INFLUENCE OF NATIONAL MOVEMENT AND SOCIAL CONDITION ON THE CHANGE OF STATUS OF BATUMI REGION (1900-1904)

Abstract

In the beginning of the 20th century the officials started to think about separation of Batumi region from the province of Kutaisi and making it a separate province. Fearing that the Muslims of Batumi would turn their back to the government and search for the protector somewhere else, the imperial government decided to make Batumi region a separate administrative unit. Vicegerent of Caucasus was ordered to start action. But before he had to restore order in the town which had some problems in this aspect. In the beginning of May 1901 vicegerent of Caucasus summoned military-governor of Kutaisi to Tbilisi and introduced him the intent of St. Petersburg about changing the status of Batumi region. Vicegerent of Caucasus ordered military-governor of Kutaisi first to bring Batumi region in order. The result of this meeting was as follows: on the 22nd of May, 1901, in Batumi they added several units of Cossacks and gave the guns to the policemen, ordered the military to patrol together with the police etc.These measures had some results: military units were arresting homeless, unemployed people, forcing them to leave the town. There were casualties too. Because of these, separation was carried on later.