The Okrug of Batumi (Adjara) As a Part of Kutaisi Governorate

Abstract

Under the banner of monotheism and patronage, Russia aspired to complete hegemony in the Caucasus, in the beginning of the XIX century it first annexed Kartli-Kakheti, and then “annexed” western Georgia. Tsarism in the 19th century seized extensive territories Of Iran and the Ottomans in the Caucasus, namely 1877-1878. As a result of the war, it occupied important areas of southwestern Georgia - Adjara and Shavsheti. The Russian government has created an independent administrative unit in these areas - the Batumi district.

Russia pursued a well-thought-out colonial policy in the political, economic, social, and cultural spheres. The issue of administrative-territorial arrangement was also an active component of this policy. The government aims migrants this to separate the Batumi district:

1. to prevent the newly annexed regions populated by Muslim Georgians from
being consolidated with the rest of Georgia,
2. to colonize these areas as soon as possible

However, the government was dissatisfied with the achieved results, the district administration was spending substantially on maintenance. It was therefore decided in 1883. The issue of abolition of Batumi district on June 12 and its merge to Kutaisi Governorate. Adjara entered the Kutaisi Governorate with the status of Batumi okrug. But tsarist policymakers soon realized the “negatives” of this measure, and Governor Golitsyn (1896-1904) insisted on convincing the higher authorities of the need to correct the mistake immediately, which he did. On March 17, 1903, Nicholas II signed a decree to restore the Batumi district.