Armenian Refugees in Tiflis: Responses of National and State Institutions (1918–1920)

Abstract

Between 1918 and 1920, the social problems faced by Armenian refugees in Tiflis were multifaceted. The intervention of the Armenian government and the Armenian National Council of Georgia (ANCG) was significant, but a number of factors limited its effectiveness. The following key observations can be highlighted:

• Financial and material constraints: Resources were often insufficient even to support orphanages and educational institutions.
• Internal political and external influences: Armenian-Georgian relations were tense, and diplomatic factors were unstable, which restricted intervention.
• Imbalance between structures: Unclear distribution of authority and partisan intolerance hindered the targeted allocation of resources.
• Policy of the Georgian authorities: Political and other restrictions impeded the prompt and targeted provision of assistance.
• Insufficient support from the local elite.

Thus, the Armenian government and the Armenian National Council of Georgia attempted to coordinate the social support process by appointing authorized officials and establishing certain management mechanisms. However, external political tensions, limited financial resources, disagreements between structures, and administrative obstacles imposed by the Georgian authorities constrained the effectiveness of these interventions. These circumstances demonstrate that the activities of the Armenian state and public institutions were closely dependent on both internal governance and external political and economic conditions.