis
direqtivebTan dakavSirebiT. sxvaTa Soris,
am direqtivebis Sesaxeb xmebi trialebda
moskovSic, Cveni Tavmjdomaris zogierTi
gulmodgine TanaSemwis mier. magram es
kidev sxva saqmea.
qarTuli literaturis Sesaxeb
moxsenebisTvis TbilisSi iwveven
literaturis ase Tu ise mcodne yovel
adamians. iwyeba raRac viqtorina.
monawileobaze usityvod meubnebian uars.
arafers vimCnev.
magram ukve aRar mesalmeba Sefi. arc
ki ixedeba Cem mxares. ra Tqma unda, arc me
vcdilob misi kuSti mzeris mipyrobas.
moskovSi miemgzavreba narCevi
sazogadoeba javaxiSvili, iaSvili,
JRenti, demetraZe (romelic bolos,
ojaxuri pirobebis gamo, ver wavida).
me ki, rogorc ubileTo, momisroles,
arada moskovSi swored saCemo saqmea. saqme,
romelic menatreba.
bolos da bolos, delegaciasTan
erTad mec mivemgzavrebi moskovSi. magram
aravin mixsnis, ras warmovadgen delegatebs
Soris, erTi sityviTac aravin arafers
marigebs, instruqcias ar macnobs.
moskovSi Tavmjdomarem arc
ki momismina, mis da orgkomitetis
mier daviwyebulebi rogor viyaviT
dayudebulebi kurskis sadgurSi or saaTze
metxans. arc is ikiTxa, rogor CavediT, sad,
rogor movewyeT da a.S. Tavmjdomares jer
kidev TbilisSi warvudgine werilobiTi
moxseneba imis Taobaze, Tu ra saqmeebis
gakeTeba mogviwevda moskovSi, romel
komisiebSi gadanawildeboda delegacia,
rogor mogvardeboda presis sakiTxi
moskovSi, TbilisSi da sxv. magram
uSedegod.
During the frst reorganization I was appointed to the position
of secretary and I continued working as I had before.
During the second reorganization I was appointed as
deputy to Comrade Demetradze. I cant say anything about
this man. As the saying goes, If you cant say something
nice, better not to say anything at all.
I continued working even harder.
Later, I was removed from the list of delegates of All-
Union Congress. But they could not explain their behavior to
the public and I was put back in the list.
There were rumors about Stalins instructions to our
chairman. Moscow also talked about these instructions.
The literary fgures were invited to Tbilisi to make a
report on Georgian literature. A special contest was held but I
was refused to participate in it. I did not express my protest.
The boss stopped greeting me. He did not even look at
me. Of course, I did not try to attract his attention.
The chosen ones went to Moscow. Among them were:
Javakhishvili, Iashvili, Zhghenti and Demetradze, who was
not able to go because of personal issues.
Although there was important business for me in
Moscow I was not given a ticket.
Finally, I went to Moscow with the delegation. But I
was not told my role among the other delegates. I was not
instructed how to behave.
The chairman did not listen to me in Moscow when I
tried to tell him how I had been waiting for them in the station
for more than two hours. He did not ask me how I got there
and how I had settled in. I reported the chairman in Tbilisi
the following issues: what we should do in Moscow; in which
commissions the delegates would be distributed; and how
the issue of the press should be dealt with in Moscow and
Tbilisi. But he did not pay any attention to me.
The delegates began chatting and whispering. They
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amis Sesaxeb moskovSic vTqvi, Tumca
araviTari yuradReba.
vxedav, rogor nawildeba delegacia.
iwyeba Woraoba, CurCuli, dabezReba. midis
saqmeebis garCeva da ixlarTeba intrigebis,
tyuilebisa da ciliswamebaTa qseli.
am yvelafrisgan CamoSorebuli var.
erTaderTi, rac damrCenia, isaa, rom
Rirseulad daviWiro Tavi.
ganze vdgavar. vicdi, damiZaxeben Tu
ara, magram amaod.
vici, rom Tavmjdomares gaexardeba
Cemi marcxi da mliqvneli misi maameblebi
swored amas cdiloben, borotad xumroben
Cems vizitebze ck-Si, skp (b)-Si ( (),
kaganoviCis, miqoianis Sesaxeb.
Semdeg aRmoCnda, rom Turme
es yvelaferi sisulelea, magram
`ciliswamebisgan raRac mainc rCeba.
CemiT ukmayofiloni arian, radgan
gamosvla piradad TavmjdomaresTan ar
SevaTanxme da es ukmayofilebac usafuZvlo
iyo: roca Tavmjdomare t. demetraZis
ndobiT aRWurvili piri, misive davalebiT,
p. qiqoZesTan erTad winaswar kiTxulobda
Cems moxsenebas, masSi am dros Sevitane
garkveuli cvlilebebi.
ufro metic amiT guldawyvetilma,
es moxseneba winaswar gadaveci sxdomis
prezidiums - amx. pavlenkosa da tixonovis
xelmZRvanelobiT. roca maT mier
Sesworebuli moxseneba damibrunda, me is
wavikiTxe sxdomaze, romelsac pavlenko
Tavmjdomareobda.
rac ufro vizRvevdi Tavs SesaZlo
marcxisa da Secdomebisgan, miT meti
siZlieriT ,,muSaobda zogierTi
amxanagi, romlebic, vfiqrob, delegeciis
xelmZRvanel pirTa TanxmobiTa da
miTiTebiT moqmedebdnen.
cnobili sityvebi maxsendeba: momeciT
adamianis mier dawerili erTi striqoni
mainc da me mas saxrCobelamde miviyvan.
Cemi moxseneba daaxloebiT eqvsas
striqons Seicavda da sulac araa saWiro
iyo cnobili, nebismieri mTavrobis drosaa
SesaZlebeli adamianis ukidures zomamde
miyvana.
Cemi Tavmjdomare yovelmxriv cdilobda
Cems moxsenebaSi Secdomebis povnas.
magram centraluri organoebis,
rogorebicaa `pravda, `izvestia, `tass
da sxv. dadebiTma komentarebma sruliad
gadafara am gulRrZoTa damokidebuleba.
amitom gaavrceles versia, TiTqos
redaqciebSi gavleniani pirebi myavs, rom
viRac mexmareba da kidev sxva sisuleleebi.
arcerT redaqciaSi fexi ar Semidgams,
stepped into a web of intrigue. I was not involved in these
activities. The only thing I could do was to bear everything
with dignity. I vainly waited for their summons. I knew that the
chairman would be happy with my failure. His followers told
him about my visits to the Cheka and the Communist Party
about Kaganovich and Mikoyan.
They were angry at me because I did not address my
speech to the chairman. When Chairman Demetradzes
attorney read my report with P. Kikodze, I made some
changes to it.
I gave my report before I delivered it to the presidium
chaired by ComradeS Pavlenko and Tikhonov. I read my
report with their corrections.
I did my best to take preventive measures and not to
make any mistakes, but some friends were instructed to lay
traps for me.
I remember the following famous phrase: Give me
even one line someone has written and I will use it to lead
him to the guillotine
The chairman tried to fnd errors in my report, but he
could not resist the positive reviews in Pravda, Izvestya
and TASS. For this reason, rumors were spread that I had
important friends in the press.
I didnt go to any of the editorial offces, even though
other delegates made their best to get positive appraisals in
the press.
I saw somebody making a list of saints and non-
saints. An evening of Georgian poetry was held at which the
best poems were read aloud. But it was the work of only
two poets.
My chief ordered Comrade Zhghenti to criticize me
at the Congress for my mistakes. They had no basis to
consider me a political criminal.
Noteworthy was the election of Iashvili. A good satirist
116
presis arcerT TanamSromelTan am Temaze
ar misaubria, magram kargad vxedavdi,
rogor amuSavebdnen saqarTvelos
delegaciis zogierTi, skandalurad
,,Cavardnili oratoris haeriviT cariel
moxsenebebs, Tu rogor gadaiqceoda
samwuxaro aplodismentebi meore dRes
presis furclebze aRfrTovanebis `mquxare
ovaciebad da a.S.
Cem winaSe viTardeboda arasasiamovno
scenebi, Tu rogor adgenda viRac
`wmindaTa da `arawmindaTa siebs, rogor
pirferobda rigi avtorebisa da rogor
aZevebdnen Canawerebidan Cems saxels.
aseve, gaimarTa qarTuli poeziis saRamo,
sadac waikiTxes `yvelaferi saukeTeso
qarTuli poeziidan, Tumca es ori poetis
Semoqmedeba ufro iyo.
Cemma ufrosma amx. JRents daavala,
sxdomaze gaveTaTxe Cemi `Secdomebis gamo,
radgan xedavdnen, rom sxva xelCasaWidi
aRaraferi gaaCndaT, risi wyalobiTac
CamZiravdnen da TbilisSi politikur
damnaSaved Camomiyvandnen.
ar SevCerdebi bevr detalze, marto
iaSvilis arCevnebi rad Rirs. am scenidan
aqamde yvelasgan miviwyebuli satirikosi
eSmaki Sedevrs Seqmnida.
nuravin ifiqrebs, TiTqos Cven,
mwerlebi dakodili cxvrebis fara viyoT
da Tavmjdomares ufleba hqondes, Tavisi
survilis mixedviT daklas, vinc surs da
roca surs. Cemi dakvlac SeiZleba, magram
ara petela da miT umetes, dakodili
cxvariviT.
literaturaSi arc kooperatividan da
arc ormocdaTxuTmeti wlisa movsulvar.
TiTqmis oci welia mas vwirav sulsa da
nervebs. literatura Cemi sicocxlea da
ara Tanamdebobrivi saqme.
Tanamdebobas davTmob, magram
sicocxlisTvis vibrZoleb.
literatura memkvidreoba ar aris da,
vgoneb, axla yvela Tqvenganis mosazrebas
gamovTqvam. am koleqtivis adamianebis
xelmZRvaneli ar unda amcirebdes maT, ar
unda uwyobdes xels maT `Cavardnas, ar
unda uxarodes maTi Secdomebi, aramed
unda exmarebodes, amSvidebdes, axarebdes.
gawonasworebul, mSvid da sakmaod
Tavmdabal adamianad mimiCneven da Tqven,
Cemi werilis kiTxvisas, mixvdebiT, ratomaa
igi aseTi xisti.
rogor viyo mSvidad, roca
giliotinasTan mimaTreven da surT,
momaWran ara Tavi, aramed suli da ocneba
mxolod imitom, rom Cemi xelmZRvaneloba,
an misi meuRle ver mitans.
would have made a masterpiece of this story.
Dont think that the writers are wounded sheep and
that the chairman has the right to slaughter us whenever he
wishes.
I came to literature neither from a co-operative nor at
the age of 55. I have been writing for 20 years. Literature
is my life and not just my occupation. I will give up an
occupation but I will fght for my life.
Everybody will agree that literature cant be inherited.
Its chairman should not have supported the failure of any
writer. He should not be happy about others mistakes. On
the contrary, he should support them and make them happy.
I am a calm and modest man. But I think you will
understand why my letter is so harsh. How can I be calm
when I see that they want to kill my soul and my dreams, just
because my chief and his wife hate me?
Here is a transcript of my speech. Please, read it.
As I mentioned, it had gone through censorship three
times. It was approved by the central publishing-house
and was considered to be the best report throughout the
Transcaucasus.
I also want to explain everything I have been accused
of. Perhaps I have arguments and I will be able to save
myself. I think you wont be opposed to this.
I have been accused of complaining to Comrade Beria
about Iashvili. But I must say that I have met Beria only
twice, frst time in 1927 and the second time this year in May.
Maybe you dont believe me, but Comrade Beria knows
that I am right. I have never spoken with him about Iashvili
and about new authorities in the Cheka. It is as stupid as the
myth about Kaganovich.
At the beginning of this year I met Comrade
Aghniashvili and we talked about Georgian writers. Talking
about Iashvili I said He is a talented writer but he has many
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ai, Cemi gamosvlis stenograma. gTxovT,
gaecnoT. rogorc ukve mogaxseneT, man
samjeradi cenzura gaiara. is dadebiTad
Sefasda centralur gamomcemlobaSi da
mTelma rigma adamianebma aRiares rogorc
amierkavkasielTa Soris saukeTeso
gamosvla.
xolo rac Seexeba danarCens, rasac
Cemze saubroben, minda vTqva: radgan saqme
iqamde mivida, rom Tqveni ganxilvis sagani
gavxdi, ukeTesi xom ar iqneboda Tavadve
meTqva, rom Cemi gasamarTleba da dasja
gsurT. iqneb aRmomaCndes argumentebi da
SevZlo bralis acileba. es, Cemi azriT, ar
gewyinebaT, piriqiT, adamians unda daexmaro
gaWirvebidan Tavis daRwevaSi da ara - hkra
xeli da xevSi gadaagdo.
aqve minda aRvniSno, rom moarul xmebs
imis Sesaxeb, TiTqos me amx. berias winaSe
amx. iaSvilTan dakavSirebiT araloialur
rols vTamaSobdi, is faqtic aqarwylebs,
rom amx. berias cxovrebaSi orjer Sevxvdi
erTxel 1927 wels, meored ki wels,
maisSi.
SegiZliaT ar damijeroT, magram amx.
beriam xom kargad uwyis, rom masTan
iaSvilis Sesaxeb arasodes misaubria,
miT umetes iaSvilisa da ck-s axali
xelmZRvanelobis mtrobis sakiTxze.
es iseTive sisulelea, rogorc miTi
kaganoviCis Sesaxeb da a.S.
SegaxsenebT, rom am wlis dasawyisSi,
amx. aRniaSvilTan Sexvedrisas, roca
igi, qarTvel mwerlebze saubrisas, amx.
iaSvilsac Seexo, me namdvilad gamovTqvi
sakuTari azri da ai rogori formiT:
`es niWieri adamiani, pirad garemoebaTa
gauaresebis gamo, CamoSorda literaturas
da yvelaferi unda viRonoT mis
dasabruneblad.
Cemi azriT, patiosnad viqceodi, amas
rom vambobdi, da SeuZlebelia am sityvebSi
vinmes Seuracxmyofeli rame ipovo.
aseTive pativiscemiT vsaubrobdi sxva
mwerlebzec, viszec ki sityva Camovarda.
ukve yvelaferi vTqvi. yovelive aman Cem
Tavze gadaiara da, vgoneb, cota araa.
davasruleb imiT, riTic daviwye:
am rTul viTarebaSi sxva araferi
damrCenia, rom ganze gavdge.
ramdenadac partiisa da sakuTari
Semoqmedebis winaSe Tavs udanaSaulod
vgrZnob, miT ufro mSvidad var.
Tu Cems simarTleSi Tqvens darwmunebas
SevZleb, es aRar amaRelvebs, radgan
orjer araferi iwvis.
amxanaguri salmiT
n. miwiSvili
private problems and he had to withdraw from literature.
We must do our best to make him return. I think there was
nothing insulting in my words.
I spoke with respect about the other writers as well. I
have written everything I wanted. I think its enough.
Now I have to be in the shade. I am not worrying
because I know that I am justifed before the Party and
before myself. Thus, it is less important to me whether you
will believe me or not.
With regards,
N. Mitsishvili
Three copies of this letter were prepared, for Comrades
Beria and Aghniashvili and for my private archive. Nobody
has read it, and I typed it myself. I wont send it to comrade
Toroshelidze as I know that he will be informed about it.
N. M.
Double copy
Secret
Copy No.6
Assert
Chief Military Prosecutor
General-Mayor (E. Varskoy)
March 1956
The Military Colleague of the USSR Supreme Court
Resolution
The case of Nikoloz Mitsishvili (son of Ioseb)
March 1956 Tbilisi
On the basis of the discussion of Nikoloz Ioseb dze
Mitsishvilis case, No. 969430, Assistant Military Prosecutor
Lt. Colonel Berdzenishvili
118
es werili sam egzemplaradaa
dabeWdili: amx. beriasTvis, amx.
aRniaSvilisa da Cemi arqivisTvis. igi
aravis waukiTxavs, piradad me davbeWde.
da radgan mimaCnia, rom amx. toroSeliZes
acnobeben am werilis Sesaxeb zedmet
egzemplars mas aRar vugzavni.
n. m.
aslis asli
saidumlo
egz. #6
`vamtkiceb
mTavari samxedro prokurori
iusticiis general-maiori
(e. varskoi)
... marti 1956 weli

ssr kavSiris umaRlesi sasamarTlos
samxedro kolegias
daskvna
nikoloz iosebis Ze miwiSvilis
saqmesTan dakavSirebiT
`..... marti 1956 weli q. Tbilisi

