French Archives Exhibition: Georgia’s First Democratic Republic

Contemporary history enthusiasts have a new exhibition in Tbilisi to satiate their interest, after high-profile guests launched a display of French diplomatic archives on Georgia’s First Democratic Republic in the capital.

At the Art Palace museum venue, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs and Mikheil Giorgadze, the Minister of Culture and Sport of Georgia, marked the opening of the exhibition on Saturday.

Organizers said the Art Palace exposition involve "unique” documents from French national vaults and displays them in Georgia for the first time.

“The materials show the attitude and interest of France towards the events in the Caucasus and Georgia during the independence period”, their summary said.

Georgia’s government between the years of independence held active diplomatic talks with its western European counterparts, including France.

A French diplomatic mission was present alongside those of other European states in Georgia during the brief sovereignty of the country. France was also the country of destination for the Georgian government after it was forced into exile by the invasion and annexation of the country by Soviet armies in February 1921.

Members of the first government settled in an estate in the town of Leuville, located 37 kilometers south of Paris, being unable to return to their homeland.

The historical significance of the estate was mentioned by French President Emmanuel Macron in a congratulatory address to his Georgian counterpart for the May 26 celebrations.

The exhibition Georgia’s Independence in French Diplomatic Papers (1918-1921) is organized in partnership between the French embassy in Tbilisi, the National Archives of France and the Art Palace venue in Tbilisi, and will be open at the museum through June 8.

WHERE to see it: The Art Palace, 6 Kargareteli Street, Tbilisi (Open Tues-Sun 11 AM - 6 PM)

By Shawn Wayne