THE SECRET POLICE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE AND THE SOCIAL-POLITICAL SITUATION IN TELAVI IN EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

The Russian Imperial Secret (Political) Police units were spread all over Georgia in the beginning of the 20th century. Those were Tbilisi “Oxranka” and “Department of Gendarmerie of Tbilisi Governorate”.The Russian Imperial Secret Police had Unter-Officer in Telavi (City in East Georgia) who was subordinate to the deputy of the head of “Department of Gendarmerie of Tbilisi Governorate”. The Russian Imperial Secret Police Unter-Officer in Telavi, along with collecting information on political condition, was interested in the crime situation. They also Investigated information about the rise of prices on bread or the other commodities, the attitude of population towards the government etc.The reports are reflecting the interrelation between the Georgians and the other ethnic groups who lived in Telavi. After close analysis of these reports, it is clear that the Armenians, who were minority, are supported by the local administration of the Russian Empire. There are materials, which proves that the Secret Police of the Russian Empire in 1913 helped the Armenian political party “Dashnaktsutyun” to arm the Armenian rebels, who were active in the Ottoman Empire of that period.Thus, the documents preserved in the historical archives of Georgia about Unter-Officers in Telavi are quite interesting and important for the study of the social-political situation of the beginning of the 20th century.