samxedro prokuroris TanaSemwem
specialuri gansjadobis saqmeebze,
iusticiis vice-polkovnikma berZeniSvilma
nikoloz iosebis Ze miwiSvilis saarqivo-
sagamoZiebo saqme #-969430-is ganxilvis
Sedegad
daadgina:
1937 wlis 12 ivliss ssr kavSiris
umaRlesi sasamarTlos samxedro kolegiis
gamsvleli sesiis mier saqarTvelos ssr
sisxlis samarTlis kodeqsis 58-I a, 58-
7, 58-8 da 58-II muxlebis mixedviT miesaja
sasjelis umaRlesi zoma, piradi qonebis
konfiskaciiT, - nikoloz iosebis Ze
miwiSvils, dab. 1896 wels, quTaisis raionis
sofel jvarisaSi. mcxov. q. TbilisSi,
qarTveli, ssrk-s moqalaqe, upartio,
saSualo ganaTlebiT. mwerali-poeti,
dapatimrebisas muSaobda gamomcemloba
zaria vostokas mxatvruli literaturis
ganyofilebis gamged.
ganaCenis mixedviT, miwiSvils
bralad edeba antisabWoTa faSistur-
nacionalisturi organizaciis wevroba.
1923 wels miwiSvili parizSi daukavSirda
menSevikuri emigraciis Tavmjdomare noe
Jordanias, romlisganac miiRo miTiTeba
sabWoTa kavSirSi kontrrevoluciuri
saqmianobis ganxorcielebis Sesaxeb. 1924
wels miwiSvili jaSuSebis, qarumiZisa da
pirumovis meSveobiT, daukavSirda erT-
Concluded:
On the bases of Articles 58-I A, 58-7, 58-8 and 58-II
the accused was sentenced to the death penalty with the
confscation of his property by the resolution passed by the
Military Colleague of the USSR Supreme Court on July 12,
1937.
Nikoloz (son of Ioseb) Mitsishvili was born in 1896,
in the village of Jvarisa, Kutaisi Region. Living in Tbilisi,
nationality Georgian, citizenship the USSR, non-party,
with secondary education, profession writer and poet, he
was a head of the fction section of the publishing-house
Zarya Vostok.
According to the verdict, Mitsishvili was accused of
being a member of an anti-Soviet, fascist and nationalist
organization. In 1923 he got in touch with Noe Zhordania,
the head of Menshevik emigration in Paris, who instructed
him to carry out counter revolutionary activities in the Soviet
Union. In 1924 Mitsishvili, through the agents Karumidze and
Pirumov, make contact with the secret service of a foreign
country. They provided this secret service with political and
economic secrets. When he came back to Georgia Mitsishvili
took part in organizing a literary and counter revolutionary,
fascist and nationalist group. He was one of its leaders.
In 1933 he joined the anti-Soviet center in Georgia. The
Trotskyist and terrorist Gasviani instructed him to prepare for
an act of sabotage.
In 1929 the accused, Mitsishvili, cooperated with a
foreign secret service and committed espionage activities
until he was detained.
Mitsishvili was arrested and tried on the basis of
testimonies given by Lidia Gasviani, Budu Mdivani, Archil
Mikadze, Davit Tsereteli and Pavle Sakvarelidze. They
openly or indirectly confrmed Mitsishvilis cooperation
with counter revolutionary organizations and his counter
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erTi ucxouri qveynis dazvervas, romelsac
awvdida politikuri da ekonomikuri
xasiaTis saidumlo cnobebs. saqarTveloSi
dabrunebisas miwiSvilma monawileoba
miiRo literatorTa kontrrevoluciur,
faSistur-nacionalisturi dajgufebis
CamoyalibebaSi da misi erT-erTi
xelmZRvanelic gaxda. 1933 wels
daukavSirda saqarTvelos antisabWoTa
centrs da trockist-terorist gasvianisgan
miiRo miTiTeba, daewyoT teroristul-
diversiuli aqtebisTvis mzadeba.
1929 wels msjavrdebuli miwiSvili
kvlav iqna gadabirebuli sxva ucxouri
dazvervis mier da dapatimrebamde
asrulebda mTel rig jaSuSur davalebebs.
miwiSvilis dapatimrebasa da
gasamarTlebas safuZvlad daedo sxva
msjavrdebulTa: lidia gasvianis, budu
mdivnis, arCil miqaZis, daviT wereTlis,
pavle sayvareliZis Cvenebebi, romlebic
pirdapir Tu iribad adasturebdnen
miwiSvilis kavSirs kontrrevoluciur
organizaciasTan da mis kontrrevoluciur
saqmianobas.
1937 wlis 14 ivniss dakiTxvaze
miwiSvilma ganacxada, rom is,
antisabWourad ganwyobili, 1922 wels
emigraciaSi wavida jer konstantinopolSi,
Semdeg ki parizSi. parizSi yofnisas
daukavSirda menSevik emigrantebs da
awvdida maT jaSuSuri xasiaTis cnobebs
sabWoTa kavSiris, kerZod ki sabWoTa
saqarTvelos Sesaxeb.
1925 wels saqarTveloSi dabrunebuli
miwiSvili daukavSirda nacionalisturad
ganwyobil mwerlebs, romlebic Sekrebilni
iyvnen mixeil javaxiSvilisa da qarTvel
literatorTa kontrrevoluciuri jgufis,
cisferyanwelebis organizatorTa
garSemo. jgufis, romelic gadaizarda
aralegalur kontrrevoluciur faSistur
organizaciad.
am kontrrevoluciur-faSistur
nacionalisturi organizaciis wevrebad
miwiSvilma daasaxela: mixeil javaxiSvili,
tician tabiZe, arCil miqaZe, giorgi
leoniZe, konstantine gamsaxurdia, paolo
iaSvili, iakinTe lisaSvili, petre
samsonaZe, levan asaTiani, leo qiaCeli,
daviT wereTeli, baron bibineiSvili da
sakuTari Tavi.
am organizaciis umTavres
amocanas, miwiSvilis CvenebiT, sabWoTa
xelisuflebis damxoba da saqarTvelos
,,damoukidebeli saxelmwifos damyareba
warmoadgenda.
miwiSvilma CvenebaSi aRniSna, rom
revolutionary activity.
On June 14, 1937, Mitsishvili declared at his
examination that in 1922 emigrated frt to Constantinople and
then to Paris. There he contacted Menshevik migrs and
supported them with intelligence about the Soviet Union and
specifcally about Georgia.
In 1925 Mitsishvili contacted nationalist writers who
were united around Mikheil Javakhishvili and the counter
revolutionary and literary group Tsisperqantselebi. Soon
this organization became an illegal, counter revolutionary
and fascist organization.
Mitsishvili named the following members of this counter
revolutionary organization: Mikheil Javakhishvili, Titsian
Tabidze, Archil Mikadze, Giorgi Leonidze, Konstantine
Gamsakhurdia, Paolo Iashvili, Iakinte Lisashvili, Petre
Samsonadze, Levan Asatiani, Leo Kiacheli, Davit Tsereteli,
Baron Bibineishvili and himself.
According to Mitsishvilis testimony, the major task of
the organization was to overthrow the Soviet government
and to establish an independent state of Georgia.
Mitsishvili said that the organization, through Lidia
Gasviani, cooperated with Trotskys center. Gasviani gave
instructions to commit acts of terrorism.
Afterwards, Mitsishvili named the following members
of Trotskys center: Budu Mdivani, Malakia Toroshelidze,
Vladimer Jikia, Levan Ghoghoberidze, Giorgi Kurulovi, Beso
Lomidze and Petre Aghniashvili.
According to Mitsishvili, he was a member of the
counter revolutionary group that was associated with the
counter revolutionary, fascist and terrorist organization
chaired by Sandro Akhmeteli, the former director of the
Georgian Drama Theater. He informed Mitsishvili about
the members of the organization. These were as follows:
Khorava, Vasadze, Apkhaidze and Pataridze. Mitsishvili
120
mis mier dasaxelebuli organizacia
kontrrevoluciurad iyo dakavSirebuli
saqarTvelos trockistul centrTan
lidia gasvianis meSveobiT, romelmac
gasca miTiTebebi teroristuli aqtebis
gansaxorcieleblad.
Semdeg miwiSvilma daasaxela
trockistuli centris misTvis cnobili
wevrebi: budu mdivani, malaqia toroSeliZe,
vladimer jiqia, levan RoRoberiZe,
giorgi qurulovi, beso lominaZe
da petre aRniaSvili, romelTagan
kontrrevoluciuri saqmianobiT piradad
levan RoRoberiZesTan iyo kavSirSi.
amave dakiTxvaze miwiSvilma aCvena,
rom kontrrevoluciuri organizacia,
romlis SemadgenlobaSic Tavad Sedioda,
mWidro kavSirSi iyo kontrrevoluciur-
faSistur teroristul jgufTan, romelsac
xelmZRvanelobda qarTuli dramatuli
Teatris yofili direqtori sandro
axmeteli. man swored am ukanasknelisgan
Seityo teroristuli dajgufebis wevrTa
Sesaxeb. eseni arian: xorava, vasaZe, afxaiZe
da patariZe. amis Taobaze miwiSvilma
Seatyobina pirumovs. igi jaSuSuri
saqmianobiT pirumovsa da arCil miqaZesTan
iyo dakavSirebuli.
1937 wlis 5 ivliss, morig dakiTxvaze
miwiSvilma analogiuri Cveneba misca da
Tan daamata, rom igi pirumovis meSveobiT
da piradad iyo kavSirSi somxeTSi
arsebul kontrrevoluciur-nacionalistur
organizaciasTan, romlis SemadgenlobaSic
Sediodnen somexi mwerlebi: Carenci,
makincini, erzixiani, ter-gabrieliani da
simoniani.
es Cvenebebi miwiSvilma sasamarTlo
procesze daadastura, romlis oqmSic
weria, rom Cvenebebs, romlebic mis mier
micemuli iyo winaswari gamoZiebis dros,
adasturebs da acxadebs, rom dasamatebeli
araferi aqvs, aqedan ki Cans, rom
sasamarTlos gamoZieba ar Cautarebia da
miwiSvilisa da mis saqmesTan dakavSirebiT
dakiTxul pirTa Cvenebebis Semowmeba ar
moundomebia.
saqmesTan dakavSirebuli Semowmebis
Sedegad dadginda:
1. miwiSvilis saqmes iZiebdnen
aw ukve mxilebuli xalxis mtrebi:
qobulovi, savicki da krimiani, romlebic
sagamoZiebo saqmeTa gayalbebis gziT
Jletdnen kompartiisa da sabWoTa
xelisuflebis erTgul da patiosan
kadrebs, dapatimrebulTa mimarT iyenebdnen
sabWoTa kanonebis mier umkacresad
akrZalul gamoZiebis danaSaulebriv
denounced Pirumov, with whom he had espionage
connections, as well as with Archil Mikadze.
On July 5, 1937, Mitsishvili was interrogated again. He
said that that through Pirumov he had connections with a
counter revolutionary and nationalist organization in Armenia
that included Charentsi, Makintsin, Erzikhian, Tergabrielian
and Simonian.
Mitsishvili confrmed his testimony at the trial. The court
did not investigate his testimony or that of other witnesses.
On the basis of the investigation the following was
concluded:
1. Mitsishvilis case was investigated by the current
enemies of people: Kobulov, Savitsky and Krimian. They
falsifed the cases and destroyed the members of the
Communist Party and Soviet authorities. Severe methods
were used against the detainees. They were accused of
counter revolutionary activities. Among these people who
were innocent but accused was N. I. Mitsishvili (Case
No.324);
2. From June 2, 1937 till July 6, 1937 Mitsishvili has
been interrogated six times. But only two testimonies were
documented offcially (see the notice of case No. 158-159);
3. Mitsishvili did not go abroad to commit counter
revolutionary activities. He was sent by the Soviet authorities
on a special mission. He performed his task very well.
(personal case fle, pp. 13, 223-225, 239-240, 265-270, 232-
302);
4. The organs of the Committee for State Security
co-existing with the USSR Council of Ministers did not
have anything against Mitsishvili except this criminal case
(personal case fle, pp. 156-157);
5. The accusation against Mitsishvili as if through
Pirumov he supported French secret service, is absolutely
dispersed by the document that are preserved in the Archive
121
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a
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i
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e
.
s
e
c
u
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i
t
y
.
g
o
v
.
g
e
meTodebs da amiT axdendnen teroristul
angariSsworebas patiosani sabWoTa xalxis
mimarT, uyenebdnen ra cru braldebebs
kontrrevoluciuri danaSaulis Cadenis
Sesaxeb. udanaSaulo dazaralebul pirebs
Soris unda miviCnioT n. i. miwiSvilic (p. s.
(piradi saqme) 324)
2. miwiSvili, dapatimrebis momentidan,
1937 wlis 2 ivnisidan 1937 wlis 6
ivlisamde, sagamoZiebo organoebis
mier dakiTxuli iqna 16-jer, Tumca misi
dakiTxvis oqmi gaformda mxolod 2-jer
(ixileT samimoxilvo cnoba cixis saqmesTan
dakavSirebiT p.s. 158-159)
3. miwiSvili sazRvargareT ar
gamgzavrebula kontrrevoluciuri
saqmianobis mizniT, piriqiT, miwiSvili
sazRvargareT gagzavnili iqna sabWoTa
xelisuflebis TanxmobiT sagangebo
davalebis Sesasruleblad, romelsac
kargad gaarTva Tavi (p.s. 13, 223-225, 239-240,
265-270, 232-302)
4. saqarTvelos ssr ministrTa
sabWosTan arsebul suk-is organoebs,
mimdinare sisxlis samarTlis saqmis garda,
miwiSvilis makompromentirebeli araviTari
monacemi ar gaaCnda (p. s. 156-157).
5. miwiSvilis mimarT wardgenili
braldeba, pirumovis meSveobiT safrangeTis
dazvervis sasargeblod jaSuSuri
saqmianobis Sesaxeb, srulebiT uaryofilia
centraluri arqivis mTavari saarqivo
sammarTvelos cnobiT imis Taobaze,
rom pirumovi sazRvargareT sabWoTa
xelisuflebis oficialuri warmomadgeneli
gaxldaT, asrulebda sagangebo davalebebs
da safrangeTis dazvervasTan misi kavSiris
Sesaxeb arqivs araviTari monacemi ar
gaaCnia (p.s. 155,325-327).
6. saqme imis Sesaxeb, rogorc
miwiSvilma aCvena, TiTqosda
kontrrevoluciur-faSisturi
nacionalisturi organizaciis wevrebi
iyvnen: mixeil javaxiSvili, tician
tabiZe, petre samsoniZe, sasamarTlo
organoebis mier Sewyvetili da srulebiT
reabilitirebulia (p. s. 194-230).
7. arCil miqaZis saqme, amierkavkasiis
samxedro olqis samxedro prokuroris
daskvniT, wardgenilia mTavar samxedro
prokuraturaSi miqaZis reabilitaciisTvis.
8. giorgi leoniZe, konstantine
gamsaxuria, iakinTe lisaSvili da
leo qiaCeli patimrobaSi arasodes
yofilan. maT dakiTxvaze ganacxades,
rom kontrrevoluciur organizacias
arasodes mimxrobian da miwiSvilis
kontrrevoluciuri saqmianobis Sesaxeb
Administration. According to this document, Pirumov was
an offcial representative of authorities. He followed special
instructions. There is nothing about his relations with French
secret service in the archive. (personal case fle, pp. 155,
325-327);
6. According to Mitsishvili the following persons
were members of counter revolutionary and fascist
organization: Mikheil Javakhishvili, Titsian Tabidze and Petre
Samsonadze. The cases against them were suspended and
they were rehabilitated (personal case fle, pp. 194-230);
7. According to the military prosecutor of the military
region of Transcaucasia, the case of Archil Mikadze was
submitted before the main military prosecutor offce for
Mikadzes rehabilitation;
8. Giorgi Leonidze, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia,
Iakinte Lisashvili and Leo Kiacheli have never been arrested.
According to their interrogations, they never supported
counter revolutionary organizations. They did not know
anything about Mitsishvilis counter revolutionary activities
(personal case fle, pp. 223-225, 233, 260-270, 275-276);
9. Levan Asatiani and Paolo Iashvili were not
arraigned. The former died on 15.05.55, and the latter
committed suicide in 1937 (personal case fle, pp. 191-193,
231-232);
10. Levan Ghoghoberidze and Amlik Tumaniani, who
were mentioned by Mitsishvili at the questioning, were
rehabilitated (personal case fle 194-195);
11. Alexandre Vasilis dze Akhmeteli and those who
were connected with his case were rehabilitated on February
11, 1956 by a resolution passed by the military colleague of
the USSR Supreme Court (personal case fle, pp. 223);
12. The following questioned persons: Khorava,
Vasadze, Apkhaidze and Pataridze fatly refused Mitsishvilis
allegation that they were members of terrorist organization.
122
maTTvis araferia cnobili (p. s. 223-225, 233,
260-270, 275-276).
9. levan asaTiani da paolo iaSvilic
ar iyvnen sisxlis samarTlis pasuxisgebaSi
micemulni, pirveli gardaicvala 15.05.55
wels, meorem ki 1937 wels TviTmkvlelobiT
daasrula sicocxle (p. s. 191-193, 231-232).
10. levan RoRoberiZe da amlik
Tumaniani, romlebic miwiSvilis
mier dakiTxvaze iqnen xsenebulni,
reabilitirebulni arian (p. s. 194-195)
11. aleqsandre vasilis Ze axmeteli
da mis saqmeSi gamavali pirebi, sssr
umaRlesi sasamarTlos samxedro kolegiis
dadgenilebiT, 1956 wlis 11 Tebervals
reabilitirebul iqnen (p. s. 223)
12. mowmis saxiT dakiTxulebma: xoravam,
vasaZem, afxaiZem da patariZem, romlebic
TiTqosda teroristuli jgufis wevrebi
iyvnen, miwiSvilis Cveneba kategoriulad
uaryves da aCvenes, rom isini aranair
kontrrevoluciur jgufSi ar Sediodnen,
ar eweodnen aranair kontrrevoluciur
saqmianobas da am dromde rusTavelis
saxelobis TeatrSi muSaoben (p. s. 234-235,
243-245, 271-274, 303-304).
13. msjavrdebul p. s. aRniaSvilisa da g.
d. karaulovis saarqivo-sagamoZiebo saqmis
Seswavlis Sedegad gairkva, rom arcerTs
TavianT CvenebebSi miwiSvili ar uxsenebia.
lominaZis mimarT saqme ar aRZrula da
sisxlis samarTlis pasuxisgebaSi micemuli
ar yofila.
m. g. toroSeliZis saqme, amierkavkasiis
samxedro olqis samxedro prokuroris
daskvniT, wardgenilia mTavar
samxedro prokuraturaSi toroSeliZis
reabilitaciisTvis. xolo msjavrdebul
levan RoRoberiZis saqme Sewyvetilia
danaSaulis CadenaSi misi monawileobis
damadasturebel monacemTa uqonlobis gamo
(p. s. 182-190, 194 da 196)
14. rogorc miwiSvilma dakiTxvis dros
aCvena, TiTqosda somxeTis antisabWoTa
faSisturi-nacionalisturi organizaciis
wevrebi iyvnen: Cerenci, eremiani, erzikiani
da ter-simoniani, romlebic sasamarTlo
organoebis mier amJamad reabilitirebulni
arian, ter-simoniani ki mokluli iqna
dakiTxvis dros, manamde ki mas Cveneba
micemuli ar hqonda (p. s. 165-170)
15. miwiSvilis Cvenebis saeWvoobas
adasturebs isic, rom man 1937 wlis 8
ivniss saqarTvelos ssr Sinsaxkomis
saxelze daweril gancxadebaSi
kontrrevoluciuri organizaciis wevrad
mwerali simon Ciqovani daasaxela, Tumca
CvenebebSi Ciqovanis kontrrevoluciuri
They said that they did not commit counter revolutionary
activities and that they worked in Rustaveli Theatre (personal
case fle, pp. 234-235, 243-245, 271-274, 303-304);
13. According to the private cases of Aghniashvili and
G.D.Karaulov, Mitsishvili was not mentioned by them;
Criminal case against Lominadze was not raised.
According to a resolution passed by the military
prosecutor of the military region of Transcaucasia, M. G.
Toroshelidzes case has been submitted to the supreme
prosecutors offce for rehabilitating Toroshelidze. Levan
Ghoghoberidzes case has been suspended for lack of
evidences (personal case fle, pp. 182-190, 194 and 196);
14. According to Mitsishvilis interrogation, the following
persons were the members of an anti-Soviet and fascist
organization in Armenia: Cherentsy, Eremian, Arzikian and
Ter-Simonian. These persons were rehabilitated. Ter-
Simonian was killed during his frst interrogation (personal
case fle, pp. 165-170);
15. Mitsishvilis testimony can be considered doubtful
because while on June 8, 1937 he declared to the NKVD
of the Georgian SSR that the writer Simon Chikovani was
a member of a counter revolutionary organization, he said
nothing about Chikovanis counter revolutionary activities
during his interogation (personal case fle, pp. 9, 239-240);
16. According to Lidia Gasviani, he recruited
the following persons into the counter revolutionary
organization: Mitsishvili, Gamsakhurdia, Chichinadze,
Javakhishvili, Abasheli and Tabidze. This is incorrect,
because while Gamsakhurdia, Chichinadze and Abasheli
have never been arrested, Javakhishvili and Tabidze were
rehabilitated (personal case fle, pp. 171-173, 194-254-259,
260-270 and 329);
17. The words of Budu Mdivani, Davit Tsereteli
and Levan Sakvarelidze are not suffcient for Mitsishvilis
123
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saqmianoba arc ki uxsenebia (p. s. 9, 239-240).
16. lidia gasvianis Cveneba imis
Sesaxeb, rom miwiSvili, gamsaxurdia,
WiWinaZe, javaxiSvili, abaSeli da tabiZe
kontrrevoluciur organizaciaSi mis mier
arian gadabirebulni, mogonilia, radgan
gamsaxurdia, WiWinaZe da abaSeli arasodes
yofilan dapatimrebulni, javaxiSvili da
tabiZe ki reabilitirebulni arian (p.s 171-
173, 194-254-259, 260-270 da 329).
17. budu mdivnis, daviT wereTlisa
da levan sayvareliZis Cvenebebic ver
gamodgeba miwiSvilis dadanaSaulebis
safuZvlad imitom, rom am pirTa saarqivo
masalebis Seswavlis Sedegad dadginda,
rom mdivanma miwiSvilis kontrrevoluciur
organizaciaSi Cabmis Sesaxeb mxolod
gasvianis sityvebidan icoda da piradad
miwiSvilTan kavSiri ar hqonia. daviT
wereTelma uaryo Tavisi Cvenebebi, xolo
levan sayvareliZe reabilitirebul iqna (p.
s. 181 da 195)
18. saqarTvelos kompartiis ck-s
kulturisa da mecnierebis ganyofilebis
mier gamoyofilma komisiam, miwiSvilis
SemoqmedebiTi saqmianobis Seswavlis
mizniT, daaskvna, rom miwiSvilis
nawarmoebTa ideuri Sinaarsi misi wignebis
devnisa da sabWoTa mwerlebis rigebidan
miwiSvilis CamoSorebis aranair safuZvels
ar iZleva. (p. s. 153-154)
19. Semowmebis Sedegad aseve dadginda,
rom miwiSvilis dapatimrebisa da
gasamarTlebis mizezi aw ukve xalxis
mtrad Seracxuli berias misamarTiT mis
mier gamoTqmuli lanZRva gaxda, romelic
siZulviliT ixseniebda miwiSvils (p. s. 223-
233, 236-238, 239-242, 250-253, 265-270, 280-2881,
292-302).
20. dakiTxul mowmeTa miwiSvilis
TanamSromlebisa da kalmis kolegebis:
g. n. leoniZis, l. m. qiaCelis, n. g.
WiWinaZis, s. n. Ciqovanis, S. n. afxaiZis,
a. i. SanSiaSvilis, k. s. gamsaxurdias,
i. v. lisaSvilis, d. v. lomaZis mier
miwiSvili xasiaTdeba mxolod dadebiTad.
isini acxadeben, rom maTTvis miwiSvilis
antisabWoTa da antisaxelmwifoebrivi
saqmianobis Sesaxeb araferia cnobili (p. s.
223-225, 233-236, 238-270, 275-276 da 282-302)
aqedan gamomdinare, saqmis damatebiTi
Semowmebis Sedegad gamovlinda mTeli
rigi axali garemoebebisa, romlebic
mowmobs nikoloz iosebis Ze miwiSvilis
mimarT msjavris usafuZvlod wayenebas
da romlebic sasamarTlosTvis ar
yofila cnobili ganaCenis gamotanisas,
amis gaTvaliswinebiT miviCnevT, rom
detention, because having studied the cases of these
persons, the following was concluded: Mdivani had
information about Mitsishvilis counter revolutionary activities
from Gasviani. Davit Tsereteli retracted his words. Levan
Sakvarelidze was rehabilitated (P.C. 181 and 195);
18. The Commission of Culture and Science
Department of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party concluded that Mitsishvilis work should not be
prohibited and that he should not be expelled from the
Writers Union (personal case fle, pp. 153-154);
19. It was also concluded that Mitsishvili was arrested
and trialed because he had scolded Beria, who is now
confrmed to be an enemy of the people (personal case fle,
pp. 223-233, 236-238, 239-242, 250-253, 265-270, 280-
2881, 292-302);
20. Mitsishvilis co-operatives: G.N. Leonidze,
L. M. Kiacheli, N.G. Chichinadze, S.N. Chikovani, Sh.
N. Apkhaidze, A.I. Shanshiashvili, K.S Gamsakhurdia,
I.V.Lisashvili and D.V. Lomadze characterized him positively.
They said that they did not know about Mitsishvilis anti-
soviet activities (P.C. 223-225, 233-236, 238-270, 275-276,
282-302).
Having re-examined the case of Nikoloz Iosebis dze
Mitsishvili, it has been concluded that he was unjustly
accused. For this reason, on the grounds of Article 378 of the
criminal code, his case should be rehabilitated.
According to Article 378 of the Criminal code, can be
concluded that:
This case with the new materials must be submitted to
the Military Board of the Supreme Court in order to annul the
resolution passed by the session of the military colleague
of the Supreme Court on July 12, 1937. On the grounds of
the ffth paragraph of the four Article of law code the case
against him must be abolished.
124
saqarTvelos ssr saproceso kodeqsis
378-e muxlis mixedviT mis mimarT saqmis
warmoeba ganaxldes.
zemoaRniSnulTan dakavSirebiT
vxelmZRvanelob saqarTvelos ssr
saproceso kodeqsis 378-e muxliT.
vivaraudebdi:
es saqme, damatebiTi SemowmebiT
mopovebul masalebTan erTad, 1937 wlis
12 ivliss sssr umaRlesi sasamarTlos
samxedro kolegiis gamsvleli sesiis mier
gamotanili ganaCenis gauqmebis mizniT,
gadaegzavnos sssr umaRlesi sasamarTlos
samxedro kolegias, axlad gamovlenili
garemoebebis Sedegad, saqarTvelos ssr
saproceso kodeqsis me-4 muxlis me-
5 punqtis safuZvelze mis mimarT saqmis
Sewyvetis Sesaxeb.
danarTi: saqme I tomSi ...... furclad
adresats
amierkavkasiis samxedro olqis
samxedro prokuroris TanaSemwe
specsaqmeebSi
iusticiis vice-polkovniki
(xelmowera) berZeniSvili
Tanaxma var amierkavkasiis samxedro
olqis samxedro prokuroris moadgile
specsaqmeebSi, iusticiis polkovniki (m.
skopcovi)
zustia: saqarTvelos ssr ministrTa
sabWosTan arsebuli suk-is sagamoZiebo
ganyofilebis ufrosi gamomZiebeli
kapitani (Tofuria)
cnoba
nikoloz iosebis Ze miwiSvili,
1956 wlis 28 aprils sssr umaRlesi
sasamarTlos samxedro kolegiis mier
reabilitirebulia da misi saqmis warmoeba
Sewyvetilia danaSaulis Semadgenlobis
ararsebobis gamo.
amierkavkasiis samxedro olqis
samxedro prokuroris TanaSemwe bredenko
17.V.1956
Appendix: case in the frst volume in paper
Addressee: Assistant Military Prosecutor of the
Transcaucasian Military District, Lt. Colonel (signature)
Berdzenishvili
I accept deputy prosecutor of the regional military of
Transcaucasia, justice vice-colonel (M.Skoptsov)
Head investigator of the committee for State Security of
Council of Ministers captain (Topuria)
Notice
On April 28, 1956 Nikoloz Iosebis dze Mitsishvili was
rehabilitated by the Military Board of the USSR Supreme
Court. His case has been suspended for the lack of
evidences against him.
Assistant Military Prosecutor of the Transcaucasian
Military District
17. V. 1956
represirebuli qarTveli
mwerlebi
nino yifSiZe
NINO KIPSHIDZE
saqarTvelos istoriaSi XXs-is 30-iani
wlebi masobriv represiebs ukavSirdeba.
1937 wlis maisSi saqarTvelos komunisturi
partiis X yriloba gaimarTa. yrilobaze
sityviT gamovida centraluri komitetis
pirveli mdivani lavrenti beria, romelic
sxvadasxva sakiTxebTan erTad qarTul
mwerlobasa da mwerlebs Seexo: `qarTvel
mwerlebsa da xelovnebis warmomadgenlebs
Soris arian calkeuli pirebi, romlebmac
unda gadasinjon TavianTi urTierToba
qarveli xalxis mtrebTan _ aRniaSvilTan,
lominaZesTan, jiqiasTan, eliavasTan
da sxvebTan. seriozulad daufiqrdnen
amas da TavisTvis yvela saWiro daskvna
gamoitanon, radgan aravis mivcemT
nebas iTvalTmaqcos, qarTveli xalxi
moatyuos da sabWoTa mwerlis an mxatvris
saxelwodebas amofarebulma xalxis
mtrebTad erTad Savi saqme akeTos.
magaliTad paolo iaSvilma, romelic
ukve asakiT ormocs gadacilebulia, droa
Wkua iswavlos. sikeTe ar mohyveba mis
navards lominaZisgan jiqiasken, jiqiasgan
aRniaSvilisken da bolos eliavas
klanWebSi.
zedmeti ar iqneba seriozulad
Caufiqrdnen Tavis saqciels agreTve
gamsaxurdia, javaxiSvili, miwiSvili,
SevardnaZe da kidev zogierTebi.
sabWoTa mwerali pirvel rigSi is
adamiani unda iyos, romelic yvelafers
sabWoTa xelisuflebas, socialistur
samSoblos, leninisa da stalinis
partias miuZRvnis. mas unda uyvardes
sabWoTa xalxi, sabWoTa samSoblo da
Rrmad swamdes misi Zala da Zliereba. is
represiebi/Repression
REPRESSED GEORGIAN
WRITERS
The year 1937 is known for the Great Purge in the
history of Georgia. The 10th Congress of the Georgian
Communist Party was held in May 1937, where Lavrenty
Beria, First Secretary of the Central Committee, delivered
his speech on Georgian writers and literature. An extract
from his speech reads as follows:
But some of the writers must break off their relations
with the enemies of the Georgian people. These enemies
are as follows: Aghniashvili, Lominadze, Jikia, Eliava and
others. These writers must carefully observe this issue. We
shant let anyone be two-faced and deceive the Georgian
people. We shant let anyone work in collaboration with
the enemies of the Georgian people under the cover
of the Soviet writer or artist. For example, its high time
Paolo Iashvili, who is over forty, learned a lesson. He
systematically shifts from Lominadze to Jikia, from Jikia to
Aghniashvili, and fnally from Aghniashvili to Eliava. This
wont have a happy ending.
Its high time Gamsakhurdia, Javakhishvili, Mitsishvili,
Shevardnadze, and a few others thought over their
activities.
The Soviet writer must dedicate his work to the Soviet
authorities, his socialist country, and Lenin and Stalins
party. The Soviet writer must love the Soviet people and the
Soviet country. He must believe in the Soviet power. His
125
126
mweralTa kavSiris pirveli
sakavSiro yriloba moskovSi 1934 w.
qveda rigSi sxedan: panteleimon
CxikvaZe, giorgi leoniZe, paolo
iaSvili, s. SanSiaSvili, d.
Sengelaia. Sua rigSi sxedan:
m. javaxiSvili, g. toroSeliZe,
marijani, svaniZe, minadora
toroSeliZe, abel enuqiZe, sevasti
TalakvaZe, pavle sayvareliZe. zeda
rigSi: i. abaSiZe, t. tabiZe, platon
qiqoZe, i. griSaSvili, leo qiaCeli,
geronti qiqoZe, besarion JRenti,
sandro euli, Cermen begizovi,
samson Canba, nikoloz miqava.
marTali da gulwrfeli unda iyos Tavis
SemoqmedebaSi, man unda ganamtkicos da
gaafarTovos kavSirebi muSaTa farTo
fenebTan.
Cems mier CamoTvlilma mwerlebma unda
icodnen, rom maTi Semdgomi saqcieli, is
garemoeba, Tu ra swrafad gardaiqmnebian
da dahgmoben Tavis warsul saqmeebsa da
kavSirurTierTobas, gansazRvravs Cveni
partiisa da sabWoTa xelisuflebis
damokidebulebas maTdami.~
1
faqtobrivad lavrenti berias am
sityvebiT daiwyo qarTveli mwerlebis
`wmenda~ da sisxliani represiebi,
romelmac mTeli saqarTvelo moicva...
1937 wlis mweralTa kavSiris
sxdomebis angariSi erTgvari sarkea imisa,
Tu ra xdeboda aramarto mwerlobaSi,
aramed zogadad mTel qveyanaSi da
rogor viTardeboda movlenebi... dasmena,
intrigebi da Tavis gadarCena...
paolo iaSvilis TviTmkvlelobis
faqti provokaciul qmedebad monaTles,
nikolo miwiSvili daapatimres, zewolis
qveS sasurveli Cveneba daawerines da
daxvrites; tician tabiZe da mixeil
javaxiSvili jer mweralTa kavSiridan
garicxes, Semdeg ki maTac sasjelis
umaRlesi zoma, daxvreta miusajes...
komunisturi reJimisaTvis qarTuli
mwerloba da kultura gansakuTrebiT
saintereso iyo da umTavres amocanasac
qarTveli inteligenciis damorCileba
warmoadgenda. swored am mizniT,
centralur komitetSi agitacia-
propagandis ganyofileba da politikuri
ganaTlebis mTavari sammarTvelo
Seiqmna, am samsaxurebs mecnierebasa
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #14, aRw. #11, s. #3, furc. 107-108.
First All-Union Congress of Writers Union in Moscow,
1934
Lower row: Panteleimon Chkhikvadze, Giorgi Leonidze,
Paolo Iashvili, S. Shanshiashvili, D. Shengelaia; Middle
row: M. Javakhishvili, G. Toroshelidze, Marijani, Svanidze,
Minadora Toroshelidze, Abel Enukidze, Sevasti Talakvadze,
Pavle Sakvarelidze; Upper row: I. Abashidze, T. Tabidze,
Platon Kikodze, I. Grishashvili, Leo Kiacheli, Geronti Kikodze,
Besarion Zhghenti, Sandro Euli, Chermen Begizov, Samson
Chanba, Nikoloz Mikava.
work must be true and sincere. He must become close with
the working class.
The aforementioned writers must know that their
attitude toward their past activities will determine the attitude
of the Soviet authorities toward them.
1
Lavrenty Berias words were the start of the cleansing
of writers throughout Georgia. The political and cultural
situation was refected in the accounts of the meetings held
by the Writers Union in 1937. The main characteristics
of that period were denunciation, intrigues, and self-
preservation.
The suicide committed by Paolo Iashvili was certifed as
a provocation. Nikolo Mitsishvili was detained, forced to give
evidence under pressure, and shot dead. Titsian Tabidze and
Mikheil Javakhishvili were expelled from the Writers Union
and sentenced to death.
During the communist regime, the Georgian culture
and literature were under immense pressure. The main
goal was to subjugate the Georgian intelligentsia, resulting
in the creation of the Department for Agitation and Head
1
Section II of the Archive Administration of the MIA, f.14, op.11, d.3, pp.107-8.
127
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da xelovnebis dargebSi Carevisa
da cenzuris SeuzRudavi uflebebi
hqondaT. literaturis dargSi yvelaze
mniSvnelovani organizacia `rappi~
(ruseTis proletar mweralTa asociacia)
gaxldaT. `rapis~ filiali saqarTveloSic
funqcionirebda.
ocdaaTian wlebSi arsebuli
proletar mweralTa asociacia
gansakuTrebuli dasayrdeni iyo
bolSevikuri xelisuflebisTvis, radgan
am organizaciaSi Semavali mwerlebisTvis
erovnuli faseulobebi ar arsebobda.
miuxedavad imisa, rom proletar mweralTa
Semoqmedeba uniWobiT gamoirCeoda,
xelisufleba gansakuTrebiT uwyobda
xels da maT wina flangze warmoCenas
cdilobda.
saqarTvelos mweralTa kavSirSi
arsebobda jgufi, romelsac qarTvel
mweralTa Semoqmedebis gakontroleba
evaleboda. mwerlebis nawarmoebebi
mxolod partiisa da beladis xotbis
Semsxmeli unda yofiliyo, winaaRmdeg
SemTxvevaSi maT, kavSiris rigebs
daatovebinebdnen. Tumca isic cxadi
iyo, mxolod amiT ar Semoifargleboda
bolSevikuri xelisufleba...
1937 wlisaTvis suraTi gacilebiT
damZimda, represiebis talRam, TiTqmis
yvela sferos gadauara da mwerlobasac
miadga. xelisufleba Tavisufal
mwerlebs, pirvel etapze, proletari
mwerlebis meSveobiT daupirispirda.
mTeli es movlenebi kargad Cans
saqarTvelos sabWoTa mweralTa kavSiris
partorganizaciis oqmebSi. proletari
mwerlebi daupirispirdnen konstantine
gamsaxurdias, paolo iaSvils, tician
tabiZes, mixeil javaxiSvils, giorgi
leoniZes. isini `cisferyanwelebis~
winaaRmdeg gamovidnen da am jgufis
ganadgurebac ki moiTxoves:
d. demetraZis saangariSo moxseneba
1937 weli, 17 marti: `Cveni kavSiris
partiulma nawilma droze ver gamoiCina
klasobrivi sifxizle. Tavi miveciT
politikur udardelobas. qiqoZe-
toroSeliZis kontrrevoluciurma
saqmianobam damRupveli gavlena iqonia
axalgazrda mwerlebis nawilze,
toroSeliZe mfarvelobas uwevda uniWo
axalgazrda mwerlebs, raTa unariani
axalgazrda mwerlebi daeCrdila.
amas is Cadioda ganzrax, mag: misi
winasityvaobiT gamovida n. fxakaZis
Administration of Political Education. This department had
the absolute authority over the felds of science and art. The
Russian Association of Proletarian Writers (RAPP) was the
main literary organization, which had a branch in Georgia.
In the 1930s, the RAPP was a strong support for the
Bolshevik authorities because the association was full of
anti-national writers. Although the proletarian writers were
not talented, they were protected by the Bolsheviks.
This special group was formed within the Georgian
Writers Union, which was to control the writers works.
Unless the works praised the party and its leader, their
authors would have been expelled from the Writers Union.
However, it was clear that this was not enough for the
Bolshevik authorities.
The Great Purge reached its peak in 1937. Every
feld, including literature, was repressed, and the authorities
used the proletarian writers against the free minds. This
disagreement is refected in the protocols adopted by the
soviet writers of party authorities. The proletarian writers
opposed the following members of tsisperqantselebi (The
Blue Horns) and demanded that the group be dismantled:
Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Paolo Iashvili, Titsian Tabidze,
Mikheil Javakhishvili, and Giorgi Leonidze.
This is an account delivered by D. Demetradze on
March 17, 1937:
Our union has revealed the lack of class accuracy.
Our political carelessness has led to Kikodze-Toroshelidzes
counter-revolutionary activities endangering part of the
young writers. While Toroshelidze patronized untalented
young writers, talented writers were oppressed. He did that
on purpose. For example, although N. Pkhakadzes poem
was of low quality, it was preceded by his preface and a
spectacular design. We were not able to resist the right-wing
ideas of our writers. For instance, Gamsakhurdias novel
Stealing the Moon was criticized after it had been published.
Its Russian version has been suspended because parts of its
content were not approved.
1
Similarly, the speech made by P. Kutateladze-
1
Section II of the Archive Administration of the MIA, f.897, op.1, d.1, p.9.
128
poema saukeTeso gaformebiT. nawarmoebi
mxatvruli TvalsazrisiT ki odnavi
yuradRebis Rirsic ki ar iyo. Cven ver
vawarmoebdiT agreTve gadamWrel brZolas
Cveni mwerlebis memarjvene nawilTan.
magaliTad: gamsaxurdias romani `mTvaris
motaceba~ gakritikebul iqna, mxolod
wignis gamocemis Semdeg. imave wignis
rusuli gamocema Sinaarsis zogierTi
nawilis miuReblobis gamo SeCerebulia~.
1

