Treaty of Batum

The Treaty of Batum was signed between the Democratic Republic of Georgia and Turkey on June 4, 1918. The agreement was also signed by the members of the delegation of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The terms of the Treaty of Batum were drawn up when Transcaucasia was partially occupied by Turkish troops. According to the treaty, Batumi and Kars districts, Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikh counties (mazra in Georgian and uezd in Russian), Surmalu county, three quarters of Alexandropol and Etchmiadzin counties, one fifth of Sharur-Daralayaz county and others were transferred to Turkey.

As a result of the Treaty of Batum, Georgia lost the territory of 11381 km² with 150 000 inhabitants, and Armenia — 18125 km² territory with 404 000 inhabitants. The terms of the Treaty of Batum were more difficult for the people of the South Caucasus than the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918, as a result of which 14,135 km² of Transcaucasia territory was to be transferred to Turkey.

On June 4, 1918, an additional agreement was signed between Georgia and Turkey, according to which Georgia was obliged to immediately demobilize its troops, expel from its territory all military and civilian persons of the countries that were at war with Turkey and its allies. In addition, Turkey received the right to control the main strategic railways of Georgia and use them for its own military interests and those of its allies.

The Treaty of Batum was abolished after Turkey's defeat in World War I.

Literature: Ключиников Ю. В., Сабанин А. В., Международная политика новейшего времени в дорогах, нотах и декларациях, ч. 2, М., 1926, с. 437 – 438.

O. Jordania