Descendants of Georgia’s first government sign historic document about Leuville Estate

A very symbolic event took place in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi today that intentionally coincided with the 25th anniversary of Georgia’s independence from the Soviet Union, and the 98th anniversary since Georgia first gained freedom from Russia.

This afternoon the descendants of the leaders of the first Republic of Georgia gathered in Tbilisi and signed a Document of Intent about the handing over of the Leuville Estate in France to Georgia.

The five hectare Leuville Estate was extremely significant as the first government of Georgia settled there in exile in 1921 after fleeing their home country in the wake of the Soviet military invasion.

The descendants gathered at a special garden on Rustaveli Ave, which was the same place where their ancestors stood 98 years ago - on May 26, 1918 – and signed a document confirming Georgia’s independence.

The Estate was extremely significant as the first government of Georgia settled there in exile in 1921 after fleeing their home country goodnews.on.ge. 

It’s a historic day for Georgia as in this place where the leaders of Georgia’s First Republic signed Georgia’s independence document, their offspring today signed a document about the transfer of ownership of Leuville Estate to Georgia,” said Georgia’s Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani.

The Estate was purchased by the Georgian people’s money. Georgians care about the area and now the land is returning to Georgia,” she added.

Signing of that first document in 1918 confirmed Georgia’s separation from Royal Russia but in 1921 Bolshevik Russia invaded the country again and forced the leaders of the first Republic of Georgia to flee.

Georgia’s first government officials found asylum in France where they settled in Leuville, located about 30km south of Paris. 

In 2011 France agreed in principle to transfer ownership of the Leuville Estate to Georgia after it was officially recognised as a symbolic place for Georgia and a place of historical importance.

Georgia’s Government allocated funds to initiate the transfer in early 2015.

Georgia's Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani speaks with one of the descendants. Photo by the Ministry of Justice. 

In September of that year Georgia’s then State Minister for Diaspora Issues Gela Dumbadze said the Government had allocated €107,000 (285,000 GEL) to settle all details involving transfer of ownership of Leuville Estate to Georgia. Dumbadze said this money would be spent to properly assess the estate, which was necessary before the property was officially handed over.

At today’s signing of the Document of Intent, Dumbadze said the transfer of ownership could be completed before the end of this year. The Document of Intent needed to be signed before the final deal with France could be completed.

Meanwhile on March 18, 1921 then-chairman of the government Noe Zhordania, government members and a handful of Georgian representatives and their families boarded the Ernest Renan ship and sailed to Paris, where they founded the Georgian Association in France.

The Georgians in exile settled in Leuville but life for them was difficult; there was no water or electricity and money quickly vanished. So did the hope of returning to their homeland.

At the time about 30 Georgian emigrants lived in 15 flats inside the castle and shared a common lounge.