p. quTaTelaZe-samsoniZis sityva 1937
weli, 17 marti:
`Cvenma partorganizaciam ver SesZlo
gaenadgurebia Zveli inteligenciis
damyayebuli Teoria, TiTqos komunistisgan
ar SeiZleba mwerali Seiqmnas. Zvels
sabWoTa mwerlebs vafasebT. maTi miRweva
Cveni miRwevacaa, magram ar aris saWiro
maTi gaberva. saxarebaSi sweria `ufals
uflisa da keisars keisriso~. mag. p.
iaSvilis poema apolitikuria... mainc
ibeWdeba viRacas wyalobiT. roca igi
Cvens TvalSi bewvs xedavs, mis TvalSi
svetsac ver amCneven Cveni xelmZRvanelebi.
xelmZRvanelobis bralia zogierT
komunist poetebis Cagdeba, me da
boboxiZec man Cagvagdo. Cven ar moviTxovT
SemoqmedebiT SeRavaTs, magram Tu upartio
mwerlis saSualo leqsi friadze
Sefasdeba, maSin Cveni kargi leqsi kargad
mainc unda Sefasdes~.
2

p. CxikvaZe, 1937 w. 21 maisi _ `saWiroa
gavixsenoT, rom iaSvilis xeliT iyo
dawerili qarTveli delegaciis saxeliT
rom gamoucxades solidaroba buxarins
yrilobaze. es moxda maSin, roca
toroSeliZe moskovSi avad gaxda da
mas momvlelad yavda iaSvili, swored
maSin damegobrdnen toroSeliZe da
iaSvili. buxarini iaSvils mfarvelobas
uwevda. saWiroa yanwelebma sTqvan, Tu
ra damokidebulebaSi iyvnen isini ara
marto qarTvel xalxis mtrebTan, aramed
ruseTSiac xalxis mtris buxarinis
mimarTac. me buxarins vebrZodi Tavidanve.
rac Seexeba buaCiZes, me Tanaxma var misi
sakiTxi gamoiyos gansakuTrebT. saWiroa
ilaparakon buaCiZis jgufis wevrebmac
TavianT Secdomebze~.
3

`yofili yanwelebi yvelgan Zvrebian.
mag. saiubileo komisiebSi, redkolegiebSi
da sxva. saWiroa Cven davupirispiroT
maT moqmedebis Cveni org. muSaoba. Cven
unda viyoT did literaturul saqmeTa
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #897, aRw. #1, s. #1, furc. 9.
2
iqve, s. #1, furc. 16.
3
iqve, s. #1, furc. 38-39.
Samsonadze on March 17, 1937, stated the following:
Our party organization was not able to diminish the
theory of intelligentsia, which was as follows: A communist
cant become a writer. We respect the old Soviet writers.
Although their achievements are ours, their merit should
not be exaggerated. According to the Bible: Then render to
Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things
that are Gods. Although P. Iashvilis poem is apolitical, it is
published under somebodys patronage. While he sees even
our smallest shortcomings, the authorities cant see his huge
mistakes. Its the fault of the offcials that the communist
poets, namely Bobokhidze and I, are oppressed. We dont
need any privileges. But while bad poems are praised highly,
our good poems should be praised even more positively.
1
On May 21, 1937, P. Chkhikvadze said the following:
Lets stress that on behalf of the Georgian delegation,
Iashvili drew the document showing solidarity with Bukharin.
This was when Iashvili looked after Toroshelidze, who had
fallen ill in Moscow, and the two became friends. Iashvili
did his bit in showing solidarity with Bukharin. For this
reason, Bukharin patronized him. The members of the Blue
Horns should acknowledge that they had relations with the
peoples enemies and with Bukharin who was in Moscow. I
always opposed Bukharin. As for Buachidze, I am in favor of
discussing his case separately. The members of Buachidzes
group should acknowledge their mistakes.
2
The members of the Blue Horns are everywhere: in the
anniversary committees, editorial colleagues, and others. We
must oppose their activities through our authoritys work. The
literary activities must be organized by us and not by them.
The Blue Horns must be abolished by all means.
3
[sic]
Those who did not approve of the Bolshevik authorities
were considered as traitors, counter-revolutionaries,
Trotskyists, and spies. They were detained and forced
to give the desired evidence and to denounce others,
while they were subsequently shot dead. The authorities
oppressed the intelligentsia according to this simple plan,
1
Section II of the Archive Administration of the MIA, f.897, op.1, d.1, p.16.
2
Ibid., pp.38-9.
3
Ibid., p.40
129
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iniciatorebad da ara isini...
`yanwelebis jgufebis ganadgureba
usaTuod saWiroa~.
1
(stili daculi)
yvela is piri, vinc bolSevikur
xelisuflebas taSs ar ukravda
`moRalated~, `kontrrevolucionerad~,
`trockistad~ da `jaSuSad~ inaTleboda.
Sedegad apatimrebdnen, sasurvel
Cvenebas awerinebdnen, aTobiT pirovnebas
`CaaSvebinebdnen~ da bolos xvretdnen...
es iyo is martivi sqema, romliTac
xelisufleba moqmedebda da inteligenciis
did nawils uswordeboda. gamonaklisi
arc qarTveli mwerlebi iyvnen. lavrenti
berias 1937 wlis saangariSo moxseneba imis
maniSnebeli iyo, rom mweralTa rigebSi
`wmenda~ dawyebuliyo... proletarma
mwerlebma frTebi Seisxes, erovnuli
mwerlebi ki kidev ufro didi wnexis qveS
aRmoCndnen. im pirTa aSkara kritika da
Seviwroeba daiwyo, romlebic beriam Tavis
angariSSi axsena.
`1937 wlis I ivnisi
saqarTvelos sabWoTa
mwerlebis kavSiris
partorganizaciis sxdomis
oqmi _ gvegona, rom Cveni
mwerlebi seriozulad
dafiqrdebodnen cekas
pirveli mdivnis, lavrenti
berias gafrTxilebis gamo,
gulwrfelad aRiarebdnen
warsul damnaSaveobriv
saqmianobas da kavSirs
kontrrevolucionerebTan.
mweralTa kavSiris sxdomaze
sityviT gamovidnen mwerlebi:
iaSvili, miwiSvili,
gamsaxurdia, magram maTi
gamosvliT Canda, rom
lavrenti berias moxsenebidan
saTanado daskvnebi ver
gamoitanes. paolo iaSvilma
pirvel gamosvlaSi
samSoblos mtrebTan
kavSiri ar aRiara da kidev
ufro didi politikuri
Secdomebi dauSva. igi ecada
lamis gmirebad warmoeCina
lominaZe, RoRoberiZe, jiqia.
roca mas mwerlebma sityva
Seawyvetines, iZulebuli
gaxda meored warmsdgariyo
auditoriis winaSe. Tumca,
arc meore gamosvlaSi
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #897, aRw. #1, s. #1, furc. 40.
and the Georgian writers were not an exception. The report
made by Lavrenty Beria in 1937 was a sign to carry out
the writers cleansing. While the proletarians were elated,
national writers were oppressed, especially those who were
named in Berias report.
The protocol of the partys authority of the Georgian
Soviet Writers Union dated June 1, 1937, stated:
We thought that the writers would have analyzed their
past activities and acknowledged their counter-revolutionary
activities after Beria, the First Secretary of the Cheka, had
made his report. The following writers delivered speeches
at the meeting of the Writers Union: Iashvili, Mitsishvili, and
Gamsakhurdia. But they did not make the right conclusions
from Berias report. Paolo Iashvili made one more political
mistake by not admitting his relations with the countrys
130
gamousworebia daSvebuli Secdomebi.
mcired Seexo samSoblos mtrebTan
kavSirs, magram bolomde araferi Tqva da
sruli suraTi ar warmogvidgina. Seiqmna
STabeWdileba, rom iaSvilma imis meaTedic
ar Tqva, rac realurad icis. dumils
ganagrZoben konstantine gamsaxurdia da
niko miwiSvilic. aradamakmayofilebeli
iyo zemoCamoTvlili mwerlebis
gamosvlac. cxadia, rom maTi kavSiri
samSoblos mtrebTan SemTxveviTi ar
gaxldaT da maTTvis cnobili iyo
moRalateebis Savbneli saqmeebi.
radganac am mwerlebis gamosvla
aradamakmayofilebeli iyo, kidev erT
Sanss vaZlevT yvelaferi aRiaron,
gamotydnen Zveli saqmianobebisa da
kavSirebis Sesaxeb, Seicvalon Zveli
poziciebi. xolo Tu ase ar moiqcevian,
maTi mweralTa kavSiridan garicxvis
sakiTxi unda daisvas.
lavrenti berias gafrTxileba ara
mxolod am mwerlebs exeboda, aramed
tician tabiZes, giorgi leoniZes, k.
WiWinaZes. maTac berias moxsenebidan
saTanado daskvnebi unda gamoitanon.
Semdeg sxdomaze Cven yvela am mwerlis
gamosvla unda movisminoT. aseve
auditoriis winaSe unda warsdges mixeil
javaxiSvili, romelic amJamad moskovSi
imyofeba.
...mweralTa kavSiridan romelime wevris
garicxvas Tu gadavwyvetT, unda gvqondes
safuZvliani argumentebi da faqtebi.
CemTvis cnobilia, rom tician tabiZis
binaSi imyofeboda diversanti aRniaSvili.
tabiZem xelSekruleba gaaforma moskovisa
da leningradis gamomcemlobebTan, magram
pirobebi ar Seasrula da Crdili miayena
sabWoTa saqarTvelos.
...lavrenti beriam Tavis angariSSi
isaubra mweral konstantine
gamsaxurdiazec. man aRniSna, rom
gamsaxurdias msoflmxedveloba
faSizmiTaa gaJRenTili. igi bolo
nawarmoebSi, mTvaris motacebaSi ecada
Tavi daeRwia Zveli poziciebisgan da
Cveni socialisturi realoba mxatvrulad
eCvenebina, magram es jerjerobiT Zalian
sustad gamouvida.
Tu konstantine gamsaxurdias surs
iyos sabWoTa mwerali burJuaziul-
klasobrivi da nacionalisturi ideebisgan
unda gaTavisufldes, ufro axlos dadges
Cvens socialistur realobasTan da
Tavisi didi SemoqmedebiTi SesaZlebloba
enemies. The writers protested when Iashvili tried to make
Lominadze, Ghoghoberidze, and Jikia into heroes. Although
he had to suspend his speech, he did not admit his relations
with the enemies. Iashvili did not say everything he knew.
Konstantine Gamsakhurdia and Niko Mitsishvili did not admit
their mistakes. Their reports were not satisfactory either. It
was clear that their relations with the countrys traitors were
not accidental, as they knew about the activities carried out
by the traitors.
We give one more chance to them to admit their
activities, their past relations, and to change their position.
Otherwise, the issue of their expulsion from the Writers
Union will be submitted at the meeting.
The warning made by Lavrenty Beria also affected
Titsian Tabidze, Giorgi Leonidze, and K. Chichinadze. They
must make the right conclusions and write reports at the next
meeting. Mikheil Javakhishvili, who is currently in Moscow, is
to appear before the audience.
We need sound arguments and facts to expel the
writers from the union. I know that the saboteur Aghniashvili
visited Titsian Tabidzes fat. Tabidze signed the contract
with the Moscow and Leningrad publishing houses, but he
abrogated the contract and therefore defaced the Soviet
Georgia.
Lavrenty Beria also spoke about Konstantine
Gamsakhurdia. He said that Gamsakhurdias work was
inspired by the fascist ideology. Although the writer
attempted to abjure his national ideology and wrote a
socialist novel Stealing the Moon, this work was not good
enough.
If K. Gamsakhuria wants to be a Soviet writer, he will
have to free himself of the bourgeois-nationalist ideology and
get closer to socialism. He must use his great talent for the
good of the Georgian working class. There is nothing more
to say.
Gamsakhurdia was linked with the countrys enemies,
namely Lidia Gasviani. In his speech, he did not admit his
mistakes. He just explained his past activities.
131
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saqarTvelos mSromel xalxs moaxmaros...
amiT yvelaferi naTqvamia.
gamsaxurdiac dakavSirebuli iyo
samSoblos mtrebTan, magaliTad lidia
gasvianTan. gamsaxurdias gamosvla
saqmeebis dasabuTeba ufro iyo, vidre
warsulis gansja da Secdomebis aRiareba.
... zemonaxsenebi mwerlebis kavSiri
samSoblos moRalateebTan, saqarTvelos
sazRvrebs scildeba. somxeTSi isini
dakavSirebuli iyvnen erzinkianTan da
firumovTan, moskovSi ki buxarinTan
da kameninTan. Tu iaSvilma, rac icis
imis umniSvnelo nawili Tqva, leoniZesa
da tabiZes saerTod araferi uTqvamT.
lavrenti berias angariSi mweralTa
aqtivis plitikuri aRzrdisTvis unda
gamoviyenoT. am sakiTxebis ganxilvaSi
monawileoba upartio mwerlebmac unda
miiRon da TavianTi damokidebuleba
gamoavlinon. arc iaSvils, arc tabiZes
da arc leoniZes sityva ar dauZravT
buxarinTan da kamenevTan kavSirze,
romlebisganac es adamianebi aTasobiT
rubls iRebdnen raRac molaparakebebisa
da xelSekrulebis sanacvlod, rac ar
SeusrulebiaT.
qarTuli delegaciis erT-erTi wevris
gamosvlis angariSi buxarinis dasacavad
momzadebuli iyo aramxolod moRalate
toroSeliZis mier, aramed iaSvilisa da
leoniZis xelic igrZnoboda, romlebic
batonkacur damokidebulebas avlenen
mweralTa kavSirze da aravis uweven
angariSs. amitomac arc am sxdomaze
CauTvliaT saWirod raime eTqvaT
samSoblos mtrebTan kavSirze. leoniZem
aseve unda isaubros Tu ra urTierToba
aqvs ZmasTan, agronom leoniZesTan cnobil
Tavgasul faSistTan~...
1

am sxdomidan meore dRes, 1937 wlis 2
ivniss nikolo miwiSvili daapatimres. mas
sasurveli `aRiarebiTi~ Cveneba daawerines
da ramdenime piris sawinaaRmdego Cvenebac
dades... nikolo miwiSvilis CvenebaSi
vkiTxulobT _ `saqarTveloSi dabrunebis
Semdeg me davukavSirdi nacionalisturad
ganwyobil mwerlebs, romlebic
gaerTianebuli iyvnen mixeil javaxiSvilis
garSemo, aseve davukavSirdi qarTvel
literatorebs, `cisferyanwelebs~,
paolo iaSvilsa da sxvebs. es
nacionalist-literatorTa gaerTianeba
saboloo jamSi aralegalur faSistur
organizaciad gardaiqmna, romlis erT-
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #897, aRw. #1, s. #1, furc. 56-60.
The aforementioned writers had also relations with
Erzinkyan and Phirumov in Armenia and Bukharin and
Kamenin in Moscow. While Iashvili said little, Leonidze and
Tabidze did not say anything. Lavrenty Berias report should
be used for the writers political upbringing. Non-party writers
should be involved in this process. Iashvili, Tabidze, and
Leonidze did not say anything about their relations with
Bukharin and Kamenev. In fact, these persons sponsored
them in exchange for the agreement, which the writers
abrogated.
The report in Bukharins defense has been made by
the traitor Toroshelidze, as well as Iashvili and Leonidze,
who did not consider anyone in the Writers Union. For this
reason, they did not say anything at the meeting. Leonidze
should also explain his relations with his brother, agronomist
Leonidze, who is a famous fascist.
1
The day after the meeting, on June 2, 1937, Nikolo
Mitsishvili was detained. He was forced to give admitting
evidence about himself and the others. An excerpt of his
evidence says:
When I arrived in Georgia, I met with the pro-national
writers who were united around Mikheil Javakhishvili. I also
came into contact with the Georgian literary group The
Blue Horns and its members, namely, Paolo Iashvili and
others. This national literary group was under my control
until today. Now it looks like a fascist organization. Our major
goal was to overthrow the Soviet regime and to establish the
independent republic of Georgia.
2
On July 13, 1937, Nikolo Mitsishvili was shot dead.
Paolo Iashvili knew that he would also be punished.
After Nikolo Mitsishvilis detention, he was called at the
NKVD. He was criticized, denounced, and oppressed
at the meetings of the Writers Union. On July 22, 1937,
Paolo Iashvili committed suicide. However, his name was
discredited, and his suicide was certifed as a provocation.

1
Section II of the Archive Administration of the MIA, f.897, op.1, d.1, pp.56-60.
2
Ibid., f.6, d.49, p.125.
132
erTi xelmZRvanelic bolo dRemde me
viyavi. Cveni mizani sabWoTa xelisuflebis
damxoba da damoukidebeli saqarTvelos
Camoyalibeba iyo~.
1

1937 wlis 13 ivliss nikolo miwiSvili
daxvrites.
paolo iaSvilma yvelaze ukeT
icoda rom, arc mas daadgeboda kargi
dRe, miTumetes nikolo miwiSvilis
dapatimrebis Semdeg Sinsaxkomma igi
ramdenjerme daibara, paralelurad ki
mweralTa kavSiris sxdomebze iaSvilis
kritika, lanZRva-gineba da fsiqologiuri
zewola ar wydeboda. 1937 wlis 22 ivliss
paolo iaSvilma Tavi moikla. arc amis
Semdeg Sewyvetila poetis saxelis
diskreditacia. misi TviTmkvleloba
provokaciul aqtadac ki moinaTla:
`oqmi #1
saqarTvelos sabWoTa mwerlebis
kavSiris part-jgufisa da part-
organizaciis sxdomisa
1937 w. 28 ivlisi.
Tavmjdomare _ d. demetraZe
mdivani _ k. boboxiZe
moismines _ amx. d. demetraZis cnoba
p. iaSvilis mier Cadenil provokaciuli
aqtis (TviTmkvlelobis Sesaxeb).
daadgines _ amx. demetraZis
gancxadeba xalxis mtris pavle iaSvilis
provokaciulad Cadenili TviTmkvlelobis
Sesaxeb miRebul iqnas cnobad, part-
jgufi da partorganizacia aRniSnaven,
rom gamomJRavnebuli xalxis mteri
pavle iaSvili gaeqca politikur
marTlmsajulebas. am provokaciuli
aqtis sapasuxod mweralTa kavSiris
xelmZRvaneloba kidev ufro gaamaxvilebs
klasobriv sifxizles, raTa bolomde
gamomJRanebul iqnen p. iaSvilis msgavsi
gaiZverebi, romelnic SesaZlebelia
sabWoTa mwerlis niRbiT jer kidev
imyofebian Cvens rigebSi~.
2
sabWoTa xelisuflebisaTvis iaSvilis
msgavsi `gaiZveraa~ mixeil javaxiSvilic.
amitomac mweralTa kavSiris sxdomaze
1937 wlis 17 agvistos daadgines: `daisvas
sakiTxi saq. sabWoTa mwer. kavSiris
prezidiumis winaSe, xalxis mtris mixeil
javaxiSvilis prezidiumidan gamoyvanis da
mweralTa kavSiris rigebidan garicxvis
Sesaxeb. ecnobos sakavSiro mweralTa
organizacias, raTa gamoyvanili iqnes
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, s. #49, furc. 125.
2
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #897, aRw. #1, s. #1, furc. 73.
Paolo Iashvili
paolo iaSvili
Protocol No. 1
Adopted at the meeting of the party groups and
organizations of the Writers Union of SSR Georgia.
July 28, 1937
Chairman D. Demetradze
Secretary K. Bobokhidze
They discussed D. Demetradzes announcement
regarding P. Iashvilis provocative act, and the following
was concluded: According to the announcement of D.
Demetradze, the peoples enemy Paolo Iashvili tried to
escape political judgment. After his provocative suicide,
the head of the Writers Union will become more careful
toward members. The elements similar to Iashvili must be
exposed.
1
Mikheil Javakhishvili was considered a lustful person,
similar to Iashvili. For this reason, the following was
concluded at the meeting of the Writers Union on August 17,
1937:
The issue concerning Javakhishvilis expulsion from the
Writers Union should be mentioned at the presidium. The
organization of the Writers Union should be notifed about it,
and he must be subsequently disqualifed from membership
of the presidium of the Writers Union.
The editorial board of Literary Georgia is given the
task of publishing an article about Mikheil Javakhishvilis
1
Section II of the Archive Administration of the MIA, f.897, op.1, d.1, p.73
133
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Paolo Iashvili
igi sak. mwer. kavSiris prezidiumis
wevrobidan, rogorc xalxis mteri.
daevalos `lit. saqarTvelos~
_ redaqcias moaTavsos erTi
ganmanadgurebeli werili mix.
javaxiSvilis moqmedebis Sesaxeb~.
1
mixeil javaxiSvilis Semdeg tician
tabiZis jeri dadga. `8 oqtombrisaTvis
mowveul iqnas prezidiumis sxdoma,
romelzedac sxva sakiTxebTan erTad
daisvas sakiTxi sayvareliZisa da t.
tabiZis kavSiridan garicxvis Sesaxeb~.
2
Sedegad ki mixeil javaxiSvili da tician
tabiZe daapatimres da sasjelis umaRlesi
zoma daxvreta miusajes.
mwerlebs Soris dawyebuli `wmenda~
warmatebiT dasrulda: nawili daxvrites,
nawili gadasaxlebaSi gauSves, nawili ki
teroris gziT ubralod daimorCiles.
`mweralTa kavSirSi moqmedebda
kontrrevoluciuri organizacia. Cven
mas xerxemali gadavumtvrieT da axla
Tu kidev sadme darCa maTi kudebi, unda
gamovZebnoT zogi gadavxarSoT da vinc
gamousworebelia gavagdoT~.
3

