ABKHAZI, CONSTANTINE (KONSTANTINE) (1867–1923). Georgian military figure and statesman. He was born to a prominent Georgian family, the son of Prince Nikoloz (Niko) Abkhazi and Princess Chavchavadze, the sister of the great Georgian writer and public figure Ilia Chavchavadze. He graduated from the Tbilisi Cadet Corps and the St. Petersburg Military Academy and served in the Russian army. Returning to Georgia, he helped with the construction of the Kakhetian railway (1906–1913) and was elected as a marshal of the nobility of Kartli-Kakheti in 1913 and 1916. During World War I, Abkhazi rose to the rank of major general and successfully led an artillery brigade. After the February Revolution of 1917, he became one of the founders of the National Democratic Party of Georgia and was actively involved in the proclamation of independence in 1918. 

 

 

During the brief existence of the first republic, Abkhazi was involved in forming the national army and founding of Tbilisi State University. He was a member of the national parliament from 1919–1921 and was the chairman of the National Democratic Party in 1920–1923. During the Soviet invasion of 1921, Prince Abkhazi took part in the fighting and later led the Military Center of the Independence Committee, an underground organization to overthrow the Soviet regime in Georgia. He was actively involved in organizing partisan movements in Kakheti and Pshav-Khevsureti in 1922 as well as making preparations for the August Uprising of 1924. However, in February 1923, Abkhazi and other members of the Military Center were arrested by the Russian security forces and were executed for anti-Soviet activities on 19 May 1923.
 

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