Persecution of Georgian editors in the Russian Empire
Keywords:
Russian Empire, Closing of printing houses, Persecution of Georgian editorsAbstract
"The newspaper "Kartli" published in Gori was closed, and at one time the publisher Davit Machavariani was taken to court. A simple thing was considered a printer's crime, this is what it is: during printing, the letters of the announcement were used in Georgian, and the Russian ones were small. This is naively nothing more than that." writes Nikoloz Ghoghoberidze in the book "Georgian Printing House". The first issue of "Kartli" newspaper was published on June 24, 1912, and the last 80th issue on February 24, 1913, after which the publication was closed. The composition of the editorial committee of the newspaper was representative: Ia Ekaladze, Anastasia Eristavi-Khostaria, Niko Lomouri, Tedo Razikashvili, Konstantine Eliozishvili. The printing press which was opened in Gori in 1907 by Davit Machavariani, also contributed to the publication of the newspaper. But, because in one of the published statements, "Georgian letters were used bigger and Russian letters smaller," both the printing house and the newspaper were closed! "Zaria" ("Sunrise") was a daily socio-political and literary newspaper that was published in Batumi on May 27, 1906. Editor-publishers K. Sulakvelidze and V. Chkheidze were brought to justice for the editing of "Mavne" newspaper. A total of 10 issues of the newspaper were published and it was closed forever on June 7. The three newspapers "Chernomorskoye Ekho", "Chernomorskii Golos" and "Chernomorskie Novosti," published in 1906 in Batumi by the same editor Mdivani, S.C., have been closed, and the editor was arrested. "Chernomorskii Golos" (Voice of the Black Sea), a daily socio-political and literary newspaper, was published in Batumi in July-August 1906. The newspaper was closed by the order of the Governor-General of Batumi District. The editor-publisher was Mdivani, S.G., who did not put down his shield and in the same September 1906, started publishing a new newspaper called "Chernomorskie Novosti" ("News of the Black Sea"). The newspaper was a socio-political and literary daily. It was published in Batumi from September to the beginning of December 1906. The Governor-General also closed this newspaper and Mdivani opened a new newspaper "Echo of the Black Sea". It was also published in Batumi from the beginning of December 1906 and did not exist for a long time - it was also closed on December 22, 1906, and the editor-publisher Mdivani, S.G, was arrested. A few days after this news, at the end of December, a new newspaper called "Chernomor" was published in Batumi, a daily socio-political and literary newspaper. Its editor-publisher was Mikhailov, S.K. No one arrested him. His newspaper was not closed either. Presumably, it has been in existence for three years since the date of publication, because the last information about the newspaper was found in the "Caucasian Calendar" of 1909. It is obvious that the editor-publishers with Russian surnames were more reliable for the Russian governor, and this is also confirmed by the fate of the editors of other newspapers. The newspaper "Chernomorets" was published in Batumi in 1912-1913, the editor-publisher of which was Gegenava, L. T., and it was published on Mondays. The newspaper’s editor felt the danger of closing down, this is why it announced itself as an independent, non-partisan progressive body on February 11, 1913. Russian authorities still suspected him and as a result of administrative repressions, the newspaper was closed in 6 months. "Chernomorskoye Ekho" was the Russian-language newspaper, but because its editor was ethnic Georgian, the publication was closed, and the publisher was put in prison. Instead of this, immediately after the arrest of the editor, at the end of December, a new newspaper "Chernomor" was opened under the leadership of the Russian editor Mikhailov, and this unremarkable newspaper has existed for about three years. "Chernomorets" newspaper, whose editor-publisher was ethnic Georgian Gegenava, L. T., was closed in six months. It can be assumed, that this newspaper would also have extended its life in the case of a Russian editor. The newspaper "Kartli" published in Gori was closed, and the owner of the printing press, Machavariani, was arrested for the following crime: it turns out that the Georgian letters of the published announcement were more cursive than the Russian ones. These are just a few of the arrests of editors and closings of newspapers that the Russian Empire has been conducting in the media.References
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Published
05.11.2024