P.S. bolSevikurma xelisuflebam
zogadad qarTul erovnul mwerlobas
gadaumtvria xerxemali.
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #897, aRw. #1, s. #1, furc. 76.
2
iqve, aRw. #1, s #1, furc. 89.
3
iqve, aRw. #1, s #1, furc. 104.
1
9
3
7
mixeil javaxiSvili tician tabiZe
nikolo miwiSvili
Nikolo Mitsishvili
Mikheil Javakhishvili
Titsian Tabidze
activities.
1
Titsian Tabidzes fate followed Mikheil Javakhishvilis.
The following order was drawn: The presidium session
must be held on October 8, where the issues about Titsian
Tabidze and Sakvarelidze must surface.
2
Afterwards, Mikheil Javakhishvili and Titsian Tabidze
were arrested and shot dead.
The cleansing of the writers was a great success for
the authorities. The writers were shot dead, sent into exile,
or subordinated through terror, as the counter-revolutionary
organization functioned within the Writers Union. We broke
its main backbone. If there are any remains, they must be
exposed, and improved or expelled.
3
In the end, the Bolshevik authorities broke the
backbone of the Georgian literature.
1
Section II of the Archive Administration of the MIA, f.897, op.1, d.1, p.76
2
Ibid., p.89
3
Ibid., p.104
134
paolo iaSvilis, tician tabiZisa
da mixeil javaxiSvilis
sikvdilis Semdgomi
reabilitacia
1937 weli, 22 ivlisi
Tavs iklavs mwerali, paolo iaSvili...
1937 weli, 30 seqtemberi
daxvrites mwerali, mixeil
javaxiSvili...
1937 weli, 15 dekemberi
daxvrites mwerali, tician tabiZe...
gadis wlebi da igive komunisturi
xelisufleba daxvretili mwerlebis
sikvdilis Semdgom reabilitacias iTxovs.
es dokumenti Sinagan saqmeTa saministros
arqivSi inaxeba, romelsac srulad
vaqveynebT.
`1954 weli 4 maisi
komunisturi partiis centraluri
komitetis biuros sxdomis oqmis
amonawerSi mwerlebis m. javaxiSvilis,
t. tabiZis da p. iaSvilis Sesaxeb
vkiTxulobT:
komunisturi partiis centraluri
komitetis biuros sxdomam gadaxeda da
Seiswavla ra 1937 wels dapatimrebul
da daxvreta misjil mwerlebis (mixeil
javaxiSvili, tician tabiZe) saqmeebi, aseve
mweral paolo iaSvilis TviTmkvlelobis
faqti, daadgina, rom mixeil javaxiSvili
da tician tabiZe dausabuTeblad, sisxlis
nino yifSiZe
NINO KIPSHIDZE
gansakuTrebuli saqaRalde
/Special Folder
The Posthumous Rehabilitation of
Paolo Iashvili, Titsian Tabidze and
Mikheil Javakhishvili
July 22, 1937
The writer Paolo Iashvili committed suicide
September 30, 1937
The writer Mikheil Javakhishvili was shot
December 15, 1937
The writer Titsian Tabidze was shot
Years after the death of writers they condemned to
death, the Communist authorities decided to rehabilitate their
memories. What follows is the full document about this decision,
which is preserved in the Archive Administration of the Ministry
of Internal Affairs.
May 4, 1954
The extract of the protocol passed at the session of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party concerns the writers
M. Javakhishvili, T. Tabidze and Paolo Iashvili:
Having re-examined the case of the writers (Mikheil
Javakhishvili and Titsian Tabidze) who were shot in 1937, and
the case of Paolo Iashvili, who committed suicide, the session
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party concluded
_ gansakuTrebuli saqaRalde, romelSic
saidumlo da sruliad saidumlo dokumentebi inaxeboda.
_ Special Folders where secret and top secret cases
were stored
135
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samarTlebrivi saqmeebis procesualuri
normebis uxeSad darRveviT, wauyenebeli
braldebiT iqnen dapatimrebulebi.
urTierTgamomricxavia, rogorc
braldebulebis, aseve am saqmesTan
dakavSirebiT dakiTxuli mowmeebis
Cvenebebi.
mixeil javaxiSvili da tician tabiZe
mogvianebiT gamomJRavnebuli samSoblos
mtrebis _ gogliZis, qobulovis, krimianis
da sxvebis mier iqnen dapatimrebulebi.
isini saqmis kvlevis procesSi
dapatimrebul mwerlebis winaaRmdeg
binZur meTodebs iyenebdnen.
paolo iaSvilma Tavi moikla mas
Semdeg rac, is saqarTvelos komunisturi
partiis centralur komitetSi lavrenti
beriam daibara. manamde ki werili datova.
werilSi sakuTar udanaSaulobaze da im
sicrueze saubrobda, romelic samSoblos
mtrebma mis saxelTan dakavSirebiT
SeTiTxnes.
javaxiSvilis, tabiZisa da paolo
iaSvilis nawarmoebebi 1937 wels aikrZala,
rogorc samSoblos mtrebis Semoqmedeba.
saqarTvelos komunisturi partiis
centraluri komitetis biuros sxdoma
adgens: gadawyvetil iqnas mixeil
javaxiSvilis, tician tabiZisa da paolo
iaSvilis reabilitaciis sakiTxi; maT
Semoqmedebaze moixsnas akrZalva da
gagrZeldes am mwerlebis nawarmoebebis
gamocema.
saqarTvelos komunisturi partiis
centraluri komitetis mdivani v. mJavanaZe~
ris Semdegac es moTxovna ukve
saidumlo grifiT ruseTSi igzavneba:


`sruliad saidumlod
sabWoTa kavSiris komunisturi partiis
centralur komitets
q. moskovi
mogaxsenebT, saqarTvelos komunisturi
partiis centralurma komitetma
Seiswavla ra 1937 wels dapatimrebul da
daxvreta misjilebis, mixeil javaxiSvilisa
da tician tabiZis saqmeebi, aseve imave
wels momxdari mweral paolo iaSvilis
TviTmkvlelobis faqti, daadgina:
1880 wels dabadebul mixeil
javaxiSvilis saarqivo sagamoZiebo saqmidan
(# 979318) irkveva, rom 1937 wlis ivnisSi igi
that Mikheil Javakhishvili and Titsian Tabidze were arrested
without accusations against them and in violation of the criminal
law. The defendants and witnesses are believed to have given
contradictory evidence.
Mikheil Javakhishvili and Titsian Tabidze were then
accused of treason. They were arrested by Goglidze, Kobulov,
Krimian and others, who used unlawful methods against the
detainees during their detention.
Paolo Iashvili committed suicide after Lavrenty Beria had
called him to the Central Committee of the Communist Party. He
left a letter stating his innocence, that all the accusations against
him were fraudulent and fabricated by enemies of the state.
Their literary works were branded as written by traitors of
the country and thus, they were outlawed in 1937.
The session of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of Georgia herewith decides that Mikheil Javakhishvili,
Titsian Tabidze and Paolo Iashvili must be rehabilitated and
their works republished. The censorship on their writing must be
revoked.
136
dapatimrebul iqna prokuroris sanqciis
gareSe. misi dapatimreba faqtobrivi
dakavebidan ori Tvis dagvianebiT, 1937
wlis 13 agvistos gaformda. mixeil
javaxiSvili ajanyebis momzadebis,
jaSuSobis, mavneblobis, teroristuli
aqtis momzadebis braldebiT aiyvanes.
aRniSnuli braldebebi saqmis
msvlelobis dros javaxiSvilisTvis ar
wauyenebiaT. sabraldebo daskvnaSi ki am
braldebebis damamtkicebeli arcerTi
faqti ar fiqsirdeba.
zemoCamoTvlili sisxlis
samarTlebrivi saqmeebis procesualuri
normebis uxeSad darRvevis garda,
javaxiSvilis sagamoZiebo saqmeSi erTi
protokoli da sami misi gancxadeba
devs, romelTagan mxolod erTaderT
gancxadebas aqvs iuridiuli Zala,
rogorc dedans javaxiSvilis xelmoweriT,
danarCeni sami dokumenti ki aslia,
romlebsac araviTari iuridiuli Zala ar
gaaCnia. ucnobia sad inaxeba dednebi.
sagamoZiebo saqmeSi Tavmoyrilia
V. Mzhavanadze,
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of Georgia
After the decision Mzhavanadze sent the following
document, coded Top Secret, to the Central Committee of the
Communist Party.
Top Secret to the Central Committee of the Communist
Party
of the Soviet Union
Moscow
Having studied the cases of the writers Mikheil
Javakhishvili and Titsian Tabidze who were shot in 1937, and
the case of Paolo Iashvili who committed suicide the same year,
the session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of
Georgia concluded:
- According to the inquisitional case No. 979318, Mikheil
Javakhishvili was born in 1880. In June 1937 he was arrested
without a prosecutors warrant.
137
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im TerTmeti mowmis Cvenebebis aslebi,
romlebic imave periodSi arian
dapatimrebulebi, mxolod sul sxva
saqmeebis gamo. aqedan xuTi mowme
javaxiSvilis saqmesTan dakavSirebiT
saerTod aranair Cvenebas ar iZleva,
danarCenebis Cvenebebi ki aradamajerebeli
da urTierTgamomricxavia.
mixeil javaxiSvilis sagamoZiebo saqmis
analizidan irkveva, rom aramxolod
sisxlis samarTlebrivi saqmeebis
procesualuri normebi dairRva uxeSad,
aramed arsebobs winaaRmdegoba, rogorc
Tavad javaxiSvilis, aseve mowmeebis
CvenebebSi da aqedan gamomdinare,
braldebis safuZvelic aradamajerebelia.
Tumca, miuxedevad amisa mixeil
javaxiSvils 1937 wlis 30 seqtembers
sasjelis umaRlesi zoma daxvreta miesaja.
saarqivo sagamoZiebo saqmidan
(#8046) Cans, rom 1893 wels dabadebuli
mwerali tician tabiZe qobulovis mier
xelmowerili cnobis safuZvelze, 1937
wels samSoblos mtrebis - gogliZis,
qobulovis, krimianis mier iqna
dapatimrebuli.
tician tabiZis saqmis analizidan
vigebT, rom uxeSad dairRva sisxlis
samarTlebrivi saqmeebis procesualuri
normebi, radgan tician tabiZe 58-10 da 58-
11 muxlebiT gaTvaliswinebuli braldebis
safuZvelze daapatimres; dapatimrebidan
ori Tvis ganmavlobaSi, mxolod erTxel
daikiTxa; misTvis damatebiTi braldebebi
ar wauyenebiaT; Tumca sabraldebo
daskvnaSi zemoCamoTvlili muxlebis
garda, 58-6, 58-7 da 58-11 muxlebi aqvs
wayenebuli. ar momxdara mowmeebisa da
tabiZis dapirispireba, risi safuZvelic
namdvilad arsebobda.
amis garda, tabiZis saqmeSi arsebuli
dakiTxvis oqmebi aradamajerebelia.
mowmeebis Cvenebebidan irkveva, rom
tician tabiZe erTidaigive dros,
sxvadasxva pirovnebebis mier ramdenime
kontrrevoluciur organizaciaSi
iyo gadabirebuli, rac realobaSi
warmoudgenelia.
1937 wlis 15 dekembers `sameulis~
gadawyvetilebiT, tician tabiZes sasjelis
umaRlesi zoma daxvreta miesaja.
mweral tician tabiZis meuRle
gancxadebaSi wers, rom tician tabiZe 1937
wlis oqtomberSi lavrenti berias piradi
He was formally arrested on August 13th, 1937, two
months after his de facto detention. Mikheil Javakhishvili was
charged with preparing the revolt, espionage, sabotage and
organizing a terrorist attack.
These accusations were not brought against Javakhishvili
during the investigation. There is no evidence adduced of the
aforementioned accusations in the indictment.
One protocol and three declarations were attached to
Javakhishvilis case. But his signature appears only on one of
the three declarations and was an original. It means that only
this document has juridical force, as the other three documents
are only copies. The whereabouts of the original of these
documents are unknown.
Copies of the testimony given by eleven witnesses are
also attached to the case documentation. These people were
indeed arrested in the same period, but in connection to another
case, not Javakhishvilis. The writer is not at all mentioned in the
testimony of fve witnesses, and the testimony given by the other
six is indecisive and contradictory.
Having studied the case of Mikheil Javakhishvili, then we
can conclude that the procedure was not followed, it violated the
criminal law and the defendant and witnesses gave apparently
contradictory evidence. Thus, the accusation is unconvincing.
In spite of the aforementioned, on September 30th, 1937
Mikheil Javakhishvili was sentenced to death.
- According to the inquisitional case No. 8046, Georgian
writer Titsian Tabidze, born on 1893, was arrested by the traitors
Goglidze, Kobulow and Krimian in 1937 on an arrest warrant
signed by Kobulow.
After analyzing the case of Titsian Tabidze we can
conclude that his arrest was carried out in violation of the
criminal law. He was interrogated only twice during his detention
He was taken into custody on the grounds of Articles 58-10 and
58-11, but the indictment carried further accusations brought
against him on the grounds of Articles 58-6, 58-7 and 58-11.
Although there was every reason for confronting Tabidze with
witnesses, such a trial was not held.
The accusations attached to the defendants
documentation on the case are not convincing. According
to them, Titsian Tabidze was involved in several counter-
revolutionary activities at the same time. This statement cannot
137
gankargulebiT iqna dapatimrebuli. beriam
TavisTan daibara tabiZe, fsiqologiuri
zewolis qveS rus mwerlebTan megobroba
daabrala da mosTxova, cili daewama
poet paolo iaSvilisTvis, romelic
ori TviT adre swored beriam miiyvana
TviTmkvlelobamde. roca tician
tabiZem uari ganacxada megobris xsovnis
Seuracxyofaze, beriam misi dapatimrebis
gankarguleba gasca.
1937 wlis 22 ivliss Tavi moikla erT-
erTma gamoCenilma qarTvelma mweralma
paolo iaSvilma.
rogorc im periodSi dapatimrebul
pirTa Cvenebebidan da aseve sxva
saqmeebidan irkveva, paolo iaSvili
viTomda saqarTveloSi ramdenime wlis
ganmavlobaSi moqmedi kontrrevoluciuri
organizaciis erT-erTi xelmZRvaneli
iyo. Tumca yvela es masala
urTierTgamomricxavi, yalbi da arafris
damamtkicebelia.
saqarTvelos komunisturi partiis
centraluri komiteti mwerlebis _
ivane javaxiSvilis, tician tabiZisa da
paolo iaSvilis sikvdilis Semdgom
reabilitacias iTxovs. aseve iTxovs,
akrZalva moixsnas am mwerlebis
nawarmoebebze, raTa momavalSi mainc
daibeWdos.
saqarTvelos komunisturi partiis
centraluri komitetis mdivani
(v. mJavanaZe)
18 maisi 1954 w.
q. Tbilisi ~
be true.
By decree of the so-called Troika passed on December
15th, 1937, Titsian Tabidze was sentenced to death.
According to his wife, Tabidze was apprehended on
October 1937: Lavrenty Beria accused him of being in friendly
relations with Russian writers and demanded Tabidze to
condemn Paolo Iashvili who committed suicide two months
earlier. He refused to insult the memory of his dead friend and
Beria ordered his arrest.
- On July 22nd, 1937, a famous Georgian writer, Paolo
Iashvili, committed suicide. Iashvili was accused of running a
counter-revolutionary organization. But the evidence against him
was false and contradictory.
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia
then appeals for the rehabilitation of the Georgian writers Ivane
Javakhishvili, Titsian Tabidze and Paolo Iashvili. Their works
should not be censored and should be published in future.
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of Georgia
(V. Mzhavanadze)
18 May, 1954
Tbilisi
`sabWoeTSi akrZaluli mwerali~
138
meri barbaqaZe
MERY BARBAKADZE
`sabWoeTSi akrZaluli mwerali~
lida robaqiZis werili
leonid breJnevs
grigol robaqiZe (1880-1962) _ qarTveli
mwerali, poeti, publicisti. sazogado
moRvawe. Tanamedrove qarTuli da
germanuli fsiqologiuri romanis erT-
erTi fuZemdebeli. avtori nawarmoebebisa:
`londa~, `kardu~, `gvelis perangi~,
`Cakluli suli~, `graalis mcvelni~,
`qalRmerTis Zaxili~ da sxva.
sabWoTa kavSirSi `akrZaluli~
mwerlis grigol robaqiZis saxelis da
Semoqmedebis `reabilitacia~ sakmaod gvian,
sabWoTa kavSiris arsebobis ukanasknel
wlebSi moxda.
mwerali sicocxlis bolomde
emigraciaSi imyofeboda. gardaicvala
1962 wels, SveicariaSi, qalaq JenevaSi.
1976 wels qarTveli emigrantebis, nino da
kalistrate saliebis TaosnobiT, grigol
robaqiZe, parizis maxloblad, levilis
sasaflaoze gadaasvenes. samSoblodan
gadaxvewilma mweralma saqarTvelos
genialuri Semoqmedeba da anderZad
erTaderTi Txovna dautova: `Cemi natvraa:
roca me amsoflad aRar viqnebi, modiodes
vinme qarTveli deda yovel wels mcxeTas,
grigol robaqiZe /Grigol Robakidze
dabrunebuli saxelebi / Retrieved Names
A BANNED WRITER IN
THE SOVIET UNION: LIDA
ROBAKIDZES LETTER TO
LEONID BREZHNEV
A Banned Writer in the Soviet Union: Lida Robakidzes
Letter to Leonid Brezhnev
Grigol Robakidze (1880 1962) Georgian writer,
poet, publicist, and public fgure; one of the founders of
the modern Georgian and German psychological novel;
author of: Londa, Kardu, Gvelis Perangi (The Snakes
Shirt), Chakluli Suli (Stifed Spirit), Graalis Mtsveli (The
Guardian of the Graal), Kalghmertis Dzakhili (The Call of
the Goddess) and others.
Grigol Robakidze was a banned writer. His name and
creative work were rehabilitated only in the last years of the
Soviet Union.
Robakidze lived a lifelong exile and died in Geneva,
Switzerland in 1962, having bequeathed his creative work to
Georgia. In 1976, under the aegis of the Georgian migrs
Nino and Kalistrate Salias, Grigol Robakidze was reburied
in the Leuville Cemetery near Paris. In his testament he
139
140
wifobis, Cemi dabadebis TveSi. sanTels
anTebdes da pawa salocavis win da
locviT axsenebdes Cems saxels. mets
arasa vTxov saqarTvelos!~
grigol robaqiZe 1931 wels
germaniaSi SemoqmedebiTi mivlinebiT
myofi, iZulebuli gaxda emigraciaSi
darCeniliyo. es iyo erTaderTi gza misi
fizikurad gadarCenis da amave dros
protesti im sastiki sabWoTa reJimis
mimarT, sazogadoebaSi komunisturi
ideologiis danergvis umTavresi misia
kulturas da gansakuTrebiT mwerlobas
rom daakisra.
sabWoTa xelisuflebam germaniaSi
darCenili mwerlis winaaRmdeg
cilismwamebluri da uzneo kampania
wamoiwyo. grigol robaqiZe faSistad,
kontrrevolucionerad, moRalated
da mtrad gamocxadda. garicxul iqna
mweralTa kavSiridan. 1935 wels CamoerTva
sabWoTa moqalaqeoba. arsebuli teroris
pirobebSi, mxolod ramdenime mwerals eyo
gambedaoba gamosarCleboda Tanamemamules,
maT Soris iyo mixeil javaxiSvili.
grigol robaqiZis saxelis xseneba da
Semoqmedeba aikrZala sabWoTa kavSirSi!
grigol robaqiZe didi avtoritetiT
sargeblobda emigrantTa Soris. 1942
wels misi uSualo monawileobiT daarsda
qarTvel tradicionalistTa kavSiri.
yovelive qarTulis, erovnulis qomagi,
miuxedavad xangrZlivi emigraciisa,
ganagrZobda qarTuli enis saidumlos
amoxsnas. qarTvelTa xasiaTs qarTuli
enis mravalferovani bunebiT xsnida.
qarTvelebs ki Seagonebda: `daendeT
mxolod da mxolod Rrma sityvas am Zira
fenebidan. iqaa gulis Zgera da majiscema
saqarTvelosi. iqaa gonmetyveleba misi~.
1

Tavisi SemoqmedebiT yovelTvis saubrobda
im safrTxeze, romelsac bolSevizmi
uqmnida qarTul enasa da sulierebas.
misi yoveli nawarmoebi komunisturi
wyobis sisastikeze da gamxrwnel Zalaze
metyvelebda.
momdevno periodSi sabWoTa kavSirSi
dawyebulma liberalizaciis procesma,
cvlilebebi moiTxova. axali politikuri
xelmZRvanelobis erT-erTi pirveli
RonisZieba `ukanonod~ represirebulTa
reabilitacia iyo. rac gansakuTrebiT
gazrdida xelisuflebis avtoritets
sazogadoebaSi, rogorc qveynis SigniT ise
saerTaSoriso asparezze. represirebulTa
1
maia jaliaSvili _ `grigol robaqiZe~, Tb., 2009
wrote, It is my last wish: I ask a Georgian mother to come to
Mtskheta in October (my birth month) of every year, to light a
candle in front of a little shrine and pray for me. I ask Georgia
only for this!
In 1931 Grigol Robakidze was sent to Germany and
took refuge there as an migr. It was the only way for him
to survive, while at the same time it was a protest against
the brutal Soviet regime. Culture-- especially writing--was
a major feld that was used to propagandize the Soviet
ideology.
The Soviet authorities launched a slanderous campaign
against the writer after he decided to stay in Germany.
Robakidze was accused of being a fascist, a counter
revolutionary activist, a traitor and enemy. He was expelled
from the Soviet Writers Union and in 1935 he lost his
Soviet citizenship. Mikheil Javakhishvili was among those
black-listed writers who had enough courage to plead for is
compatriot risking the terms of the strict terror in force at the
time.
Grigol Robakidzes creative work and even mentioning
his name were banned throughout the Soviet Union!
Grigol Robakidze had a certain authority in his relations
with other migrs. In 1942 he was one of the founders of
the Union of Georgian Traditionalists. He was an apostle of
everything that was national. Although Robakidze lived in
long-term exile, he tried to share the secrets of the Georgian
language, explaining the Georgian character with the
language. He advised fellow Georgians, Use only Georgian,
as it is the heart-beat of Georgia.
1
His work resonated
with the Bolshevik threats for the Georgian language and
spirit. Each of his works was an exercise against the brutal
Communist system.
The process of liberalization throughout the Soviet
Union which began in 1954 led to many changes. One of the
reforms carried out by the new authorities was to rehabilitate
1
Grigol Robakidze by Maia Jaliashvili, Tbilisi, 2009.
141
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reabilitaciis procesi 1954 wlidan
daiwyo.
sabWoTa xelisuflebis mier `qveynis
da xalxis mtrad~ Seracxuli grigol
robaqiZis saxelisa da Semoqmedebis
reabilitacia Zalzed gaWianurda. 1963
wlis 28 seqtembers grigol robaqiZis
dam lida robaqiZem, gancxadebiT mimarTa
saqarTvelos mweralTa kavSirs, Zmis
reabilitaciis Taobaze, rasac reagireba
mweralTa kavSiridan ar mohyolia.
lida robaqiZem Zmis reabilitaciis
TxovniT xelmeored gagzavna werili 1967
wels, amjerad skkp generaluri mdivnis
l. breJnevis da ssrk ministrTa sabWos
Tavmjdomaris a.n. kosiginis saxelze.
Txovnas Sedegi ar mohyolia.
1972 wels 29-30 marts saqarTvelos
komunisturi partiis centralur
komitetis plenumze v. p. mJavanaZem gaixsena
da kidev erTxel dagmo, 1966 wels
mweralTa kavSiris erT-erT sxdomaze
revaz jafariZis gamosvla, romelic
emigranti mwerlis grigol robaqiZis
reabilitacias iTxovda.
1
revaz jafariZis
gabedulma nabijma didi ukmayofileba
da xmauri gamoiwvia. araerTi braldeba
ismoda grigol robaqiZis winaaRmdeg.
2

`parizSi grigol robaqiZis iniciativiT,
menSevikebis sazRvargareTis biuros
paralelurad, Camoyalibda qarTvel
emigrantTa biuro, romlis mizanic
iyo emigrantebis gaerTianeba sabWoTa
xelisuflebis winaaRmdeg sabrZolvelad.
omis periodSi grigol robaqiZis
antisabWoTa saqmianoba ufro gaZlierda.
muSaobas iwyebs gebelsTan propagandis
saministros biuroSi. asrulebs gestapos
davalebebs. Tavisive gancxadebiT grigol
robaqiZe piradad icnobda musolins, axlo
urTierToba hqonda faSisturi germaniis
politikur moRvawesTan alfred
rozenbergTan. gebelsis mier wardgenil
iqna hitlerTan.
grigol robaqiZe xSirad stumrobda
qarTvel tyveTa banaks. eweoda
tyveebis gadabirebas qarTvelTa
nacionalur legionSi. mouwodebda
daxmarebodnen germanelTa armias,
raTa gaeTavisuflebinaT saqarTvelo
bolSevikebisgan.~
3

miuxedavad mgavsi absurduli
akrZalvebisa, qarTveli axalgazrdoba
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f.#14, aRw. #47, s.#2, furc. 34
2
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f.#897, aRw. #1, s.#64
3
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f.#17, aRw. #52, s.#3, furc.235-236
the writers who had been illegally oppressed. Authorities
wanted to raise both their domestic and international
prestige.
The process of rehabilitation of Grigol Robakidze
dragged on, however. He had been accused of being a
traitor. On September 28, 1963 Lida Robakidze, Grigol
Robakidzes sister, appealed to the Writers Union to
rehabilitate her brother, but she had no response.
In 1967 Lida Robakidze sent a letter to L.I. Brezhnev,
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet
Union, and to A. N. Kosygin, Chairman of the Council of
Ministers of the USSR. Again, there was no response.
On March 29-30, 1972 at the plenum of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia,
Mzhavanadze denounced the speech of Revaz Japaridze
who had raised the issue of rehabilitating Grigol Robakidze
in 1966 at the session of the Writers Union.
1
The bold
speech of Revaz Japaridze provoked an angry reaction
all over the country. Many accusations were made against
Grigol Robakidze.
2

On the initiative of G. Robakidze in Paris, in parallel
with the Overseas Bureau of the Mensheviks, a Bureau
of Georgian migrs was created, the purposes of which
was to unite all the migrs for active struggle against
Soviet power. During the war the anti-Soviet activity of G.
Robakidze intensifed. He began working in the Bureau of
Goebbels Propaganda Ministry, fulflling the orders of the
Gestapo. According to Robakidzes own statement, he was
personally acquainted with Mussolini, had close relations
with the Nazi Minister Alfred Rosenberg, and had been
introduced to Hitler by Goebbels.
Robakidze visited a prisoner of war camp holding
Georgian prisoners and recruited them into the Georgian
national legions, calling on them to help the German army to
1
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f. 14, op. 47, d. 2, p. 34.
2
Ibid., f.897, op. 1, d. 64.
142
malulad ecnoboda da aRiarebda
samSoblodan gadaxvewili `tabudadebuli~
mwerlis Semoqmedebas.
pirvelad, mxolod 1988-89 wlebSi
gaxda SesaZlebeli farTo mkiTxvelTa
samsjavroze gamoetanaT akrZaluli
mwerlis Semoqmedebis mcire nawili.
presis furclebze gaCnda axali rubrika
saxelwodebiT `dabrunebuli saxelebi~,
ris Sedegadac literaturas daubrunda
aTwleulebis manZilze arqivebis mtvrian
sacavebSi Caketili grigol robaqiZis
nawarmoebebi. mwerlis reabilitaciis
amsaxveli oficialuri dokumentacia
dRemde ar aris cnobili.
`dabrunebuli~ mwerlis Semoqmedeba
dRemde moZiebas da gamoqveynebas
saWiroebs. CvenTvis mniSvnelovania
TiToeuli detali misi biografiidan.
vaqveynebT lida robaqiZis werils,
romliTac igi Zmis rebilitacias iTxovda.
dokumenti daculia Sinagan sameTa
saministros arqivSi (Sesrulebulia
rusul enaze).
1


