Descendant of Georgia's first democratic leader donates historic letters to National Archives

Michel Ramishvili, the grandson of Noe Ramishvili - the first chairman of the Democratic Republic of Georgia - has donated a valuable collection of his grandfather’s personal letters and historical documents to the National Archives of Georgia.

The National Archives on Friday said the donation includes an array of materials preserved by the Ramishvili family, notably letters written by Noe Ramishvili to his wife, Mariam Gogiashvili, between 1924 and 1930. The correspondence offers a rare glimpse into the personal life of one of Georgia’s most prominent early 20th-century politicians and sheds light on his deep affection for his family amid political exile.

Among the other donated items are significant pieces of émigré history: a 1950 edition of Our Flag, the periodical of the Foreign Bureau of the Social Democratic Party of Georgia; samples of Georgian-language press from abroad; and documents related to fellow political émigrés, including a refugee certificate and travel document issued in France in 1951 in the name of Davit Buachidze.

Also included are notices and letters concerning Noe Ramishvili’s death, as well as a condolence letter sent to his wife and children. A letter addressed to Konstantine Kandelaki, then-Minister of Finance and Trade and Industry in the First Republic’s government, dated 1928, is among the more politically significant items.

The National Archives noted that the documents will be integrated into Noe Ramishvili’s existing personal collection, which currently consists of 90 archival files covering the years 1917 to 1965. The newly added materials are expected to become accessible to researchers in the near future.

Noe Ramishvili was a key figure in Georgia’s short-lived First Republic (1918–1921) before going into exile following the Soviet takeover. He remained politically active abroad until his assassination in Paris in 1930.