In a candid and detailed interview, Giorgi Vashakidze, a commander of the Mkhedrioni, Major General, and former Deputy Minister of Defense (1993), sits down with Iago Khvichia for the program “The Birth of Georgia.” Vashakidze shares his personal history and offers an insider’s perspective on the turbulent formation of post-Soviet Georgia. He recounts the origins of the Mkhedrioni, detailing the initial goal of protecting Georgian interests amid rising ethnic tensions in regions like Marneuli and the power vacuum left by a weakening Soviet militia. Vashakidze provides a chronological account of the era's critical events, including the early political rivalries between Zviad Gamsakhurdia and Jaba Ioseliani, the arming of political factions, and the internal conflicts within the nationalist movement. He delves into the eruption of the Tbilisi War, the creation of the Military Council, and the controversial role the Mkhedrioni played in the subsequent civil conflict, particularly in Samegrelo. The interview also explores the complexities of the Abkhazian War, discussing the strategic decisions, the critical battles for Ochamchire and Tamish, the loss of Gagra, and the eventual fall of Sokhumi. Vashakidze offers his viewpoint on the involvement of external actors, the failures of political leadership under both Gamsakhurdia and Shevardnadze, and the contentious decision for Georgia to join the CIS. Many thanks to https://girchi.com/ for organizing such insightful and thought-provoking interviews — they provide a valuable platform for understanding Georgia’s history and present challenges. https://www.youtube.com/@dabadeba.
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