21 ianvari 1967
skkp
skkp genralur mdivans
amxanag l. i. breJnevs
ssrk ministrTa sabWos Tavmjdomares
amxanag a. n. kosigins
moskovi-kremli
didad pativcemulo amxanagebo!
pirveli Txovna Tqvendami meqneba,
rom bolomde moisminoT Cemi mSfoTvare
cxovrebis aRsareba.
TqvenTvis cnobilia, rom daaxloebiT ori
wlis win gavbede da TxovniT mogmarTeT Cemi
Zmis, gamoCenili qarTveli mwerlis grigol
robaqiZesTan dakavSirebiT, romelic 1962
wlis noemberSi, SveicariaSi gardaicvala.
meored gawuxebT isev am sakiTxis gamo. yvela
danarCens rom Tavi davanebo, Cemi mZime
sulieri mdgomareoba iZulebuls mxdis,
Cveni sayvareli da didebuli samSoblos
xelmZRvanelebis yuradReba mivmarTo am
sakiTxisadmi, gansakuTrebiT maTi yuradReba
romelTa Sesaxebac wina werilSi SedarebiT
mokled mqonda saubari.
momiteveT gambedaobisTvis, rom Tqven
saxelmwifoebrivi saqmeebiT datvirTulebs,
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f.#14, aRw.#42, s.#336, furceli 67-90
liberate Georgia from the Bolsheviks . . .
1
Despite the fact that Grigol Robakidze was a banned
writer Georgians secretly read the writers work and praised
it highly, but discretely. Finally, in 1988-89, readers were
able to study the work of the banned writer. A column entitled
Retrieved Names was added to the press, and then the
works of Grigol Robakidze that had been preserved in
dusty repositories of the archives became accessible to the
readers.
The creative work of a retrieved writer needs
studying and publishing. Every detail of his biography is
very important to us. We present a letter of Lida Robakidze
in which she asks for the rehabilitation of her brother.
The document (in Russian) is preserved in the Archive
Administration of the Informational-Analytical Department of
the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
2
To Comrades: L.I. Brezhnev, General Secretary of the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and A. N. Kosygin,
Chairman of the
Council of Ministers of the USSR
Moscow-The Kremlin
My dear comrades!
First of all, let me draw your attention to the confession
of my troubled life.
It is the second time I dare to annoy you concerning my
brother, a famous Georgian writer, Grigol Robakidze. I wrote
to you two years earlier. My brother died in Switzerland in
November, 1962. I dare to draw the attention of the heads of
the dearest and grand country to this matter.
1
Ibid., f. 17, op. 52, d. 3, pp. 235-236.
2
II Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f. 14, op.42, d. 336, pp.
67-90.
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iZulebuls gxdiT, Cems cxovrebaSi
SeasruloT gadamwyveti roli.
is, rasac qvemoT mogaxsenebT, yovelive
dafuZnebulia srul WeSmaritebaze, amis
gareSe me ver gavbedavdi kalmis aRebas da
Tqvens Sewuxebas.
sergo orjonikiZis TanxmobiT grigol
robaqiZe 1932 wels evropaSi gaemgzavra.
am faqtidan maleve, saqarTveloSi
amierkavkasiis pirvel xelmZRvanelad
dainiSna xalxis mteri beria, romlis bnelma
saqmianobam araerTi qarTveli inteligentis
cxovreba Seiwira. am mravalricxovan
msxverplTa Soris iyvnen: elinisti grigoli
filimonis Ze wereTeli, mwerlebi: mixeil
javaxiSvili, tician tabiZe, paolo iaSvili da
sxva mravalni.
berias sisxlian saqmianobebSi eWvi
aRaravis epareba da msofliosTvisac kargad
aris cnobili. Cems Zmamdec midioda cnobebi,
Tu ra mdgomareoba iyo saqarTveloSi, rom
Cemi Zmis uaxloesi megobrebi, qarTveli
xalxis sayvareli pirovnebebi
Zaladobis msxverplni gaxdnen.
yvelani ukve
reabilitirebulni arian,
maTi Sromebi yoveldRiurad
gamoicema, riTac qarTvelebi
did kmayofilebas gamoxataven.
aseT viTarebaSi, dRevandel
dRemde gadauwyveteli rCeba
mxolod Cemi Zmis sakiTxi.
mizezi ki SemdegSia:
1. grigol robaqiZe darCa
evropaSi da ar moisurva daRupuli
megobrebis saSineli bedis
gaziareba. kerZod, misi megobari
iyo cnobili revolucioneri,
oqtombris revoluciis erTerTi
veterani, petrogradis olqis
yofili xelmZRvaneli, romelic
piradad icnobda msoflio
proletariatis belads v. i.
lenins. es iyo vladimer jiqia,
romelic veragulad gaanadgura
beriam.
2. grigol robaqiZem jer kidev
1928 wels germaniaSi dabeWda
romani `gvelis perangi~. 1933
wlamde zogierTi misi nawarmoebebi
magaliTad `kavkasiuri novelebi~
sxvadasxva enebze gamoicemoda. ase
rom, sazRvargareT yofnisas Cemi
Zmis literaturuli moRvaweoba
ar ukavSirdeba mxolod hitleris
sisxliani moRvaweobis periods
Let me excuse myself for encroaching on your time.
Although I know that you are very busy with State work, I
have to ask you to interfere in my life.
I assure you that every word in this letter is absolutely
true. Otherwise I would not have dared disturb you.
With the permission of Sergo Orjonikidze, Grigol
Robakidze left for Europe in 1932. Soon after, Beria
came into power. He was an enemy of the people. Many
representatives of the Georgian intelligentsia were
oppressed under his regime. Among them were the
following: Grigol Tsereteli (son of Philimon) one of the
founders of the Papyrology; writers: Mikheil Javakhishvili,
Titian Tabidze, Paolo Iashvili and many others.
The bloody activity of Beria is known throughout the
world. My brother also knew about those activities. He knew
144
germaniaSi. saliteraturo asparezze grigol
robaqiZe jer kidev 1905 wlidan gamovida.
3. is cxovrobda germaniaSi, magram ar
hqonda kavSiri nacistebTan, arc piradad
da miTumetes arc organizaciulad. ufro
metic, rogorc eWvmitanili piri gamudmebiT
gestapos meTvalyureobis qveS imyofeboda.
Ziebis Sedegad am faqtebis sizuste ukve
damtkicda, es yovelive cnobilia sabWoTa
saqarTvelos mweralTa kavSirisTvis,
moskoveli megobrebisa da sxvebisTvis.
4. grigol robaqiZe arasdros yofila
politikuri moRvawe, arc sabWoTa periodSi
da arc mas Semdeg. aranair politikur
partiaSi ar iricxeboda. mas arasdros miuRia
germaniis moqalaqeoba.
didi samamulo omis periodSi grigol
robaqiZem daamtkica, rom is ar yofila
samSoblos moRalate, ar iziarebda
nacisturi wyobis vandalizms. ar arsebobs
dokumenti, romelic Cveni gancxadebis
sapirispiros daamtkicebda.
da Tu is sdumda, es gasagebi mizezebis
that his friends who were public figures became victims of
the violence.
It is important to note that these persons have already
been rehabilitated. The Georgian people are very satisfied
because the works of those oppressed figures are being
published daily.
But my brothers case has not been decided yet
because of the following factors:
1. Grigol Robakidze stayed in Europe because he
did not wish to share the terrible fortune of his friends.
Among those was Vladimir Jikia - a famous revolutionary,
member of the October Revolution and a former head of
Petrograd region. He personally knew the leader of the
world proletariat, V.I. Lenin. Jikia was
oppressed under the regime of Beria;
2. In 1928 Grigol Robakidze
published his novel Gvelis Perangi
(The Snakes Shirt) in Germany. His
works, including Caucasian Short
Stories, were published in many
languages until 1933. Hence it follows,
that my brother did not describe bloody
activity of Hitler in his works. Grigol
Robakidze started his literary work in
1905;
3. Although he lived in Germany
he did not have personal or political
connections with the Nazis. Moreover,
he was suspected of spying and thus, he
has always been under the control of the
Gestapo. These facts have already been
proven true through investigation. These
facts are known to the Writers Union of
Georgia and to Moscovite friends as well;
4. Grigol Robakidze was never
involved in political activities during the
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gamo xdeboda. is arsebiT iyo izolirebuli
garesamyarosgan. gaixseneT romani `rolana~,
ra bedi ewia. mas omis periodSi ar mieca
saSualeba xma aemaRlebina hitleris simxecis
winaaRmdeg.
5. grigol robaqiZe ZiriTadad rusul
kulturaze iyo aRzrdili. mis kalams
ekuTvnis didi siyvaruliT gamTbari
wigni `portretebi~, romlis etiudebSi
warmogvidgens Cadaevs, lermontovsa da
sxva rus mwerlebs. daamTavra iurievis
universiteti. aqve unda aRiniSnos 1928 wels
lev tolstois iubileSi misi monawileobis
Sesaxeb, aseve qarTul enaze gamoqveynebuli
rusi mwerlebisadmi miZRvnili werilebis
seria. grigol robaqiZis saxeli Cvens
droSi gansakuTrebiT Semkulia
aRiarebuli naSromebiT leninze, leninis
literaturuli portreti, romlis Seqmnac
nakarnaxevi iyo beladis gardacvalebiT 1924
wels. aRniSnuli naSromi daibeWda JurnalSi
_ `kavkasioni~.
grigol robaqiZe `didi siyvaruliT
xatavs~ lenins, Tavis romanSi `gvelis
perangi~, igi lenins jer kidev revoluciamde
parizSi usmenda.
erTi sityviT, arcerT nacionalur
kulturasTan is ise axlos ar iyo
Serwymuli, rogorc qarTulsa da rusul
kulturebTan.
msgavsi magaliTebis CamoTvla
dausruleblad SeiZleba, magram ar minda
Tqveni yuradReba davamZimo.
grigol robaqiZe rogorc portretisti
mwerali yovelTvis interesdeboda
istoriul sarbielze moRvawe
politikosebiT.
amiT aris ganpirobebuli misi patara
statia stalinze, romelSic is negatiurad
axasiaTebs mis pirovnebas. rac Seexeba
statiebs hitlersa da musolinze, rogorc
CemTvis cnobilia sxvadasxva wyaroebidan,
maT axasiaTebs rogorc demonur pirovnebebs,
da saubari simpaTiebsa da maTi politikur
Sexedulebebis gaziarebaze es aris udidesi
tyuili da ciliswameba.
Cemi Zma ar yofila Zaladobisa da
mkvlelobis mexotbe, is sasuliero piris
Svili iyo da misi humanizmi kargad aris
cnobili Cems qveyanaSi.
garda amisa, aseve kargad ician rom grigol
robaqiZe Tavisi avtoritetiT aRiarebda
ara satanis Tayvanismcemlebs (rogorebic
iyvnen faSistebi) aramed qristianebs, netar
avgustines.
mogaxsenebT, rom saqarTvelos mweralTa
Soviet Period or afterwards. He has not been a member of
any political party. He has never been a German citizen;
During the Great Patriotic War Grigol Robakidze
proved that he was not a traitor, and he did not approve of
the criminal Nazi regime.
He had a logical motive for not protesting openly. He
was spiritually isolated from the external world. Remember
the fate of the main character in the novel Rolana! He did
not manage to show his protest against Hitlers violence.
5. Grigol Robakidze was brought up within a Russian
culture. He is an author of The Portraits wherein he speaks
about Chaadaev, Lermontov and about other Russian
writers. He graduated from the Yuriev University. It is worth
mentioning that in 1928 he took part in the anniversary of
Lev Tolstoy. He devoted a series of letters to Russian writers
that were published in Georgian. Grigol Robakidze is known
for his works concerning Lenin. In 1924 my brother was
inspired by the death of Lenin and made his literary portrait.
This work was published in the journal Kavkasioni.
Grigol Robakidze described Lenin with love in the novel
Gvelis Perangi. He listened to Lenins speech in Paris even
before the revolution.
In conclusion, his personality was close to both
Georgian and Russian cultures.
Many examples can be given but I dont want you to
disturb.
Grigol Robakidze made portrait works. For this reason,
he has always been interested in acting politicians. He wrote
a little article wherein he criticized Stalin. According to many
sources, he considered Hitler and Mussolini to be demons.
Thus, the notion that my brother shared their ideology is
beyond belief.
My brother has never been supporter of violence or
murder. He was the son of a religious figure and well known
for his humanism in my country.
Besides, unlike the fascists he was not a follower of
146
kavSiris xelmZRvaneloba, arasdros
yofila grigol robaqiZis reabilitaciis
winaaRmdegi da raRac zedmeti sifrTxilis,
gamo dRemde yovndeba grigol robaqiZis
dabruneba sakuTar wiaRSi, rogorc mwerlis
da politikurad umwikvlo adamianis.
rodesac daibeWdeba misi nawarmoebebi,
qarTulad Sesrulebuli kritikuli da
poeturi memkvidreoba, yvelasTvis naTeli
gaxdeba, rom swored grigol robaqiZe iyo
yvelaze pirveli da didi qomagi rusul-
qarTuli megobrobisa saqarTveloSi.
me daviRale am faqtebis SexsenebiT, maSin
roca Cemze ukeT ician yovelive saqarTvelos
mweralTa kavSiris xelmZRvanelobaSi.
pativcemul megobrebs: l. breJnevs da a.
kosigins.
Cemi daRlili guli da gawamebuli
cxovreba Tqvengan daxmarebas da Zmis
reabilitacias elodeba. me iseve minda viyo
bednieri, rogorc exla arian gaxarebulebi
rusi mwerlebis ojaxebi, ukanonod
gasamarTlebulTa reabilitaciiT.
berias mier ganadgurebuli, aw ukve
reabilitirebuli cnobili mwerlebis i.
babelisa da o. mandelStamis nawarmoebebs
sabWoTa kavSirSi kiTxuloben. ibeWdeba
gulievis leqsebi da statiebi (is
xom banakidan iaraRiT xelSi ebrZoda
revoluciis mtrebs). ibeWdeba sabWoTa
kavSirTan Seurigebeli mwerlis buninis
proza, arafers vambobT kuprinze da
anfiTiatrovze, Saliapinze, romelic
emigraciaSi gardaicvala. Cems Zmas, xom maT,
antisabWoTa saqmianobasTan saerTo ar hqonda.
Tqven imxela yuradRebas iCenT Cemi
eris mimarT, rusTavelis grandiozuli
iubilis mowyobiT, rom darwmunebuli
var, ar moswyvetT qarTul literaturas
Svils, romelic 31 weli emsaxureboda
sabWoTa saqarTvelos. grigol robaqiZis
memkvidreoba, misi saukeTeso nawarmoebebi,
savse progresuli da kacTmoyvare
suliskveTebiT, uTuod daamSveneben Cvens
literaturas.
ar minda Tavi mogabezroT im
ciliswamebebis CamoTvliT, romliTac
cdiloben reaqcionerad monaTlon
grigol robaqiZe. amiT daintersebulni
arian Savbneli da saeWvo pirovnebebi
CvenTan da SesaZloa sxva adgilebSic.
zemoT aRniSnuli masalebi faqtobrivad
damtkicebulia da saqarTvelos mweralTa
kavSiris gankargulebaSia. magram me davkarge
imedi, rom mand, odesme gadawyveten Cems
mier dasmul sakiTxs da gamaTavisufleben
Stan. He was a Christian by religion and an advocate of St.
Augustine.
The head of the Writers Union of Georgia has never
been against the rehabilitation of Grigol Robakidze. It is
unclear why this process has not been carried out yet. Grigol
Robakidze has a good reputation as a writer. He must be
rehabilitated in his country.
Grigol Robakidze was a supporter of Georgian-Russian
relationship. This fact will be proven if his works, including
critical and poetic ones, are published in Georgia.
I am sick and tired of speaking about it. The head of the
Writers Union knows all these facts.
To my dear friends: L. Brezhnev and A. Kosygin!
My heart is tired of a hard life. I am looking forward to
rehabilitating my brother. I want to be happy as the family
members of those Russian writers who have already been
rehabilitated.
Although famous Russian writers I. Babeli and O.
Mandelshtam were oppressed by Beria, they have already
been rehabilitated and their works are published throughout
the Soviet Union. Guliev was against the rivals of the
revolution, and Bunyen was against the Soviet regime
but their poems and articles are published. The following
writers works are also accessible who died in exile: Kuprin,
Amfiteatrov, Shalyapin. My brother was not involved in their
anti-Soviet activities.
You paid much attention to the Georgian nation when
you organized the anniversary of Rustaveli. It makes me
think that you wont remove my brother from Georgian
literature. He served the Soviet Georgia for 31 years. Grigol
Robakidzes inheritance - his best works of literature that are
full of progressive and philanthropic ideology, will definitely
beautify Georgian literature.
I wont annoy you by reading all the calamitous
attacks on Grigol Robakidze. Those suspected persons are
interested in spreading rumors as if he was a reactionary.
147
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im sulieri depresiisgan, romelic
gamowveulia Cemi Zmisadmi arasamarTliani
damokidebulebiT. Cemi Txovna iqneba, Tqvens
mier piradad iTqvas saboloo sityva da
Sesabamisi gankarguleba gaices.
CvenTvis srulebiT gasagebia, rom erTi
SexedviT Tqven literaturul saqmeebSi
Careva ar gevalebaT, magram Cemi Zmis
reabilitacia nawilobriv politikur
mxaresac moicavs da, amis gamo vbedav gTxovoT,
gamoiCinoT gansakuTrebuli gulisxmiereba
da miiRoT zomebi uaxloes vadebSi, radgan es
saqme ukve dausruleblad iweleba.
momeciT saSualeba, rom me dabeCavebul
qarTvel qals, romelic Zmis simarTleze
zrunavs, Tqveni keTilSobiluri saqcielis
Semdgom guliTadad gadagixadoT madloba.
Rrmad daimedebuli, Soridan gamovxatav
Tqvendami usazRvro mowiwebasa da
madlierebas~.
Tbilisi ninoSvilis q. #41a
lida robaqiZe
`18~ ianvari
1967 w
The aforementioned facts have been proven to be the truth
and they are at the disposal of the Writers Union of Georgia.
Unfortunately I dont expect that they will solve this problem
and free me from the spiritual agony that has been caused
by an unfair attitude toward my brother. I ask you to solve
this issue and issue the appropriate order.
I know that literary issues are not under your
responsibility,but the rehabilitation of my brother is connected
with politics. For this reason, I dare ask you to be kind and
take measures to solve this problem.
Let me, an old Georgian woman who is defending her
brothers truth, thank you sincerely for your kind work.
I am very hopeful and express my great appreciation
and gratitude to you.
41-a Ninoshvili St., Tbilisi
Lida Robakidze
18 January, 1967

148
Sinsaxkomis
zedamxedvelis Cveneba
rogor Sendeboda sabWoTa epoqa
sabWoTa kavSirSi bolSevikuri
terori, gansakuTrebiT 1937-1938
wlebSi mZvinvarebda. jalaTebi bnel
jurRmulebSi spobdnen erovnulad,
Tavisuflad moazrovne adamianebs.
xalxSi dausruleblad vrceldeboda
xmebi axal-axali dapatimrebebisa da
TviTmkvlelobebis Sesaxeb. cixeebi gaivso
patimrebiT, saidanac maTi kvali ugzo-
ukvlod ikargeboda.
represiebis sqema sakmaod martivi
iyo, sabWoTa kavSiris yvela, faruli Tu
aSkara mowinaaRmdege fizikurad unda
ganadgurebuliyo. danaSaulis aRiarebis
mizniT, patimrebze sastiki fsiqologiuri
da fizikuri zewola mimdinareobda.
iWerdnen yvelas, yvela sfero
gawmindes `kontrrevolucionerebisgan~,
`agentebisgan~. adamianis dasaWerad erTi
anonimuri werilic sakmarisi iyo. qveyanaSi
SiSi da undobloba gaCnda. uneblieT
warmoTquli erTi sityvac ki SesaZloa
sabediswero gamxdariyo.
represiebis da dapatimrebebis ricxvma
piks 1937 wels miaRwia. dasaWerTa da
dasaxvretTa winaswar Sedgenili sia
moskovidan respublikebs daegzavnaT. gegma
Sesasrulebeli iyo... daiwyo masobrivi
dapatimrebebi, kontrrevoluciuri
braldebiT dapatimrebulis ojaxi,
represiebisTvis iyo ganwiruli.
patimars dakiTxvaze umokles vadaSi
aucileblad unda eRiarebina diversiul-
kontrrevoluciur-teroristuli jgufis
meri barbaqaZe
MARY BARBAKADZE
sabWoTa satusaRo/Soviet Prison
TESTIMONY OF A NKVD PRISON GUARD
How the Soviet terror of the
1930s manifested in jails
The Soviet Union is notorious for the massive amount
of detentions and repression that took place during the
1930s. The Bolshevik terror became more aggressive from
1937 to 1938 in which news of mass detentions and suicides
spread daily. Prisons were full of detainees who disappeared
149
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rogor Sendeboda sabWoTa epoqa
wevroba da amave dros sxva wevrebic
daesaxelebina. ar qonda mniSvneloba
arsebobda Tu ara msgavsi organizacia.
fsiqologiuri da fizikuri zewoliT
sikvdilamde miyvanili patimrisgan
`aRiarebiT Cvenebebs iRebdnen~, rac
axali dapatimrebebis sababi xdeboda.
Sinagan saqmeTa saxalxo komisariatis
Tbilisis Sida cixe, mudmivad gadavsebuli
iyo patimrebiT, aseT viTarebaSi
patimris saqmis ganxilvas da ganaCenis
gamotanas sul ramodenime wuTs
uTmobdnen, sasamarTlo procesis gareSe,
braldebuls, mxolod ganaCens ukiTxavdnen
da dauyonebliv mohyavdaT sisruleSi.
TiTqmis yovel RamiT satvirTo manqanebiT
dasaxvretad gahyavdaT sikvdilmisjili
patimrebi. daxvretas Tbilisis Sida
cixis ufrosi zaxar SaSurkini
xelmZRvanelobda. 30-iani wlebidan Sida
cixis gamomZieblebad umeteswilad
yofili msjavrdebulebi, sisxlis
samarTlis damnaSaveebi muSaobdnen.
cdaxia, es yvelaferi gamiznulad xdeboda.
cixis xelmZRvaneloba Tvals xuWavda
maT danaSaulebriv warsulze, radgan
aseTi adamianis danaSaulebrivi mizniT
gamoyeneba bevrad ioli iyo. Tumca am
into thin air.
The plan of repression was simple: Every secret or
acknowledged enemy of the state had to be liquidated.
Severe physical and psychological oppression was aimed
at obtaining confessions from detainees. Detainees had
to admit that they were members of counter-revolutionary
or terrorist organizations whether it was true or not. They
also had to name other members of such organizations.
Nearly everyone was detained as a counter-revolutionary
or agent as only one anonymous letter was needed for
arrest. This caused fear and mistrust to spread throughout
the country and an innocent remark could thus be fatal.
This Great Purge of the 1930s reached its peak in 1937.
Moscow distributed lists of persons to be detained and shot.
In addition, the families of accused counter-revolutionaries
were also repressed.
NKVD prisons were always full of detainees and it
was for this reason that only a few minutes were devoted
to reviewing each case and passing a sentence. Verdicts
were immediately enforced and trucks full of condemned
150
adamianebs, romlebic 30-ian wlebSi Sinagan
saqmeTa saxalxo komisariatSi sxvadasxva
Tanamdebobebze muSaobdnen, sakadrisi
maleve miezRoT. isini im politikurma
sistemam imsxverpla, romelsac Tavad ase
erTgulad da morCilad emsaxurebodnen.
maTi nawili 30-iani wlebis bolos
daxvrites, danarCeni jalaTebis
gasamarTleba ki ioseb stalinis
gardacvalebis Semdeg, 1953 wlidan
daiwyes. raoden paradoqsulic ar unda
iyos, mravali maTgani iqna pasuxisgebaSi
micemuli, arakanonieri dapatimrebebisa
da sagamoZiebo saqmeebis falsifikaciis
braldebiT. 50-iani wlebis bolos sabWoTa
xelisuflebam oficialurad dagmo 30-
iani wlebis represiebi, Tumca, mxilebul
iqna, mxolod is danaSaulebrivi qmedebebi,
rac im reiodSi aZlevda xels arsebul
xelisuflebas. realurad ki 30-iani
wlebis represiebis gamnadgurebel
Sedegebze araferi Tqmula.
vaqveynebT 50-iani wlebis sagamoZiebo
saqmidan Tbilisis Sida cixis
zedamxedvelebis dakiTxvis oqmebs,
romlebSic naTlad Cans, Tu rogor
Sendeboda cixis jurRmulebSi
`sabWoTa epoqis saZirkveli.~

`TviTmxilvelis dakiTxvis oqmi
1
1954 wlis 10 maisi
mixeil samoelis Ze belonoJko,
dabadebuli 1911 wels, nikolaevis olqi,
oqtombris raioni, sof. oqtomberi.
saqarTvelos ssrk ministrTa sabWosTan
arsebuli saxelmwifo uSiSroebis
komitetis Sida cixis zedamxedveli.
coliani. Sinagan saqmeTa saministros
organoSi muSaobs 1935 wlidan. ukraineli,
dabali ganaTlebiT. saSualo glexi, ar
aris nasamarTlevi, sskp wevri 1944 wlidan,
mcxovrebi qalaq TbilisSi, ZerJinskis
quCaze.
am saqmesTan dakavSirebiT
SemiZlia mogceT Semdegi Cveneba:
1935 wlidan vmuSaob Sinagan saqmeTa
da saxelmwifo uSiSroebis
saministros organoebSi. mTeli
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, saarqivo #36224-07, t. #9,
y. #72.73, furc. 305.
prisoners left the prisons every night. Executions were led by
Zakhar Shashurkinhead of the inner prison in Tbilisi. From
the 1930s, investigators of the inner prison were formerly
accused persons or criminals. This was intentionally done
because such persons could be easily controlled by prison
offcials. Thus, authorities turned a blind eye to the criminal
past of investigator. However, these persons who had
accepted different positions in the NKVD were punished after
the 1930s. Therefore, they became victims of the political
system to which they had served. Some of the executioners
were shot in the late 1930s and the rest of them were put
on trial in 1953 after the death of Stalin. A large number
of executioners were accused of illegal detentions and of
falsifying investigations. In the late 1950s, Soviet authorities
offcially denounced the repression of the 1930s. However,
the destructive outcomes of repression during that time were
never fully discussed.
151
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am xnis ganmavlobaSi Sida cixeSi
vmuSaobdi zedamxedvelad, bolo ori-
sami weli ki ufros zedamxedvelad.
vasrulebdi Semdeg valdebulebebs:
videqi korpusis saguSagoze, vasrulebdi
badragis movaleobebs, patimrebi gamyavda
dakiTxvaze, monawileobas viRebdi
daxvretis ganaCenis aRsrulebaSi,
damarxvaSi.
me gansakuTrebiT damamaxsovrda
1937-38 wlebis periodi, rodesac
dapatimrebulebis raodenoba Zalzed
didi iyo. patimrebiT gadavsebul cixeSi,
Cven, zedamxedvelebs Zalian bevri
muSaoba gviwevda. iyo periodi, rodesac
ori wlis manZilze SvebulebaSi ver
gavdiodi uamravi samuSaos gamo. me
ZiriTadad Sida saguSagoebze miwevda
yofna. dapatimrebulTa dakiTxvaze
gayvana ki iSviaTad miwevda. 1937-1938
wlebSi Zalian bevri dapatimrebuli
dakiTxvidan represirebuli brundeboda,
ise iyvnen dasustebulebi, rom siaruli
aRar SeeZloT da ors gvixdeboda maTi
Below, we present the questionnaire protocol of the
inner prisons guard in Tbilisi. This document was attached
to an investigation from the 1930s and presents the story of
how the Soviet terror during the 1930s manifested in jails.

