GVALADZE, EUGENE (GENO) (1900-1937). Georgian lawyer and public benefactor, one of the leaders of the national-liberation movement in 1921-1937. Born in the village of Sveri in Imereti, Gvaladze studied at Tbilisi Gymnasium and Tbilisi State University, graduating with a degree in law. He joined the Menshevik Party and published several articles on current politics in Georgian newspapers and journals. In 1920-1921, he served in the National Army of the Democratic Republic of Georgia and fought the Red Army on the approaches to Tbilisi in February-March 1921. After the Bolshevik occupation, he played an active role in organizing resistance cells. He helped organize and direct the secret organization Tetri Giorgi that aimed at launching a military uprising to liberate Georgia. On 26 May 1922, on the fourth anniversary of Georgian independence, he organized a large anti-Bolshevik demonstration in Tbilisi but was arrested and imprisoned for several months. In 1922-1924, Gvaladze also coordinated the activities of the underground Committee of Independence of Georgia and participated in the preparation of the August Uprising in 1924. After the insurrection failed, he was arrested in August 1924 but released the following year. He continued his efforts to liberate Georgia, for which he was arrested and executed in October 1937. 

 

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