Anniversary of Soviet occupation of Georgia in 1921: EU reiterates support for country’s independence and democratic foundations

On 25 February, the European Union Delegation to Georgia reiterated its strong support to Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and for Georgia’s democratic foundations. The Delegation made this statement in remembrance of the tragic occupation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia by the Red Army of Soviet Russia in 1921.

“Soviet rule interrupted Georgia’s path of independent statehood but failed to eradicate the Georgian people’s aspiration to live in a free and democratic state,” the statement says.

The Soviet invasion of Georgia took place from 12 February to 17 March 1921 as a result of the expansion of the Bolsheviks, who sought to seize as much land as possible that had previously been part of the former Russian Empire.

Russian forces took the Georgian capital Tbilisi (then known as Tiflis) after heavy fighting and declared the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic on 25 February 1921.

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Press release