The questionnaire protocol
1
May 10, 1954
Mikheil Belonozhko (son of Samoel) was born in 1911
in October Village in the October district of the Nikolaev
Region in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. He worked
as an inner prison guard for the Committee for State Security
that coexisted with the Council of Ministers of the Georgian
Soviet Socialist Republic. He was married and employed by
the Ministry of Internal Affairs from 1935. Belonozhko was a
peasant with little education. He was a (non-trailed) member
of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1944 and
1
Section III of the Archive Administration of the MIA of Georgia, f.6, d.36224-07. v.9,
b.72.73, p.305.
152
wayvana, Tu waReba. iyo SemTxvevebi, rom
gamogvyavda sakaceebiTac. dapatimrebulebi
gansakuTrebiT Ciodnen fexebis da
sxeulis ukana nawilis tkivilebs. rogorc
wesi cdilobdnen daemalaT, rom nacemebi
iyvnen. albaT eSinodaT, radgan Civlis
da xmamaRla Tqmis SemTxevaSi mZime
situaciaSi Cavardebodnen. umeteswilad
dapatimrebulebi, ar saubrobdnen
mizezebze, Cven zedamxedvelebs eqimis
gamoZaxebas gvTxovdnen, romlebic
modiodnen da daxmarebas uwevdnen,
daSavebul adgilebs iodiT umuSavebdnen,
aZlevdnen gulis wamals. cemis garda
aseve praqtikaSi qondaT, patimrebis
gamoketva e.w. `cxel karcerebSi~,
sadac specialuri milebidan uSvebdnen
orTqls. Tovlian kamerebSi ki civ
orTqls, sadac patimars Tbilad Cacmis
uflebas ar aZlevdnen. am karcerebSi
TiTo-TiTo msjavrdebuls aTavsebdnen,
SesamCnevi iyo, rom Zalian wvalobdnen.
vin scemda patimrebs me ar vici. Cven
isini gamomZieblebis kabinetebamde
migvyvavda da vtovebdiT, saidanac nacemebs
gvibrunebdnen. gamomZieblebidan me maxsovs
savicki, krimiani, Sutovi gansakuTrebuli
ganyofilebidan, romelic Semdeg Tavad
iyo dapatimrebuli da daxvretili.
savicki da krimiani da aseve kidev erTi
gamomZiebeli, ratomRac im dros mododnen
cixeSi, rodesac patimrebs amzadebdnen
dasaxvretad. Semdeg am yvelaferSi Caeria
komendanti SaSurkini da gamomZieblebma
Sewyvites siaruli komendaturaSi. mZimed
nacemi patimrebis gvarebi ar maxsovs.
rodesac Cven vmuSaobdiT, vcdilobdiT
araTu ar gagvego patimrebis gvarebi,
aramed, arc dagvemaxsovrebina isini,
romlebsac vcnobdiT. radgan interesis
gamoCenis yovelgvari mcdeloba,
gansakuTrebiT ki sibralulis gamoxatva
patimris mimarT ikrZaleboda da
kontroldeboda.
garda amisa, me Zalian cudad
vimaxsovreb qarTul da ararusul gvarebs.
Sinsaxkomis yofili TanamSromlebidan
maxsovs, rom iyo dapatimrebuli kilaZe,
markovini, Sutovi, poliudovi miliciis
ufrosi, maqsimenko, litvaki _ saxalxo
komitetis yofili mdivani, romelic
Zalian mZimed iyo nacemi, zelencovi,
sulTaniSvilis coli da satransporto
ganyofilebis yofili xelmZRvaneli
lived on Dzerzhinsky Street in Tbilisi.
I can give you the following evidence concerning the
case: I worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and within
the State Security as an inner prison guard from 1935. I
worked as chief of guard for the last two to three years. My
responsibilities included standing at the sentry post of the
building, escorting detainees to and from their examination,
participating in the execution of the death penalty and
burying.
The period between 1937 and 1938 was particularly
noteworthy. A large number of people were detained during
that time and guards had to work hard in prisons that were
full. I did not take a leave during that time for two years. I
primarily worked at the inner sentry post and rarely had to
lead detainees to their examinations.
From 1937 to1938, detainees often felt too weak to
walk after their examinations because they were severely
tortured. Thus, we had to escort them to their cells. I dont
know who beat them. We took them to the inspectors room
and left them there. It was apparent that they had been
beaten when they came out. Sometimes they were injured
and the guards had to carry them away on stretchers. The
detainees frequently complained of leg and back aches. As
a rule, they tried to hide the fact that they had been beaten
in order to prevent themselves from being in an even more
diffcult situation. They often asked the guards to call for
doctors who would come to cure them and use iodine on
their injuries. There was one detainee in every cell and they
were often locked up in the so-called hot cell where hot
steam blew from special tubes. There were also cells with
snow in which detainees were not allowed to dress warmly.
I dont remember the names of badly beaten prisoners. The
guards tried not to remember the names of the detainees
because any sign of pity towards them was prohibited and
strictly controlled.
I remember the following inspectors from the special
department: Savitsky, Crimean and Shutov who was later
arrested and shot. Savitsky, Crimean and another inspector
came to the prison when the detainees were being prepared
153
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_ ZiZiguri. magram vin da rodis
scemda am xalxs me ar vici. maxsovs
amierkavkasiaSi karg Tanamdebobebze
momuSave patimrebi, es iyo amierkavkasiis
yofili maRalCinosani budu mdivani,
romelic moTavsebuli hyavdaT cxel da
civ kamerebSi. aseve musabekovi centralur
komitetSi momuSave azerbaijaneli. iyo
kidev erTi aWareli, dakiTxvidan sakaciT
gamoiyvanes, mokvda Tu daxvrites ar
vici. Cemi morigeobisas dapatimrebulTa
sikvdilis SemTxveva ar yofila,
magram vici, rom viRacam sicocxle
TviTmkvlelobiT daasrula, fanjridan
gadaxta.
dapatimrebulTa cema gamomZieblebis
mier 1938 wlis Semdgomac grZeldeboda,
rogorc rafavas ise ruxaZis dros, Tumca
mniSvnelovnad cota, vidre 1937-38 wlebSi.
ruxaZis dros 1950 Tu 1951 wels Zlier
cemes qali, gvarad mgoni gabinaSvili iyo.
ganaCenis aRsrulebaSi monawileobisas
xSirad mesmoda sikvdilmisjilebis
yvirili, rom isini ar iyvnen damnaSaveebi,
ismoda maTi SeZaxilebi: `gaumarjos
amxanag stalins!~ iyvnen iseTebic,
romlebic ambobdnen `samwuxaroa, rom
organoebma dagvapatimres, Torem Tqven
dagxvretdiT~.
1937-38 wlebis Semdgom periodSi
orTqlis da Tovlis karcerebs aRar
iyenebdnen, me aRar minaxavs.

belonoJko.~
`TviTmxilvelis dakiTxvis oqmi
1

1954 wlis 11 ivnisi

petre tkaCevi vasilis Ze. dabadebuli 1909
wels. voroneJis olqi petropavlovis raioni,
sof. Zv. melovaia. Sida cixis ufrosis morige
damxmare. saqarTvelos sabWoTa socialisturi
respublikis ministrTa sabWosTan arsebuli
saxelmwifo uSiSroebis komitetis Sida cixis
ufrosis morige-damxmare. daojaxebuli. Sinagan
saqmeTa saministros organoSi muSaobs 1936
wlidan, rusi, dabali ganaTlebiT, saSualo-glexi.
1
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #6, saarqivo #36224-07, tomi #9,
y.#72.73, furceli 311
for execution. They stopped coming to the prison when
Commander Shashurkin began to control the executions.
I cant remember the Georgian and non-Russian
names. I know from former staff of the NKVD that the
following people were arrested: Kiladze, Markovin, Shutov,
Poliudov (head of the militia), Maximenko, Litvaky (former
secretary of the Peoples Committee who was severely
beaten), and Zelentsov (the wife of Sultanishvili and
Dzidziguriformer head of the transport department). I
remember that some of the detainees were former high
ranking offcials in Transcaucasia. These included Budu
Mdivani who was put in a hot and cold cell and Musabekov
who was from Azerbaijan and worked in the Central
Committee. There was also one former high ranking offcial
from Adjara who was carried off on a stretcher after his
examination. I dont know whether he died or was shot. In
general, I never knew when and by whom detainees were
beaten. Nobody died during my duty, but I know of one
detainee who committed suicide by jumping from a window.
Inspectors Rapava and Rukhadze continued to
beat detainees after 1938; however, these beatings were
fewer than from 1937 to1938. One woman by the name of
Gabinashvili was beaten under Rukhadzes term during 1050
to 1951. I often heard the condemned shouting the following
phrases: Long live comrade Stalin! Its pity that we are
detained. Otherwise, we would have shot you. I did not see
any cold or hot cells after the period from 1937 to 1938. After
that, the inspectors used ordinary cells.
Belonozhko
The questionnaire protocol of the witness
1
June 11, 1954
Petre Tkachev (son of Vasil) was born in 1909 in Old
Melovaia Village in the Petropavlov District of the Voronezh
Region in the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic.
He was the assistant head of the inner prison and worked as
an inner prison guard for the Committee for State Security
1
Section III of the Archive Administration of the MIA of Georgia, f.6, d.36224-07, v.9,
b.72.73, p.311.
154
ar aris nasamarTlevi. 1946 wlidan iyo skkp wevri.
cxovrobs qalaq TbilisSi.
Sida cixeSi zedamxedvelad vmuSaob
1936 wlis Tebervlidan. 1952 wlidan ki
_ cixis ufrosis damxmare moriged. 1948
wlidan 1952 wlamde vmsaxurobdi sxadasxva
arazedamxedvelobiT Tanamdebobebze.
viyavi mdivani, vmuSaobdi sawyobSi,
uSualod Sexeba dapatimrebulebTan
ar mqonia. kiTxvaze irRveoda Tu ara
socialuri kanoni da cixeSi patimrebis
dakavebis pirobebi, mogaxsenebT,
rom 1937 wels cixeSi mdgomareoba
mniSvnelovnad Seicvala uaresobisken.
patimrebisTvis Zalzed autaneli
pirobebi iyo, cixis zedamxedvelobisa
da SemadgenlobisTvis ki Zalian Zneli.
cixe 1937-1938 wlebSi gadavsebuli iyo
patimrebiT, gamomZieblebis kabinetebSi
dakavebulebs Zlierad scemdnen, xandaxan
msjavrdebulebi dakiTxvidan Cven
gamogvyavda, erT-erTi dakavebuli ori-sami
zedamxedvelis daxmarebiT gamoviyvaneT.
dakiTxvebi RamiT mimdinareobda, diliT
nawameb patimrebs kamerebSi abrunebdnen.
cemis garda iyenebdnen dakavebulebis
cxel kamerebSi gamomwyvdevis meTodebs,
sadac milebiT Sedioda xan cxeli, xan
civi orTqli. civ orTqlTan erTad
iyreboda Tovlic. kameraSi patimari TiTo
xeli sacvlebiT SeyavdaT. cemisa da
autaneli pirobebis Sedegad patimarTa
mdgomareoba sikvdilamde iyo misuli.
zogierTi TviTmkvlelobiT amTavrebda
sicocxles. iyo Tavis CamoxrCobis ori
SemTxveva. aseve gamomZieblis fanjridan
dakavebulis gadaxtomis SemTxvevac. me
Znelad vimaxsovreb gvarebs. miTumetes
xelmZRvanelobis mkacri gafrTxilebis
Semdeg, rom mkacrad yofiliyo
gasaidumloebuli Cveni saqmianoba, me Cem
Tavs STavagone, nanaxi da gagonili ar
damemaxsovrebina da Tavidan amomegdo,
SemTxveviT, rom arsad melaparaka. swored
am mizeziT, ar SemiZlia davasaxelo
dapatirmebulebis, gardacvlilebisa
da mZimed nacemebis gvarebi, aseve maTi
vinaoba vinc TviTmkvlelobiT daasrula
sicocxle. maxsovs, erTi samxedro,
romelmac CvenTan cixeSi erTi dRe-
Ramec ver gastana. saRamos waiyvanes
dakiTxvaze, diliT daabrunes nacemi da
maleve gardaicvala. gamomZieblebidan
which coexisted with the Council of Ministers of the Georgian
Soviet Socialist Republic. He was married and employed by
the Ministry of Internal Affairs from 1936. He was a peasant
with little education and was a (non-trailed) member of the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union who lived in Tbilisi.
I was an inner prison guard since February 1936. In
1952, I was promoted to the position of assistant head of
the inner prison. From 1948 to 1952, I held different posts
that were not connected with the guard. For example, I was
a secretary and I worked in the storehouse. Thus, I did not
have to deal with detainees. My response to your question of
whether or not detainees rights were violated is as follows.
Conditions in the prison worsened in 1937. Detainees were
in extremely poor condition and it became very hard for the
guards and prison staff to work there. From 1937 to1938, the
prison was full of detainees who were brutally beaten in the
inspectors study. Sometimes two or three guards escorted
them from their examination. The detainees were usually
examined at night and in the morning tortured detainees
were taken back to their cell. Sometimes they were taken
to a cell where hot and cold steam was blowing out from
tubes. Snow came down with a cold stream and detainees
were taken to these cells in thin clothing. Many of them were
nearly dead after being beaten and tortured. Some of them
could not bear the conditions and committed suicidethere
were two cases of hanging. Nobody died in a hot or cold cell
when I was on duty. I also never heard about water coming
in through open windows during the winter. However, I know
that snow was taken into some cells where it melted and
turned into water. I remember that old Budu Mdivani spent a
few nights in such a cell.
I cant remember the names of detainees, beaten
or dead prisoners, or the names of those who committed
suicide. We were strictly warned not to speak about our
occupation. Thus, I made myself forget everything that I saw
and heard. Even the guards were afraid of sharing opinions
with each other. I remember one military person who could
not endure the poor conditions even for one day. He was
taken to his examination in the evening, beaten in the
155
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maxsovs paramanovi, savicki, krimiani da
Sutovi gansakuTrebuli ganyofilebidan.
gamomZieblebidan vin da rogor awamebda
tusaRebs ar vici. dapatimrebulebi
tkivilebs ZiriTadad uCiodnen sxeulis
ukana nawilebSi, SesamCnevic iyo maTi
gasiebuli fexebi. cixis samedicino
personali maT daxmarebas uwevda
riTac SeeZloT. Cemi morigeobisas
cxel kameraSi sikvdilis SemTxveva ar
yofila. Cven vmorigeobdiT 24 saaTi ori
dRegamoSvebiT. morigeobidan Tavisufal
dros vmonawileobdiT daxvretis ganaCenis
SesrulebaSi. iSviTad iyo dReebi, roca
dasaxvretad ar gahyavdaT patimrebi.
saerTod ki
aTeulobiT
gahyavdaT erTad,
erTxel Cems
Tvalwin zustad
300 adamiani
gamoiyvanes.
dasaxvretad
gamzadebuli
patimrebi, arc
Tu ise xSirad
cdilobdnen
daemtkicebinaT
TavianTi
udanaSauloba.
zogierTi maTgani
yviroda `gaumarjos
samSoblos,
gaumarjos
stalins!~, Tumca
ar yofila
SemTxeva, rom
sikvdilmisjili
ukan cixeSi
daebrunebinoT,
raTa gaerkviaT
damnaSave iyo
Tu udanaSaulo
es pirovneba.
iyo SemTxveva,
rodesac Cems
Tvalwin cocxali adamiani Caagdes
ormoSi, im saRamos xalxis
imdenad didi jgufi gamoiyvanes
dasaxvretad, rom komendantma
SaSurkinma SemTxveviT gamotova
srolisas. Camarxvisas am adamianma
yvirili daiwyo cocxali varo da
maSinve iqna ganadgurebuli. rogor
morning and taken back to his cell where he died soon after.
I dont know how the detainees were examined. Sometimes
an operative offcer was put in a cell with a detainee, but I
dont know how the operative offcers worked. I dont even
remember their names.
I remember the following inspectors from the special
department: Paramanov, Savitsky, Crimean and Shutov.
I dont know which methods were used to torture the
detainees, but the detainees mostly complained about
backaches and they often had swollen legs. The medical
staff in the prison treated injuries as much as possible.
The guards
worked in pairs
during 24-hour shifts
every other day. We
were involved in the
execution process
when we were not on
156
mimdinareobda gamoZieba, kanonis ra
darRvevebs hqonda adgili cemis garda,
me ar vici. iyo praqtika patimarTan
kameraSi operatiuli TanamSromlis
Casmisa. magram ras saqmianobdnen kameraSi
da riTi iyvnen dakavebulni ar vici.
am TanamSromlebis gvarebi ar maxsovs.
zamTarSi, Ria fanjrebiT, kameraSi wylis
SeSvebis SemTxvevaze araferi vici. Tumca
kamerebSi SehqondaT Tovli, romelic
wylad iqceoda. maxsovs, rom civ kameraSi,
ramodenime dRe-Rame imyofeboda moxuci
budu-mdivani. im faqtis gaTvaliswinebiT
rom 1937-38 wlebSi iyo masobrivi
daxvretebi, rac Cems Tvalwin xdeboda,
vakvirdebodi ra, Tu ra mdgomareobaSi
iyvnen dapatimrebulebi da bevri maTgani
rogor iqceoda daxvretis win, SeiZleba
darwmunebiT iTqvas rom, xvretdnen
udanaSaulo adamianebs.
tkaCevi~
yovelive amis gaTvaliswinebiT
saarqivo dukumentaciasTan muSaoba Cveni
mxridan did sifrTxiles da yuradRebas
moiTxovs. imisTvis, rom viyoT obieqturebi
da ar davuSvaT gamousworebeli Secdoma,
gasaTvaliswinebelia im periodis
yvela faqtori da garemoeba, romelSic
dokumentia Sedgenili. mxolod amis
Semdeg, iqneba SesaZlebeli swori
daskvnebis gamotana.
duty. Days were rare when detainees were not shot, and in
fact, many detainees were executed together. Once, I saw
300 detainees being taken to be shot. They did not try to
prove their innocence and some of them shouted Long alive
our country! Long live Stalin! Once I saw a live man being
dropped into a hole. A large number of detainees had been
shot and commander Shashurkin had missed him. The man
began to shout that he was alive and he was immediately
liquidated. Many of the detainees were never taken to
prison to determine whether or not they were guilty. These
experiences of many detainees during this time indicate that
many innocent people were shot and harmed during the
Great Purges of 1937-1938.
Tkachev~
Considerable caution and attention must be given to
work on archival materials. The context and circumstances of
the time period pertaining to documents must be considered
in order to draw accurate conclusions.
giJad Seracxuli

petre gruzinski
petre bagration-gruzinski 1920
wels daibada. man daamTavra Tbilisis
saxelmwifo universiteti, filologiis
fakulteti. rogorc bagrationTa
gvaris STamomavali dakrZalulia
mcxeTaSi, sveticxovlis ezoSi.
gruzinskim literaturuli moRvaweoba
1943 wels daiwyo da `TamaraSvilis~
fsevdonimiT werda. misma Semoqmedebam
kompozitorTa yuradReba miipyro. masTan
TanamSromlobdnen _ andria balanCivaZe,
oTar TaqTaqiSvili, revaz laRiZe, biZina
kvernaZe, oTar TevdoraZe, giorgi cabaZe.
petre gruzinskis leqsebis mixedviT
daiwera simRerebi mxatvruli filmebisTvis:
`keTili adamianebi~, `baSi-aCuki~, `mxiaruli
romani~, `rac ginaxavs, veRar naxav~,
`mimino~, `gangaSi~ da sxva.
es petre bagration-gurzinskis
biografiis cnobili detalebia, faqti
rom gruzinski sabWoTa xelisuflebam
`fsiqiurad daavadebulad~ da
`sazogadoebrivad saSiSad~ gamoacxada
da `sasamarTlom mizanSewonilad
miiCnia misi moTavseba fsiqiatriul
saavadmyofoSi iZulebiTi mkurnalobisTvis~
_ bevri qarTvelisTvis albaT ucnobia.
Tumca gasakviri araa, radgan bagration-
gruzinski sabWoTa reJims ver egueboda,
Tavisufal saqarTveloze ocnebobda da
misi Semoqmedebac ZiriTadad patriotuli
iyo. aseTebs ki sabWoTa epoqaSi an
xvretdnen, an gadasaxlebaSi uSvebdnen, an
kidev rogorc Seuracxadebs fsiqiatriul
saavadmyofoebSi aTavsebdnen. amitomac 25
wlis petre bagration-gruzinski 1945 wlis
27 marts Tavis TanamoazreebTan _ Salva
petre bagration-gruzinski
Petre Bagration-Gruzinsky
nino yifSiZe
NINO KIPSHIDZE
suli amboxebuli/Unbending Spirit
PETRE GRUZINSKY CERTIFIEDAS INSANE
Petre Bagration-Gruzinsky was born in 1920 and
graduated from the Tbilisi State University Faculty of
Philology. As a direct descendant of the Bagrationi dynasty
he was buried on the grounds of the Svetitskhoveli
Cathedral in Mtskheta. In 1943 he became a poet and
author under the pen-name Tamarashvili. A number of
literary fgures were attracted by his writing and collaborated
with him, including: Andria Balanchivadze, Otar Taktakishvili,
157
158
mWedliSvilTan, mari abramiSvilTan, liza
aRniaSvilTan da Tamar SanSiaSvilTan
erTad daapatimres.
sabraldebo daskvnaSi, romelic
1945 wlis 18 ivnisiT TariRdeba
vkiTxulobT: antisabWoTa ganwyobilebis
axalgazrda poetebi literaturul
salonSi gaerTiandnen, xelnawer Jurnals
gamoscemdnen, antisabWoTa leqsebs
avrcelebdnen, Tavisufal saqarTveloze
ocnebobdnen da monarqiuli wyobis aRdgenas
fiqrobdnen.
literaturuli salonis damaarsebeli
da xelmZRvaneli petre bagration-
gruzinski iyo. igi Tavis Tanamoazreebs
arwmunebda, rom saqarTvelos ukanaskneli
mefis da samefo taxtis erTaderTi
memkvidre Tavad gaxldaT. petre bagration-
gruzinski antisabWoTa Sekrebebs awyobda
literaturul salonSi, sadac axalgazrda
poetebis Sovinistur leqsebs kiTxulobdnen
da ganixilavdnen.
braldebulebma _ bagration-
gruzinskim, mWedliSvilma, abramiSvilma,
aRniaSvilma da SanSiaSvilma daarses
xelnaweri Jurnali saxelwodebiT `anaTeba~.
ianvarsa da TebervalSi gamosces am
Jurnalis ori nomeri. `anaTebaSi~ sakuTar
leqsebs beWdavdnen. Jurnalis avtorebma
mizanmimarTulad aarCies iseTi leqsebi,
romlebSic SefarviT iyo gadmocemuli
TavianTi miznebi. Tumca maT mier mowyobil
literaturul Sekrebebs damwyebi poetebic
eswrebodnen da mxolod antisabWoTa da
Sovinistur leqsebs kiTxulobdnen da
ganixilavdnen.
1

gamoZiebiT dadginda, rom braldebuli
petre bagration-gruzinski mWedliSvilTan,
SanSiaSvilTan, aRniaSvilTan da
abramiSvilTan erTad sruladaa mxilebuli
danaSaulSi romelic 58-1 da 58-11 muxlebs
Seesabameba.
petre bagration-gruzinskim Tavi
damnaSaved scno mxolod imaSi, rom
literaturul salonSi misi yofnis dros
ikiTxeboda antisabWoTa leqsebi.
2
petre gruzinskis 1945 wlis 18 ivniss 7
wliT Tavisuflebis aRkveTa miesaja.
sul male, suraTi icvleba da
gruzinskis saqmeSi sruliad saidumlo
grifiT Semdegi saxis informacia inaxeba:
`1945 wlis 29 ivniss cixis Semowmebis
dros patimarma petre bagration-
gruzinskim ganacxada, rom fsiqiurad
1
saqarTvelo, Sss arqivi, (I), f. #6, s. #19818, furc. 74.
2
iqve, furc. 85.
Revaz Laghidze, Bidzina Kvernadze, Otar Tevdoradze and
Giorgi Tsabadze. Among his other works, he wrote the lyrics
for popular songs featured in flms, including: Kind People,
Bashi-Achuki (Man without a hat), Happy Romance,
You Cant See What You Have Seen, Pigeon Hawk,
Alarm and others.
These details of Petre Bagration-Gruzinskys biography
are widely known. But many Georgians are not aware that
he was considered insane and a danger to society by
the Soviet authorities; leading to a court decision to put him
in the psychiatric hospital for compulsory treatment. This is
perhaps not surprising as Bagration-Gruzinsky was notably
unable to adapt himself to the Soviet regime. He dreamed of
restoring the independence of Georgia and his works were
largely inspired by nationalist ideology.
On March 27, 1945, 25 year-old Petre Bagration-
Gruzinsky was arrested along with accomplices Shalva
Mchedlishvili, Mari Abramishvili, Liza Aghniashvili and Tamar
Shanshiashvili. According to an indictment issued on June
18, 1945, these young anti-Soviet poets participated in a lit-
erary salon that published a journal, disseminated anti-Soviet
poetry and advocated the restoration of Georgian indepen-
dence and the monarchy.
The salon was founded and led by Petre Bagration-
Gruzinsky. He and his supporters believed that he was to
be the sole legitimate heir of a restored Georgian throne. He
organized anti-Soviet meetings in the salon where the young
poets read and reviewed chauvinistic poems.
The journal Anateba was created by the accused
Bagration-Gruzinsky along with his collaborators
Mchedlishvili, Abramishvili, Aghniashvili and Shanshiashvili.
In January and February two issues were published that
featured the poetry of the salon's participants. Though not an
explicitly political publication, the major ideological aims of
the group were nonetheless expressed indirectly by literary
means. Amateur poets also attended literary meetings during
which exclusively anti-Soviet and nationalist poetry was
recited and reviewed.
1

