The Issue of the Establishment of the Abkhazian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in Soviet and Post-Soviet Georgian History Textbooks

Abstract

This paper examines how the establishment of the Abkhazian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic is presented in Soviet history textbooks, offering a novel perspective on the matter. The topic is highly relevant, given that both during the Soviet era and at the contemporary stage, the Russian government has consistently attempted to rewrite history, a central component of which is the issue of the "Independent Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia." To reinforce its position, historical myths regarding this issue are frequently utilized.

 In 2019, Russian President V. Putin stated that Abkhazia joined the Russian Empire as an independent state and that "no Georgia existed" at the time. He claimed that the Socialist Republic of Georgia was only formed during Stalin's rule, with Abkhazia becoming a part of it. The Abkhazian claim that their independence was stripped away during the Soviet period is also fueled by history textbooks produced during that era. As this study demonstrates, information on this matter in Soviet-era Georgian history textbooks is incomplete, inaccurate, and scarce; the fragmented data regarding the changes in Abkhazia's status raises additional questions that remain unexplained. This can likely be attributed to the fact that during that period, Abkhazia’s autonomous status was considered a settled matter, and no underlying problem was perceived. In post-Soviet Georgia, the issue of Abkhazia's status gained greater urgency due to unfolding historical events, which subsequently reflected on the school history textbooks of the period.

 In contrast to the Soviet era, textbooks published in independent Georgia provide substantially more information regarding the establishment of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Abkhazia by the Bolsheviks and the subsequent granting of autonomous republic status to it. These texts emphasize the objectives of the Soviet regime and the consequences of this "administrative experiment."