History of Liberalism in Georgia can be split into two - the first period began in 1860s with the Tergdaleulebi movement and ended in 1921, when the Georgia was sovietized; second period began in 1991 with Georgia declaring its independence from the Soviet Union.[1] Liberalism in Georgia was persecuted severely both by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.[1]
The first period liberalism in Georgia is closely associated with the leader of intellectual movement named "Tergdaleulebi" - prince Ilia Chavchavadze.[1]Ilia Chavchavadze was a Georgian public figure, journalist, publisher, writer and poet who spearheaded the revival of the Georgian national movement in the second half of the 19th century and played a major role in the creation of Georgian civil society during the Russian rule of Georgia. He is Georgia's "most universally revered hero."[2]