1
I Section of the Archive of the MIA of Georgia, f.6, d.19818, p.74.
159
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gauwonasworebelia da marTlac mas
gasinjvis Semdeg Sublze dartymis
nakvalevebi aRmoaCnda. rogorc gamoirkva,
fsiqiurad gauwonasworeblobis
dros bagrationi kedels urtyamda
Tavs. amis Sesaxeb cixis eqim razmaZes
vacnobeT, romelmac patimris gasinjvis
Sedegad gamowera cnoba, rom petre
bagration-gruzinskis nerviuli sistema
darRveuli aqvs da mas specialuri
mkurnaloba sWirdeba fsiqo-nevrologiur
institutSi. amitomac viTxovT Sesabamis
gankargulebas, raTa petre bagration-
gruzinski specialuri meTvalyureobis
qveS gaigzavnos fsiqo-nevrologiur
saavadmyofoSi~.
1

gruzinski gamosakvlevad gadahyavT
fsiqiatriul institutSi, sadac iwereba
daskvna, rom petre gruzinski, SromiT
uunaro da sulierad daavadebulia.
nervuli depresiis fonze ramdenjerme
hqonda TviTmkvlelobis mcdeloba,
ris gamoc mas sWirdeba fsiqiatriuli
saavadmyofos stacionarSi gadayvana da
mkurnaloba.
2

im cnobaSi ki, romelsac aseve
sruliad saidumlo grifi adevs,
aRniSnulia:
sruliad saidumlod
c n o b a
petre bagration-gruzinski
dapatimrebuli 1945 wlis 27 marts
Tavs saqarTvelos ukanskneli mefis pirvel
memkvidred Tvlida da qveyanaSi monarqiuli
wyobis aRdgenaze ocnebobda...
petre bagration-gruzinskis saqmeSi
xuTi pirovneba gadis, romlebsac 1947 wlis
8 aprils Tavisuflebis aRkveTa miesajaT.
rac Seexeba pretre bagration-
gruzinskis, umaRlesi sasamarTlos
gadawyvetilebiT, 1946 wlis 7 maiss saqme
Sewyda braldebulis Seuracxadobis gamo.
igi fsiqiatriul saavadmyofoSi gadaigzavna
samkurnalod _ gamojanmrTelebamde.
3

danarCenebis ganaCenSi ki weria:
(stili daculia)... `ixelmZRvanela ra
sasamarTlom saqmeSi arsebuli winaswari
gamoZiebiT, nivTieri mtkicebebiT da TviT
sasamarTlo procesze braldebulebis
dakiTxviT gamoirkva, rom am saqmeze
braldebuli mWedliSvili, abramiSvili,
1
saqarTvelo, Sss arqivi, (I), f. #6, s. #19818, furc. 99.
2
iqve, furc. 100.
3
iqve, furc. 107.
Petre Bagration-Gruzinsky confessed to attending
literary meetings during which anti-Soviet poems were read.
The accused, Petre Bagration-Gruzinsky, Mchedlishvili,
Shanshiashvili, Aghniashvili and Abramishvili were found
guilty under Articles 58-1 and 58-2.
1
On June 18, 1945
Bagration-Gruzinsky was sentenced to seven years in
prison.
The circumstances of his imprisonment soon changed.
A top secret document alleging mental illness was attached
to Gruzinskys case :
On June 29, 1945, during an inspection in prison, Petre
Bagration-Gruzinsky stated that he was mentally deranged.
He had bruises on his forehead. As it turned out Bagration
hit his head on the wall during a 'nervous attack'. The
prison doctor, named Razmadze, was informed about it. He
examined the patient and concluded that he had a nervous
break-down and must undergo special treatment in the
1
I Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6,d.19818, p.85.
160
aRniaSvili da SanSiaSvili daukavSirdnen
ra erTi meores da amave dros am
saqmeze braldebulebi mWedliSvili da
abramiSvili iyvnen ra Tavidanve mtrul
ganwyobilebaSi, sabWoTa xelisuflebis
winaaRmdeg Camoayalibes 1944 welSi
literaturuli egredwodebuli saloni,
aRniSnuli saloni maT mier gamoyenebuli
iqna kontrrevoluciuri leqsebisa da
prozebis dasawerad da wasakiTxavad,
romlis mTavar xelmZRvanelad iTvleboda
gruzinski-bagrationi, romlis saqmec
gamoyofilia am saqmidan dadgenilia, rom
am saqmeze braldebulebma gamouSves ori
cali xelTnaweri Jurnali egredwodebuli
`anaTeba~ romelSidac gaaerTianes nawili
TavianTi kontrrevoluciuri xasiaTis
leqsebi, xolo nawilis gaerTianeba
ki ver SesZles maTda damoukidebeli
mizezebis gamo. dadgenilia isic, rom
aRniSnul salonSi sistematiurad
ewyoboda maTi Tavmoyra da leqsebis
wakiTxva, sadac jgufis wevrebi xotbas
asxamden yvela iseT leqsebs, romelic
ufro kontrrevoluciuri xasiaTis iyo,
gamorkveulia is garemoebac, rom a/sabWoTa
xasiaTis leqsebs isini ukiTxavdnen sxva
psycho-neurologic institute. For this reason, Petre Bagration-
Gruzinsky must be transferred under guard to the psycho-
neurologic hospital.
1

Gruzinsky was transferred to the psychological institute
for medical examination. According to the diagnosis, Petre
Gruzinsky is considered an invalid and sick. He attempted to
commit suicide due to depression. He requires a course of
medical treatment in the psychological hospital.
2
Top Secret Notice
Petre Bagration-Gruzinsky - arrested on March 27,
1945 - deemed himself the frst heir of the last king of
Georgia and supports the restoration of the monarchy in the
country.
Five persons fgure into Petre Bagration-Gruzinskys
case. On April 8, 1947 they were tried and sentenced to
prison terms.
According to the ruling handed down by the Supreme
Court on May 7, 1946, Petre Bagration-Gruzinskys case was
closed because the accused was certifed as insane. He was
sent to the psychological hospital for medical treatment
until recovery.
3

According to the indictments of the other accused,
Having considered a preliminary hearing of the case,
as well as material evidence and the examinations
of the accused at the trial, we concluded that the
accused Mchedlishvili, Abramishvili, Aghniashvili, and
Shanshiashvili were anti-Soviet activists. In 1944 they
formed a so-called literary salon where counter-revolutionary
poems and prose were written and recited. The head of
the salon was Petre Bagration-Gruzinsky whose case is
detached from this trial. The accused published two issues
of Anateba in manuscript. Their counter-revolutionary
poems were published in this journal. It is ascertained
that the meetings were held in the salon where counter-
revolutionary poems were recited. Their fellow supporters
attended the meetings. The accused Mchedlishvili and
Abramishvili admitted at trial that they were anti-Soviet
1
I Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6,d.19818, p.99.
2
Ibid, p.100.
3
Ibid., p.107.
161
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axalgazrdobasac, romlebic axlos iyvnen
aRniSnul jgufis wevrebTan. braldebuli
mWedliSvili da abramiSvili sasamarTlos
proceszedac aRiareben im faqts, rom
isini mtrulad iyvnen ganwyobili sabWoTa
xelisuflebis mimarT, vinaidan abramiSvils
1941 welSi yavs gasamarTlebuli Zma
kontrrevoluciuri danaSaulisTvis
xolo mWedliSvils ki kargi amxanagi
kirakozovi /xalifaSvili/, romelic
kontrrevoluciuri organizaciis wevri
iyo. mWedliSvili aRiarebs im faqtsac, rom
kirakozovs /xalifaSvils/ man TavSesafari
misca da malavda ramodenime dRes Tavis
binaSi. br. abramiSvilma amasTan erTad
miuZRvna leqsi kontrrevolucioner amJamad
likvidirebul mustafa Selias, dadgenilia,
rom braldebulebi mWedliSvili,
abramiSvili da SanSiaSvili TavianT mier
daweril leqsebSi aqezebdnen mkiTxvelebs
sabWoTa xelisuflebis damxobisaken
da saqarTveloSi monarqiuli wesebis
aRdgenisaken, rasac TiTonac ar uaryofen
sasamarTlos procesze xolo rac Seexeba
am saqmeze braldebuli aRniaSvili ki
monawileobas iRebda leqsebis kiTxvaSi
da amave dros mis ojaxSi xdeboda
braldebulTa TavSeyra sistematiurad
rasac TiTonac ar uaryofs. gamomdinare
zemoaRniSnulidan maTze wayenebuli
braldeba dan. gaTv. s.s.k. 58-10 2 nawiliT
da 58-11 muxliT sasamarTlom scno
damtkicebulad. mixedviT zemoaRniSnulisa
da xelmZRvanelobiT s.s.s.k. 319-320- mux.
saq. umaRles sasamarTlos sisxlis
samarTlis saqmeTa sasamarTlo kolegiam
daadgina: mWedliSvili Salva zaqarias-
Ze, abramiSvili mariam ivanes-asuli,
aRniaSvili liza /iza, cico/ petres-asuli
da SanSiaSvili Tamara vladimeris-asuli
cnobili iqnan damnaSaved s.s.k. 58-10 muxlis
2 nawiliT da 58-11 muxliT da miesajos
mWedliSvils da abramiSvils eqvsi /6/
wliT Tavisuflebis aRkveTa TviTeuls,
xolo aRniaSvils da SanSiaSvils ki oTxi
/4/ wliT Tavisuflebis aRkveTa. TviTeuls
maTi wili qonebis konfiskaciiT. Tanaxmad
s.s.k. 31 mux. `63~ punqtiT CamoerTvaT
saarCevno xmis ufleba sasjelis moxdis
Semdeg, /2/ wliT TviTeuls Tanaxmad s.s.k.
29 muxlisa CaeTvaloT winaswari patimroba
1945 wlis 27 martidan. ganaCeni sabolooa
da kasaciuri wesiT gasaCivrebas ar
eqvemdebareba~.
1

rogorc vxedavT, arsebuli reJimisTvis
1
saqarTvelo, Sss arqivi, (I), f. #6, s. #19818, furc. 127-129.
activists. In 1941 Abramishvilis brother was tried for counter-
revolutionary activities. Kirakozov (Khalipashvili), who was
Mchedlishvilis friend, was accused of being a member of a
counter-revolutionary organization. Mchedlishvili admitted
that he had given a shelter to Kirakozov (Khalipashvili) in his
fat. The accused Abramishvili dedicated a poem to counter-
revolutionist Mustapa Shelia who had been liquidated. The
accused Mchedlishvili, Abramishvili and Shanshashvili
wrote anti-Soviet poems and propagandized the restoration
of the monarchy in the country. Aghniashvili admitted that
he had recited the poems and that the accused regularly
gathered in his fat. The accusations against them under
Article 58-10, Part II and Article 58-11, were upheld at trial.
On the basis of the aforementioned, and on the grounds
of Articles 319-320 of USSR, the Court Colleague of the
Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court ruled as follows:
Mchedlishvili Shalva (son of Zakaria), Abramishvili Mariam
(daughter of Ivane), Aghniashvili Liza (Iza, Tsitso daughter
of Petre) and Shanshiashvili Tamara (daughter of Vladimir)
were found guilty on the grounds of Article 58-10, Part II and
Article 58-11. Mchedlishvili and Abramishvili are sentenced
to 6 years, and Aghniashvili and Shanshiashvili to 4 years in
prison. Their property shall be confscated. On the grounds
of the paragraph 63 of Article 31, they are deprived of voting
rights for two years after their release. Under Article 29 their
preliminary detention has been in effect since March 27,
1945. The verdict is fnal and cannot be appealed.
1
[sic.]
It was more suitable for the Soviet authorities to classify
the Bagrations descendant and poet as insane. For this
reason, Gruzinskys dossier concluded with the following
resolution:
On behalf of the SSR of Georgia, on May 7, 1946 the
case No. 210 was heard by the colleague of the criminal
case of the Supreme Court. The public trial was held in
Tbilisi. The chairman was I. Epremidze, public judges
Shovnadze and Karumadze, prosecutor Mikadze
and secretary Tsakadze. They heard the case of Petre
Bagration-Gruzinsky who was born in 1920; Georgian
1
I Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.19818, pp.127-129.
162
bagrationTa STamomavalisa da poetis
giJad gamocxadeba albaT ufro sasurveli
iyo, amitomac gruzinskis saqme amgvari
dadgenilebiT sruldeba: (stili daculia)
`saqarTvelos sabWoTa socialisturi
respublikis saxeliT saqarTvelos ssr.
umaRles sasamarTlos sisxlis samarTlis
saqmeTa kolegiam 1946 wlis 7 maiss qal.
TbilisSi sajaro sxdomaze Semdegi
SemadgenlobiT: Tavmjdomare i. efremiZe.
sax. msajulni: SovnaZe da qarumiZe.
prokuroris miqaZis monawileobiT da
mdivnis waqaZis TandaswrebiT ganixila
saqme #210 _ braldebisa gamo _ gruzinski-
bagrationi petre pavles-Ze 1920 welSi
dabadebuli, erovnebiT qarTveli, ssrk.
moqalaqe, colSviliani, upartio, mowafe
umaRlesi ganaTlebiT, pasuxisgebaSi ar
yofila, mcx. qal. Tbilisis leninis quCa
#47-Si br.dan.gaT. ssk. 58-10 mux. 2 nawiliT
da 58-11 muxliT.
sasamarTlo kolegiam scno, rom
bagration-gruzinskis mimarT sisxlis
samarTlis saqme warmoebiT unda moispos,
xolo TviT gruzinskis mimarT ki unda
miRebuli iqnes samkurnalo RonisZieba
Semdegi garemoebaTa gamo: saqmeSi arsebuli
masalebiT da saeqimo saeqsperto daskvnebiT
/ix. s.d. 30 27 910/ bagration-gruzinski
daavadebulia fsiqiurad, romelic
pasuxs ar agebs Tavis moqmedebaze da
amasTan erTad Sepyrobilia filtvebis
aqtiuri tuberkulioziT. magram imdenad,
ramdenadac imis mier Cadenili moqmedeba
aris sazogadoebrivad saSiSi da mZime,
xolo Tu mis mimarT gamoyenebuli ar
iqna iZulebiTi mkurnaloba SesaZlebelia
man kidev gaimeoros aseTi, amisaTvis
sasamarTlos mizanSewonilad miaCnia misi
moTavseba fsiqiatriul saavadmyofoSi
iZulebiTi mkurnalobisTvis. gamomdinare
zemodaRniSnulidan sasamarTlo kolegiam
daadgina:
gruzinski-bagrationi petre pavles-
Zes mimarT Sedgenili saqme ssk. 58-10 mux.
2 naw. da 58-11 muxliT moispos warmoebiT,
rogorc suliT avadmyofis mimarT, romelic
pasuxs ar agebs Tavis moqmedebaze da TviT
gruzinski-bagrationi ki moTavsebuli iqnes
qal. Tbilisis fsiqiatriul saavadmyofoSi
iZulebiTi mkurnalobisTvis gankurnebamde~.
1


