Considerations other than territorial also contributed to the deterioration of Armeno-Georgian relations. Feeling betrayed, the Armenians laid part of the responsibility for their plight at the feet of their Christian neighbours, whom they envied. The Georgians had secured German protection, had contained the Turks, and had inherited the accumulated wealth of Transcaucasia, whose governmental organs, factories, rail-repair shops, arsenals, presses, storehouses, and banking, commercial, and economic establishments were concentrated in Tiflis. The Menshevik sponsored declaration of independence now allowed the Georgian minority of the Tiflis uezd to dispossess the Armenians of their wealth, predominance in administrative positions, and overall influence. On the other hand, the Georgians felt they had ample cause to distrust the Armenians, who, in great numbers, had infiltrated the lands of ancient Kartli and Kagheti during the preceding centuries. As the bourgeoisie of the Caucasus, they had wrenched many estates from the Georgian aristocracy, had taken over Tiflis, and had risen to monopolise the fields of commerce, finance, and industry. They were proud, often haughty people, who mocked the carefree and fun-loving Georgians. Now thousands of their refugees were flooding the country, polluting the land, and ruining the economy. The asylum Georgia had for centuries given to the Christians from the south was being exploited. It was natural and expected that any government should provide first for its native people. Now that the Armenians had their own republic, they should be told to leave Georgia.
Disposed in this manner, both Armenians and Georgians could rightfully express indignation concerning the explosive problem of refugees from Akhalkalak. When Ottoman regiments moved into that district, approximately sixty thousand Armenians fled into the mountains of Bakuriani and Tsalka, hoping to find sanctuary in the Armenian villages that lay beyond in the Borchalu uezd. The routes of descent were blocked, however, by Georgian troops under orders to permit no more refugees into the Republic. For five months, the homeless mass subsisted under the most pitiful conditions in the woods of Bakuriani, where they were repeatedly attacked by roving bandit groups. By the time when these people were permitted to return home, a third of them had perished from violence, epidemic, and famine. The charge of murder was hurled against the Georgians, who in turn accused the Armenians on intentionally attempting to spread contagion throughout the Republic. Georgian self-preservation necessitated sealing the frontiers. 80 Similar occurrences along the Georgian border with Azerbaijan in July further inflamed the already heated passions. Armenian peasants, pursued by Moslem bands, forded the Alazan River into the Tiflis guberniia but were immediately thrown back by Georgian guards. Only after many were cut down were the survivors permitted to re-cross the river and seek asylum in Georgia. 81 It was fortunate for the Georgians that few of their people lived in Armenia and Azerbaijan. There would otherwise have been cause for anxiety.
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