LEGAL STATUS OF AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC OF ADJARA

Abstract

Since the introduction of idea of autonomous government of Adjara within Georgia (1917) till the first Constitution of Adjarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (1937),legal status of Adjara had been regulated by people’s assemblies and Party resolutions, as well as by several legal acts. During this period Adjarian Autonomy had neither governmental nor so-called “dual” sovereignty, had no international legal subjectivity and no own citizenship. From the legal point of view, during 1917-1937 years, the main subject of Adjarian Autonomy was meeting legitimate interests of state sovereignty protection. Within the Georgian state borders, partially independent from the central government, under own responsibility, the Autonomy was addressing issues within requisite authority. The goal was protection of collective rights of minorities that mainly was expressed in preserving individuality, religious identity and personality.