1
saqarTvelo Sss arqivi, (I), f. #6, s. #19818, furc. 130.
by nationality; a citizen of the SSR of Georgia; married;
non-party; highly educated; and [non-trialed]; his address:
Leonidze No. 47, Tbilisi. He is accused under Article 58-10,
Part II and Article 58-11.
The court determined that Bagration-Gruzinskys case
must be closed and the accused must undergo medical
treatment. According to the materials of the case and the
doctors conclusion (see the indictment No. 3027 910),
Bagration-Gruzinsky suffers from mental illness and
Tuberculosis, and therefore cannot be held responsible for
his activities. He is a danger to society. The risk that he will
repeat his dangerous activities is high. For this reason, he
requires compulsory treatment in the psychiatric hospital.
On the basis of the aforementioned, the trial judge ruled as
follows:
Petre Bagration-Gruzinskys case, brought on the
grounds of Article 58-10, Part II, and Article 58-11, must be
closed because the accused has mental problems and is
therefore not ft for further legal proceedings. Bagration-
Gruzinsky must be admitted to the Tbilisi psychological
hospital for compulsory treatment until recovery.
1
[sic]
1
I Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.19818, p.130
163
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*
* saqarTvelo Sss arqivi, (I), f. #6, s. #19818
I Section of the Archive Administration of the MoIA of Georgia, f.6, d.19818
164
vin kiTxavs galaktions?!
1948 wlis 22-24 aprils
gaimarTa saqarTvelos mweralTa
kavSiris gamgeobis plenumi.
plenumze moxseneba waikiTxa
gamgeobis Tavmjdomarem simon
Ciqovanma. man gaakritika Jurnal
,,mnaTobSi dabeWdili sergi
Wilaias monografia galaktion
tabiZis Semoqmedebis Sesaxeb.
imave wlis 19 ivniss gazeT
,,komunistSi sergi Wilaiam
gamoaqveyna sapasuxo werili
,,Zveli dava axali formiT da
ar daeTanxma simon Ciqovans.
saqarTvelos Sinagan saqmeTa
saministros arqivSi /
partarqivi, fondi 14 saqme 409,
aRwera 22; yuTi 25/ daculia sami dRemdis
ucnobi dokumenti aRniSnul faqtze:
simon Ciqovanis, (1946 wlis 29 ivnisiT
daTariRebuli) piradi baraTi maSindeli
ideologiis dargSi centraluri
komitetis mdivnis rostom Sadurisadmi,
misive Tormetgverdiani ,,literaturuli
SeniSvnebi da sergi Wilaias sapasuxo
eqvsgverdiani werili rostom Sadurisadmi.
simon Ciqovni icavs plenumze
gamoTqmul sakuTar mosazrebas galaktion
tabiZis lirikis Sesaxeb, rom galaktionis
adreuli Semoqmedeba ZiriTadad
aRbeWdilia simbolisturi da pesimisturi
ganwyobilebiT, da kvlav edaveba
sergi Wilaias, romelic saqarTvelos
saxalxo poetis pirveli periodis
poezias mecxramete saukunis erovnul-
gamaTavisuflebeli moZraobis gagrZelebad
acxadebs.
vidre oponentebis mosazrebebs
galaktion tabiZe simon Ciqovani/Simon Chikovani
vaxtang javaxaZe
VAKHTANG JAVAKHADZE
/Galaktion Tabidze
recenzia
/Review
Was it gaLaKtiONs bUsiNEss?!
On April 22-24, 1948 a plenum of the Writers Union of
Georgia was held. Chairman of the board Simon Chikovani
delivered a speech in which he denounced Sergi Chilaias
monograph devoted to Galaktion Tabidzes poetry. The
monograph had been published in the journal Mnatobi. On
June 19, 1948, Sergi Chilaia published his response letter
Old Dispute in a New Form in the newspaper Communist
wherein he voiced his disagreement with Simon Chikovani.
Three documents concerning this case are preserved
in the Archive/Party Archive of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs of Georgia: f.14, d. 409, op.22, b.25. The following
documents were not made available until now: a letter from
Simon Chikovani to Rostom Shaduri, secretary of the Central
165
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/Galaktion Tabidze
ganvsjideT, aucilebelia gaviTvaliswinoT
_ rogor politikur viTarebaSi gaimarTa
es polemika: 1946 wlis 14 agvistos
sabWoTa kavSiris centralurma komitetma
miiRo ,,dadgenileba Jurnalebis
,,zvezdasa da ,,leningradis Sesaxeb,
romelmac socialisturi realizmis
marwuxebSi momwyvdeuli sabWoTa kavSiris
xalxTa literaturebSi reJimi kidev ufro
gaamkacra.
aseT viTarebaSi uimedoba ara
marto uaxlesi da mimdinare wlebis
nawarmoebebSi iTvleboda recidivad,
aramed-Tundac wasuli wlebisa, Tundac
revoluciamdeli periodisa.
qarTuli sabWoTa
literaturaTmcodneoba saxalxo poetis
revoluciamdel leqsebSi sanTliT
daeZebda gamonaklis optimistur
striqonebs da cdilobda igi nacionalur-
gamaTavisuflebel ideebTan daekavSirebina.
es tendencia gansakuTrebiT gaZlierda
cekas 1946 wlis dadgenilebis Semdeg.
ase aswavlidnen galaktions saSualo
skolebSi da umaRles saswavleblebSi,
amave ideas agrZelebda sergi Wilaiac
da, rac mTavaria, es situacia awyobda
naxevrad represirebul galaktion tabiZes.
simon Ciqovani gaxldaT utyuari
gemovnebis principuli pirovneba.
miuxedavad imisa, rom mweralTa
organizaciaSi umaRlesi Tanamdeboba
ekava, igi swored amitom Seecada
literaturuli samarTlianoba aRedgina
da amdenad arasasurveli disonansi
Seitana damkvidrebul siyalbeSi.
_ vis sWiria g. tabiZis warsulis
ase gayalbeba. nuTu g. tabiZes, aseT
Zlier poets, daamcirebs is, rom misi
individualuri leqsebis Sinaarsi
garkveul iqnes da isini realistur
leqsebad ar iqnen gamocxadebulni. nuTu
saWiroa, is didi poeturi Zala, romelic
dekadentobis periodSi gamoamJRavna g.
tabiZem, miiCqmalos da mxolod xuTi
leqsis avtorad iqnes gamocxadebuli
aseTi didi potenciis Semoqmedi? _ /cota
gulubryvilod kiTxulobs s. Ciqovani da
agrZelebs, _ /Cven ki ar vadanaSaulebT g.
tabiZes mis mier ganvlil modernistuli
periodis gamo, Cven mxolod
literaturuli sinamdvilis naTeli
aRdgena gvinda. modernizmis gza mis mier
daZleul iqna da igi Tavis SemoqmedebiT,
sabWoTa periodSi, sruliad gaemijna
dekadentur mwerlobas. es sabWoTa
Committee (dated June 29, 1946); 12-pages from Simon
Chikovanis Literary Notes; and a 6-page response letter
from Sergi Chilaia to Rostom Shaduri.
Simon Chikovani defended his position on Galaktion
Tabidzes poetry. In his opinion, Galaktion Tabidzes early
work was infuenced by symbolism and pessimism. He did
not share Sergo Chilaias opinion that the early work of the
national poet was a continuation of the national-liberation
movement of the 19th century.
Before we analyze the two positions, let us review
the political background of this ferce debate. The political
background was as follows: On August 14, 1946, a
resolution was passed concerning the journals Zvezda
(The Star) and Leningrad by the Central Committee of the
Communist Party. A literary circle found itself in the clutches
of socialist realism throughout the Soviet Union.
For this reason, writing pessimistic works of literature
even about the revolutionary period was considered a crime.
The Soviet critics did their best to fnd traces of
pessimism in Galaktions poetry and to label it as a
continuation of national-liberation ideology. This tendency
became even more pronounced after the resolution was
passed by the Cheka in 1946. Galaktions poetry was taught
in schools and high schools through this point of view.
Sergi Chilaia also continued this ideology. This attitude was
suitable to Galaktion Tabidze who was half-repressed.
Simon Chikovani was a man of principle and always
showed good taste. Although he held a high post in the
Writers Union, he did his best to restore justice in literary
circles.
Simon Chikovani naively asked: Who wants to falsify
Galaktion Tabidzes past? He is a great poet. It wont harm
him if his poetry is not considered realistic. How is it possible
not to praise his great talent that was exposed during a
period of decadence and to consider him as an author of
only fve poems? We dont blame Galaktion Tabidze for his
modernist poetry. We just want to restore reality to literary
circles. In the Soviet Period, Tabidze managed to be isolated
166
poeziisa da misi didi gamarjvebaa.
aq saWiroa erTi arcTu umniSvnelo
faqti aRiniSnos: am dros sergi Wilaia
saqarTvelos komunisturi partiis
centraluri komitetis literaturisa da
xelovnebis seqtoris gamgis Tanamdebobaze
muSaobda da misi pozicia ar gaxldaT
erTi pirovnebis pozicia, rac ufro metad
Zabavda situacias.
ki magram _ /galaktioni? _ /ibadeba
bunebrivi SekiTxva. am dReebSi
ormocdaCvidmeti wlis galaktioni
swored rostom Sadursa da simon Ciqovans
eaxleboda xolme da didi mondomebiT amaod
zrunavda, raTa 11 oqtombers Tavisi poeturi
moRvaweobis ormoci wlisTavi aReniSna da
araferi uwyoda cekas kuluarebSi daZabuli
polemikis Sesaxeb.
galaktionma simon Ciqovanis am erT
arguments ki miaqcia yuradReba:
_ leqsebis wigns ,,qala artistul
yvavilebSi: wamZRvarebuli aqvs
epigrafad oTxi frangi poetis S.
bodleris, p. verlenis, t. goties da
a. renies striqonebi. dasaxelebuli
poetebi, rogorc sayovelTaod cnobilia,
franguli parnasis, simbolizmis da
dekadentizmis meTaurebi arian. es poetebi
xsnian g. tabiZis revoluciamdel wigns da
mis ltolvebs misamarTs aZleven.
am argumentis sapasuxod galaktions
simon Ciqovanis mier miTiTebuli frangi
poetebis striqonebi amouweria da:
es citatebi mindoda amexsna
mweralTa kavSiris plenumze simon
Ciqovanis winaaRmdeg. simoni am citataze
dayrdnobiT amtkicebda, rom me
dekadenturi Skolis mimdevari viyavi.
citatebi, marTalia, simvolistebisaa,
mara realisturia, Sesrulebuli odnav
romantiuli ganxriT.
plenumi sam dRes gagrZelda da
plenumze galaktions araviTari axsna-
ganmarteba ar warmoudgenia, raki
albaT TviTonac ar sjeroda Tavisi
argumentebisa. galaktionma ar icoda,
rom plenumis Semdeg diskusia cekasa da
mweralTa kavSiris kulisebSi gagrZelda,
magram is ki Seityo, rom kamaTi
respublikis sazRvrebs gascda:
_ Zalian gaujoravT simon Ciqovani
moskovSi. Cems gamo: iqaur mweralTa
kavSirSi da ,, -s
redaqciaSi. aravin Turme mas Cems Sesaxeb
ar daeTanxma. es yofila erTi kviris
win. _ CauniSnavs galaktions 1948 wlis
from decadent literature. It was a victory for him and Soviet
poetry.
It should be noted that Sergi Chilaia was the head of
the Literature and Art Department of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party of Georgia. Therefore, his words did
not express only his personal attitude. It made the situation
even tenser.
In those days, ffty-seven year old Galktion frequently
visited Roston Shaduri and Simon Chikovani ahead of the
40th anniversary of his literary activity that was to be held
on the 11th of October. He did not know anything about the
debate going on behind the scenes of the Cheka.
Galaktion paid attention to the following remark made
by Simon Chikovani: the lines of the French poets Charles
Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, Theophile Gautier, and Henri
de Regnier preceded Galaktions poetic collection Crane
aux feurs artistiques (Artistic Flowers) as an epigraph.
These French poets are the followers of French Parnassus,
Symbolism and Decadence.
In reply Galaktion wrote out the lines of those French
poets and said: I wanted to explain these lines at the
plenum of the Writers Union. Simon Chikovani wanted the
others to be convinced that I belonged to the Decadent
movement. Although these lines were written by symbolists,
they are infuenced by realism and romanticism.
The plenum lasted for three days. Galaktion said
nothing to explain himself, probably because he did not
believe in his own arguments. He did not know that the
discussion continued behind the scene in the Cheka and the
Writers Union. But he understood that the dispute crossed
the border of the republic. He said:
Simon Chikovani was strongly criticized for me in the
Russian Writers Union and the editorial offce of the Literary
Newspaper. Nobody shared his point of view. It happened
on July 31, 1948 one month and two days after Simon
Chikovanis letter was submitted. Galaktion thought that it
happened on August 8 because Simon Chikovani was to be
criticized.
167
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31 ivliss, maSasadame, simon Ciqovanis
werilis wardgenidan erTi Tvisa da
ori dRis Semdeg, xolo mesame dRes 8
agvistos TiTqosda gulma ugrZno: _
mgoni, es preludiebia simona Ciqovanis
gadayiravebisTvis.
rogorc irkveva, saqme ufro
seriozulad yofila: Cans, saxelmwifo
uSiSroebis komitetma da mweralTa
kavSiris gamgeobis Tavmjdomaris
Casafrebulma oponentebma operatiulad
imuSaves da moskovic daaintereses
da albaT swored centris
dainteresebis gamo mosTxova
respublikis cekam simon Ciqovans
pasuxi da axsna-ganmarteba.
am Canaweridan galaktionis
damokidebulebac dasturdeba:
mas sergi Wilaias da oficiozis
pozicia awyobda, Tumca aravin
arafers ekiTxeboda. galaktioni
yovelnairad alamazebda sakuTar
warsuls, simbolisturi periodis
Sedevrebs sajarod kiTxulobda,
tomeulebSi ar Sehqonda da
nerviulobda, roca Semoqmedebis or
periods gauxsenebdnen.
ise, WeSmaritebis dasadgenad,
erTaderTi faqtis aRniSvnac
sakmarisi iqneboda: 1917 wlis
Tebervlis revoluciam galaktioni
aRafrTovana da dawera ,,droSebi
Cqara! da aTrobda xalxTa
mwuxareba. magram oqtombris
revoluciam Tebervlis revoluciis
imedi gaucrua da 1919 wels
gamocemul ,,artistul yvavilebSi
es ori leqsi ar Seitana. Tumca am
feriscvalebas ar Tu ver miaqcies
yuradReba da qarTvel moswavleebsa
da studentebs kvlav arwmunebdnen
da azepirebdnen: galaktion tabiZe
1917 wlis revolucias aRtacebiT
miesalmao.
cxadia, es kazusi simon
CiqovanisaTvisac iyo cnobili.
magram amis gamoaSkaraveba dasmenis
tolfasi iqneboda. amitom Tavmjdomare
Seecada, arc mwvadi daewva da arc
Samfuri
amaod Seecada!
1951 wlis 23 Tebervals, rogorc
galaktionma ivarauda, simon Ciqovani
mweralTa kavSiris Tavmjdomaris
Tanamdebobidan gaaTavisufles da imave
dRes cekas literaturisa da xelovnebis
But the situation was more serious. The State Security
Committee and the opponents of the head of the Writers
Union carried out very serious subversive activities against
Simon Chikovani. Moscow got interested and the Cheka
insisted on his explanation.
Although nobody asked Galaktion Tabidze to express
his own opinion about the case, the position of Sergi Chilaia
and also of the offcials was very suitable to him. Galaktion
tried to expurgate his past. He publicly read his symbolist
works but these poems were not attached to his collection.
He was always nervous when was asked about the two
periods of his poetry.
The following factor is enough to evince the truth:
The February Revolution of 1917 inspired Galaktion to
write Droshebi Chkara! (Flags Quick!) and Atrobda
168
seqtoris gamge sergi Wilaia mweralTa
kavSiris gamgeobis pirvel mdivnad airCies
/ufro sworad-daniSnes!/, romelmac
mweralTa kavSiris aparatis rekordi
daamyara: am Tanamdebobaze imuSava 22
weliwads _ 1973 wlamde.
amJamad, ocdameerTe saukunis
mkiTxvels, SeiZleba es debati warsulis
SedarebiT uwyinar epizodad moeCvenos,
magram daakvirdiT mopaeqreTa leqsikas:
ciliswameba, literaturuli sindisi,
Tavdacvis cda, gayalbeba, elami sarke,
miCqmalva, reaqciuli bneleTi, muqara, _
da bolos simon Ciqovanis Txovna cekas
mdivnisadmi:
_ am werilis gamoqveyneba Cems
reabilitacias Seuwyobda xels.
maSasadame, sergi Wilaias
gamoxmaureba, romelic literaturul
presaSi ki ar daibeWda, aramed cekas
organo ,,komunistSi _ Cveulebrivi
paeqrobis sazRvrebs gascda da iseT
Khalkhta Mtsukhareba (Drunk with the Peoples Sorrow).
He was disappointed with the October Revolution. For this
reason, these two poems were not included in his collection
Artistic Flowers. The offcials did not pay attention to it and
Georgian pupils and students were taught that Galaktion
Tabidze highly praised the 1917 Revolution.
Simon Chikovani knew this but he did not expose it
because it was equal to denunciation. He was punished for
this.
On February 23, 1951 Simon Chikovani, Secretary of
the Writers Union, was replaced with Sergi Chilaia by the
Cheka. Chilaia held this post for 22 years (until 1973).
In the twenty-frst century, readers may consider this
disagreement to be harmless but the opponents used the
following vocabulary: slander, literary conscience, to try
to defend oneself, falsifcation, a squint mirror, hush
169
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mamxilebel braldebas Seicavda, rom
adresats sareabilitaciod gauxda saqme,
miTumetes, rom am diskusiis Sedegs
elodeboda moskovi, romlis winaSec
Tavis gamarTlebac iyo saWiro da Tavis
mowonebac.
rogorc mosalodneli iyo, simon
Ciqovanis werili partiul arqivSi
Seinaxes, ufro sworad _ Segvinaxes.
sasurvelia da aucilebelic es werili
gamoqveyndes da simon Ciqovanis werilebis
krebulSic SevitanoT, raTa mainc aRdges
literaturuli samarTlianoba.
simon Ciqovans plenumze TiTqos
wamoscda da cekaSi wardgenil werilSic
gaimeora:
galaktion tabiZem formalurad
melodiuri Sedevrebi Seqmna. CvenSi am
mxriv misi poezia marTlac gasaocari
movlenaa.
rogor unda gavigoT? ,,Sedevrebi ki
Seqmna, magram ara srulyofili, aramed _
,,formalurad melodiuri Sedevrebi, rac
TiTqos revoluciamdeli SemoqmedisaTvis
dasaSvebi unda yofiliyo?
arada _ literaturasa da xelovnebaSi
mTavaria forma, ara-ra, aramed rogor.
bosxi da breigeli maxinjebs xataven,
pikaso da dali lamazebs ,,amaxinjebdnen,
magram-rogor?
rogor da _ galaktionis swored
formaluri melodiebiTa da riTmebiTaa
gamsWvaluli da gajerebuli mTeli
saukunis qarTuli poezia.
magram totalitaruli reJimis dros
,,formaluri: uaryofiTi konteqstSi
ikiTxeboda da formalizmiT gatacebisaken
mianiSnebda. amitomac gaasaidumles
da diskusiis meore moqmedeba, romlis
mowmenic mxolod samocdaori wlis Semdeg
aRmovCndiT.
galaktions rac Seexeba, maSin
galaktions aravin arafers ekiTxeboda
da gaurkvevel situaciaSi gaorebuli
galaktioni TviTon kiTxulobda da
kiTxulobda:
ra saWiroa yovelive es? ra saWiroa
pirvel periodze amdeni laparaki?
ra saWiroa ase gaWianureba pirveli
periodisa.
up an affair, reactionary darkness, and threaten. Simon
Chikovani appealed to the Cheka.
He said: Publishing this letter would have served to
rehabilitate me. Sergi Chilaias critical letter was published
in the Communist but not in the literary press. The letter
was so critical that the addressee had to be rehabilitated;
moreover, Moscow was waiting for the result of this case.
The letter of Simon Chikovani was kept in the Party
Archive. It is necessary to publish this letter and to attach it
to the collection of Simon Chikovanis letters.
Simon Chikovani slipped out the following phrase:
Galaktion is an amazing fgure because his poetry is a
formally melodious masterpiece. How can this phrase be
understood? Maybe it means that he created masterpieces
which were formally melodious masterpieces that were
approved by revolutionary literature.
One of the major principles of literature and art is the
shape. The important question is how and not what. While
Bosch and Bruegel painted ugly people, Picasso and Dali
made beautiful people look ugly. But the important thing is
how did they do it?
During the totalitarian regime Galaktions poetry was
considered to be inclined to formalism. He was in an obscure
situation because he was not asked anything. He himself
asked: Whats the use? Whats the use of speaking about
the frst period? Whats the use of drawing the frst period?
170
gaxunebuli baraTebi
/ Faded Letters
tician tabiZis werili mamia oraxelaSvils
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saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. 14, s. 40. furc. 686
II Section of the archive of the MIA of Georgia, f. 14, d. 40, p. 686
A letter by Titsian Tabidze addressed
to Mamia Orakhelashvili
172
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #14, aRw. #1, s. #34, furc. 8889
II Section of the archive of the MIA of Georgia, f. 14, d. 34, p.8889
mixeil javaxiSvilis werili
A letter by Mikheil Javakhishvili
1945 wels, Tbilisis saxelmwifo
konservatoriis mesame kursis studentis
cxovrebaSi saocari ram moxda _ 21
wlis axalgazrda kompozitorma oTar
TaqTaqiSvilma gaimarjva mTavrobis
mier saqarTvelos saxelmwifo himnis
Sesaqmnelad gamocxadebul konkursSi.
gamoCenil qarTvel kompozitor oTar
TaqTaqiSvils (1924-1989), maSin jer aravin
icnobda: _ `omis periodi iyo, Zalian
gviWirda, faqtiurad vSimSilobdiT.
Hhimnze konkursi rom gamocxadda, me maSin
ukve `raRac-raRaceebs vwerdi. teqsti
ukve vicodi. Ddavwere himni fsevdonimiT
`#9, gvaris dawera ar SeiZleboda da
gavagzavne igonebda mogvianebiT batoni
oTari.
himnis gamarjvebam erT dReSi
cnobil pirovnebad aqcia axalgazrda
ucnobi kompozitori _ `manamde ubralo,
`gaWirvebuli biWi viyavi, davrbodi
rusTavelis gamzirze konservatoriidan
saxlisaken, saxlidan konservatoriisaken.
da uceb... me didxans ar mjeroda...
himnis gamarjveba kanonzomieri
iyo. erT amosunTaqvaze dawerili mxne,
vaJkacuri SemarTebiT aRsavse musika,
srulad gadmoscemda qarTuli sulis
Seudrekelobas, Rirsebas, erovnul
kolorits. is dResac inarCunebs himnis
musikisaTvis damaxasiaTebel Rirsebebs:
lakonurobas, optimizms, advilad aRqmadi
melodiis sisadavesa da silamazes,
Sinagan muxts. igi SeiZleba CaiTvalos
TinaTin Rvineria
TINATIN GHVINERIA
saqarTvelos
sabWoTa
respublikis
himni
`didebidan~ `Tavisuflebamde~
THE STATE ANTHEM OF
THE SOVIET REPUBLIC OF
GEORGIA
In 1945 an amazing incident occurred in the life of a
third-year student of the Tbilisi State Conservatory: 21-year-
old composer Otar Taktakishvili won frst prize in a competition
announced for the state anthem by the government.
The famous Georgian composer Otar Taktakishvili (1924-
1989) was not yet widely known. Later Mr. Taktakishvili recalled:
It was wartime and we had to live in poor conditions. We were
starving. When the competition was announced I had already
composed a few compositions. I knew the lyric of the anthem.
We were not allowed to sign our name. Thus, I composed an
anthem under the pseudonym of No.9 and submitted it.
The frst prize brought fame and fortune to the young and
unknown composer overnight. He said: I was a simple and poor
boy running along Rustaveli Avenue between the conservatory
and home. And suddenly I could not believe it for a long
time
It was absolutely natural that the anthem won the frst
prize. It was a cheerful and brave music composition made
in one breath. This anthem refected the Georgian frmness,
dignity and the national colour. The anthem answers the
following demands of today: laconism, optimism, nice and easily
perceptible to the ear, and an inner charge. This anthem may be
saqarTvelos Sss arqivi, (II), f. #14, aRw. #1, s. #34, furc. 8889
/ From ~Glory to ~Freedom
`
`
173
174
erT-erT saukeTeso himnad ara marto
saqarTveloSi.
rogorc Cans, axalgazrda
kompozitoris gamarjveba imdenad
moulodneli iyo yvelasaTvis, rom
konkursi meored gamoacxades. sabolood
mainc oTar TaqTaqiSvilis musikaze
SeCerdnen. amis Semdeg himni moskovSi
moismines dasamtkiceblad.
himni fexbednieri aRmoCnda
axalgazrda musikosis SemoqmedebaSi.
oTar TaqTaqiSvilis mTeli Semdgomi
cxovreba da Semoqmedeba dakavSirebuli
iyo qarTuli musikis ganviTarebasa da
winsvlasTan, rasac igi muxlCauxreli
SromiT, TavdadebiTa da SemarTebiT
aRwevda rogorc sakompozitoro, aseve
sazogadoebrivi moRvaweobis sferoebSi.
igi iqca XX saukunis meore naxevris
qarTuli sakompozitoro skolis erT-
erT gamorCeul figurad. misi operebi,
oratoriebi, vokaluri ciklebi, kamerul-
instrumentuli nawarmoebebi qarTuli
musikis umniSvnelovanes monapovars
warmoadgens.
is miekuTvneboda xelovanTa im mcire
gamonakliss, romelTa Semoqmedeba da
sazogadoebrivi moRvaweoba srulad
dafasda maTsave cxovrebaSi, raSic
SesaZlebelia `debiutis Saravandedic
uwyobda xels.
axalgazrda kompozitori zedized
orjer gaxda stalinuri premiis laureati:
1951 wels, 27 wlis asakSi _ I simfonia.
1952 wels _ safortepiano koncerti.
stalinis gardacvalebis Semdeg, roca
stalinuri premiis nacvlad dawesda
saxelmwifo premia, oTar TaqTaqiSvilma
1967 wels es sapatio jildoc moipova
oratoriisTvis `rusTavelis nakvalevze.
oTar TaqTaqiSvili iyo erTaderTi
qarTveli kompozitori, romelic 1982
wels dajildovda leninuri premiiT
operisaTvis `mTvaris motaceba.
1984 wels mas mieniWa SoTa rusTavelis
saxelobis premia.
gamoCenili qarTveli kompozitori
aseve aqtiur sazogadoebriv moRvaweobas
eweoda:
1962-65 wlebSi iyo Tbilisis
konservatoriis reqtori;
1965-84 w.w. saqarTvelos kulturis
ministri;
1957 wlidan sicocxlis bolomde
ssrk kompozitorTa kavSiris mdivani;
orjer iyo arCeuli `iuneskos
considered as the best throughout the world.
The young composer astonished everybody by his victory
so much that a second competition was announced. But fnally
the music composed by Taktakishvili was chosen. Afterwards,
the anthem was submitted to Moscow for approval.
This anthem was a lucky start for the career of the young
composer. Taktakishvili devoted his life and career to the
development of Georgian music. He reached his goal as a
composer and public fgure with painstaking work. He became
one of the outstanding fgures of the Georgian composers
school in the second half of the 20th century. His operas,
oratorios, vocal cycles, chamber and instrumental compositions
are of great value to Georgian music.
He belonged to a small group of artists whose work, as
well as public activity, was appraised in their lives. Maybe the
halo of his frst appearance helped him.
The young composer received the Stalin Prize twice:
In 1951, at the age of 27 for his First Symphony;
In 1952 for his piano concerto.
After the death of Stalin, the Stalin Prize was replaced with
the USSR State Prize. In 1967 Taktakishvili received this honor
for his oratorio In the Steps of Rustaveli.
Taktakishvili was the only Georgian composer who, in
1982, was awarded with the Lenin Prize for his opera Stealing
the Moon.
In 1984 he received the Shota Rustaveli Prize.
The famous Georgian composer was an active public
fgure and held the following posts:
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saerTaSoriso musikaluri sabWos
prezidiumis wevrad (parizi);
aseve iyo ssrk umaRlesi sabWos
deputati;
oTar TaqTaqiSvili gardaicvala 64
wlis asakSi, 1989 wels. dakrZalulia
didubis panTeonSi. aqve ganisveneben
himnis teqstis avtorebi, cnobili poetebi
aleqsandre abaSeli (1884-1954) da grigol
abaSiZe (1914-1994).
rogorc cnobilia, himnis musikis
Seqmnamde gamocxadda konkursi teqstze.
am konkursSi gaimarjves socialisturi
realizmis ideologiur platformaze
myarad mdgarma poetebma _ aleqsandre
abaSelma da axalgazrda grigol abaSiZem.
im periodis ideur-politikuri
moTxovnebis Sesabamisad himnis teqstSi
aisaxa naTeli momavlis rwmena, sabWoTa
wyobilebis xotba-dideba, mgznebare
siyvaruli stalinisa da leninis
mimarT, sixarulisa da bednierebis
gancda moZme erebTan erTad sabWoTa
kavSiris SemadgenlobaSi saqarTvelos
damkvidrebisa, sabWoTa patriotuli
suliskveTeba:
idide marad, Cveno samSoblov,
gmirTa kera xar gauqrobeli;
qveyanas miec didi stalini,
xalxTa monobis damamxobeli.
Seni ocneba asrulda,
risTvisac sisxli Rvareo,
ayvavdi, turfa qveyanav,
ilxine qarTvelT mxareo!
didi oqtombris SuqiT leninma
Sen gaginaTa mTebi WaRara;
stalinis sibrZnem ZleviT Segmosa,
gadagaqcia mziur baRnarad.
moZme erebis ojaxSi
damkvidrdi, gaixareo;
ayvavdi turfa qveyanav,
ilxine, qarTvelT mxareo!
uxsovar drodan brwyinavda Seni
azri, xmali da gambedaoba;
dRes Sens didebas, naTel momavals
sWeds stalinuri wrTobis Taoba.
sabWoTa droSa dagnaTis,
mzesaviT moelvareo,
ayvavdi turfa qveyanav
ilxine, qarTvelT mxareo.
sakavSiro instanciis gavlis Semdeg,
saqarTvelos umaRlesi sabWos prezidiumma
specialuri dadgenilebiT daamtkica
saqarTvelos sabWoTa socialisturi
1962-65 - rector of the Tbilisi Conservatory;
1965-84 - Minister for Culture of the Georgian Republic;
1957 until his death - Chairman of the Georgian
Composers Union.
Twice he was a member of the Presidium of the
International Music Council of UNESCO (in Paris); He was also
a deputy of the USSR Supreme Council.
Otar Taktakishvili died in 1989, at the age of sixty-four.
He was buried in the Didube Pantheon. The poets Alexander
Abasheli (1884-1954) and Grigol Abasheli (1914-1994), who
wrote the lyrics for the Anthem of the Georgian SSR, were also
buried there.
At frst the competition was announced for the lyric.
Alexander and Grigol Abasheli were the winners. They were the
poets who adhered to the Soviet Socialist and realistic ideology.
The lyric of the anthem met political and ideological
requirements of that time which were as follows: to express
hope for a bright future, praise the Soviet regime, show love
for Stalin and Lenin, show happiness for being within the
Soviet Union with the neighboring nations, and show the Soviet
patriotic spirit.
Be glorious eternally, our homeland,
You are an inextinguishable hearth of heroes;
You gave the world great Stalin,
Who destroyed the slavery of nations.
Your dream is accomplished,
For the sake of which [dream] you bled:
Blossom, our beautiful country,
Exult, the Georgian land!
With the great Octobers light,
Lenin has illuminated your ancient mountains;
Stalins wisdom has made you victorious,
Turned you into a sunny garden.
In the family of the fraternal peoples
Youve gained a foothold, rejoice;
Blossom, our beautiful country,
Exult, the Georgian land!
Your thought, [your] sword and [your] courage
Have been shining from time immemorial,
Now the generation of Stalins temper forges
Your grandeur, your serene future.
The Soviet banner, shining as the sun,
Is futtering over you;
Blossom, our beautiful country,
Exult, the Georgian land!
Having reviewed the anthem, the Presidium of the
Supreme Council approved the lyric and music of the state
anthem of the Georgian SSR. It was frst played at the
176
respublikis himnis teqsti da musika.
igi pirvelad Sesrulda 1946 wlis
23 Tebervals rusTavelis TeatrSi
saqarTvelos gasabWoebis 25 wlisTavis
sazeimo sxdomaze.
stalinis gardacvalebis Semdeg,
roca saxelmwifo politikis mTavar
amocanad iqca beladis kultis
msxvreva, xalxis mexsierebidan
misi saxelis amosaZirkvad daiwyo
qalaqebisa da quCebis, moednebisa Tu
dawesebulebebisaTvis saxelwodebebis
gadarqmeva. am periodSi saqarTvelos
himni aikrZala. misi Sesruleba aRsdga
mas Semdeg, rac teqsidan amoRebul iqna
beladis sadidebeli striqonebi. axal
versiaze muSaobda grigol abaSiZe,
romelsac ideologiur konsultacias
uwevda partiuli nomenklaturis
cnobili warmomdadgeneli viqtoria
siraZe. axali moTxovnebis Sesabamisad
gadamuSavebulma teqstma Semdegi saxe
miiRo:
idide marad, Cemo samSoblov,
gmirTa kera xar ganaxlebuli,
diad partiis naTeli azriT
leninis sibrZniT amaRlebuli.
Seni ocneba asrulda,
risTvisac sisxli Rvareo,
mSromeli kacis marjveniT
ayvavebulo mxareo.
didi oqtombris droSis sxivebma
Sen gaginaTes mTebi WaRara,
Tavisuflebam da SemarTebam
gadagaqcies mziur baRnarad.
moZme erebis ojaxSi
amaRldi, gaixareo,
megobrobiT da gmirobiT
gamarjvebulo mxareo
uxsovar drodan brwyinavda Seni
azri, xmali da gambedaoba,
dRes saqarTvelos naTel momavals
sWeds leninuri wrTobis Taoba.
komunizmis mze dagnaTis,
kaSkaSa moelvareo,
idide mravalJamier,
Cemo samSoblo mxareo!
am teqstiT, oTar TaqTaqiSvilis
musikaze Seqmnili himni sruldeboda 1990
wlamde, saqarTveloSi erovnuli Zalebis
saxelmwifos saTaveSi mosvlamde.
zviad gamsaxurdias mTavrobam aRadgina
saqarTvelos pirveli damoukidebeli
respublikis (1918-1921) saxelmwifo
simboloebi: droSa, gerbi da himni
Sovietization of Georgias 25th anniversary celebration in the
Rustaveli Theatre, on February 25, 1946.
After Stalin died the major goal of the new authority
became to denounce his cult. For this reason, cities, streets,
squares and establishments were renamed. The state anthem
was made taboo and was played only after the lines praising
the Great Leader were removed from the lyric. The new version
was made by Grigol Abashidze. Vika Siradze,a famous member
of the party nomenclature, supported him ideologically. This is a
post-Stalinist version of the anthem:
Praised be over the ages, my homeland,
The renewed hearth of heroes,
By the Great Partys mind,
And Lenins wisdom youve been risen.
Your dreams came true,
For which you shed your blood,
A tireless hand of toiler
Has brought you to bloom.
Shining of the Great Octobers banners
Has illuminated your ancient peaks,
Freedom, courage and doughtiness,
Have turned you into the sunny land.
In the fraternal family of peoples
Youve reached singular heights,
With friendship and nation-wide strength,
You triumphed and triumph.
From time immemorial your
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`dideba. Ees iyo kote focxveraSvilis
teqstsa da musikaze Seqmnili saqarTvelos
pirveli oficialuri saxelmwifo himni.
2005 wels ZalaSi Sevida axali
saxelmwifo simboloebi. saqarTvelos
saxelmwifo himni gaxda cnobili
kompozitoris ioseb keWaymaZis mier
dawerili `Tavisufleba, romelSic
gamoyenebulia musikaluri fragmentebi
zaqaria faliaSvilis operebidan
`abesalomi da eTeri (abios gamosvla)
da `daisi (kiazos scena II moqmedebidan).
am himnma jer kidev 1998 wels gaimarjva
mTavrobis mier axali himnis Sesaqmnelad
gamocxadebul konkursSi, Tumca himnis
Secvlis idea didi xnis manZilze
ganuxorcielebeli darCa.
mogvianebiT, saqarTvelos
prezidentis m. saakaSvilis iniciativiT
SesaZlebeli gaxda rom gamarjvebul
himns _ i. keWaymaZis `Tavisuflebas
dRis Suqi exila. poetma daviT maRraZem
Mmusikas axali teqsti miusadaga, masSi
gamoyenebulia striqonebi akaki wereTlis
poeziidan (`Cemi xatia samSoblo, saxate
mTeli qveyana).
es himni didi siyvaruliT sargeblobs
mTels qarTvel erSi da Cveni identurobis
mkafio musikalur gamoxatulebad iqca.
statia momzadebulia saqarTvelos Sinagan
saqmeTa saministros arqivSi daculi masalebis
mixedviT (II ganyofileba, f. #14, aRw. #22, y. #35,
s.#409, furc. 31-37)
Mind, sword and courage were radiant.
Today Georgias serene future
Is forged by the generation of Lenins temper.
The sun of Communism is shining
Over you increasingly bright,
Praised be over the ages, my Motherland,
My native land!
This anthem composed by Taktakishvili was played until
1990 when the national forces came into authority.
The following state symbols of the First Democratic
Republic of Georgia (1918-1921) were restored under Zviad
Gamsakhurdias authority: fag, coat of arms and the anthem
Dideba (praise). It was the frst offcial state anthem of
Georgia. It was written and composed by Kote Potskhverashvili.
In 2005 the state symbols were changed. A new state
anthem Freedom was composed by the famous composer
Ioseb Kechakmadze. The fragments from Zakaria Paliashvilis
operas - Absalom and Eteri (Abios aria) and Daisi (Kiazos
scene from part II) were used in the anthem. This anthem took
the frst prize in the competition announced by the government
in 1998 but the state anthem was not replaced with it.
Later, by the initiative of the Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili, Dideba, composed by I. Kechakmadze, became
the state anthem. The poet Davit Maghradze wrote a new lyric
for the music. He used the lines from Akaki Tseretelis poem
(My icon is my motherland, and the whole world is its icon-
stand).
This hymn has gained the love of the Georgian people and
has become the musical refection of our identity.
This article has been written based on the materials that
are preserved in the archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of
Georgia. (Section II, f.14, op.22, b.35, c.409, pp.31-37).
178
iv. javaxiSvilis saxelobis Tbilisis saxelmwifo universiteti.
foto daculia saqarTvelos Sinagan saqmeTa saministros arqivSi.
Jurnal `saarqivo moambis~ me-10 nomeri eZRvneba universitetis daarsebis dRes.
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
The photo is stored in the archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
The Archival Bulletin No.10 is a tribute to the foundation day of Tbilisi State University
saredaqcio kolegia:
Jurnalis damfuZnebeli - (Sss saarqivo sammarTvelos
ufrosi) omar TuSuraSvili
proeqtis koordinatori - Tamar belqania
(Sss saarqivo sammarTvelos ufrosis moadgile)
mTavari redaqtori - nino yifSiZe
teqnikuri redaqtori _ meri barbaqaZe
qarTuli teqstebis stili da koreqtura _
ekaterine kacitaZe
inglisuri enis Targmani _ nana grigalaSvili
inglisuri teqstebis stili da koreqtura _
timoTi blauvelTi (mecnierebaTa doqtori,
saerTaSoriso ganaTlebis amerikis sabWo,
politolog-istorikosi)
rusuli teqstebis stili da koreqtura _
irma laRiZe
teqnikuri uzrunvelyofa _ giorgi babucaSvili
saarqivo dokumentebis moZiebis jgufi _
I gany.: lali exvaia, ekaterine kuxalaSvili
II gany.: dodo baRaTuria, ia avaliani, maka bardaZe,
Tamar maisuraZe
Jurnalis konsultanti:
nana gonjilaSvili (filologiis mecnierebaTa
doqtori)
EDITION BOARD:
Journal founder Omar Tushurashvili (Head of the Archive
Administration of the MoIA)
Project coordinator-Tamar Belkania (Deputy Head of the
Archive Administration of the MoIA)
Editor-in-chief Nino Kipshidze
Technical Editor Mary Barbakadze
Editing and proof reading of Georgian texts
Ekaterine Katsitadze
Translating English Texts Nana Grigalashvili
Editing and proof reading of English texts
Timothy Blauvelt (PhD, American Councils for International
Education, Political Scientist/Historian)
Editing and proof reading of Russian texts
Irma Lagidze
Technical support Giorgi Babutsashvili
The research group for archival documents:
section I - Dodo Baghaturia, Lali Ekhvaia, Eka Kukhalashvili
section II - Ia Avaliani, Maka Bardadze, Tamar Maisuradze

JOURNAL CONSULTANT:
Nana Gonjilashvili (Doctor of Philology Sciences)
misamarTi: vaJa-fSavelas 72, Tbilisi, saqarTvelo
tel.: (995 32) 41-23-68; 41-22-91; 32-38-98.
Address: 72 Vazha-Pshavela ave., Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel.: (995 32) 41-23-68; 41-22-91; 32-38-98.
web: www.archive.security.gov.ge e-mail: moambe@pol.ge
saqarTvelos Sinagan saqmeTa
saministros saarqivo
sammarTvelos Jurnali
gamodis kvartalSi erTxel
gasayidad ar gavrceldeba
Journal of the Archive
Administration
of the MoIA
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JurnalSi gamoqveynebuli statiebis,
dokumentebisa da fotomasalis gamoyeneba
redaqciasTan SeuTanxmeblad akrZalulia.
You must ask permission for using the articles,
documents or photo materials that are published in the
journal.
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