SUMMARY

Zviadists was a paramilitary group active primarily in western Georgia in 1992 and 1993. The group consisted of supporters of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, the country’s first president after it gained independence from the Soviet Union, ousted in a coup in late 1991.

Zviad Gamsakhurdia, a leading figure in Georgia’s struggle for independence, was elected president of the Republic of Georgia on 26 May 1991. During his presidency, Gamsakhurdia was determined not to give away Georgian authority over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two regions in the country striving for independence. His policies had characteristics of ethnic populism, radical nationalism and even repression.

Gamsakhurdia was ousted in a bloody coup by an anti-government alliance in late 1991 and subsequently fled the country. In January 1992, in exile, Gamsakhurdia stated that he was still the president of Georgia. Soon after releasing this statement, he started to mobilize and organize his supporters in western Georgia, forming a paramilitary group, the Zviadists, which consisted of approximately 1500 men.

The Zviadists were Georgian nationalists battling for Gamsakhurdia’s return to power, unwilling to accept the country’s new leadership. They gained support primarily in Mingrelia, the home district of Gamsakhurdia in western Georgia bordering Abkhazia. In 1992, the Zviadists took a number of government officials hostage and managed to keep some positions in western Georgia. The Zviadists diminished their activities at the end of 1992.

In July 1993, a cease-fire between the Government of Georgia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia caused great disappointment among many Georgians. This increased the support for the Zviadists, especially in western Georgia. Furthermore, in September, Gamsakhurdia returned from exile, advocating rebellion against the central government. The Zviadists aimed at preventing the withdrawal of Georgian forces from Abkhazia and managed to capture several towns.

While the group was diminished by massive arrests in the fall of 1993, it was not until Gamsakhurdia died in December 1993 (he allegedly committed suicide) that it was dissolved. However, the former supporters of Gamsakhurdia have been active in opposing the government also after Gamsakhurdia’s death.