Gagra offensive

By April 1919, the gathering of Georgian forces at Bzyb was completed. In total, 8 battalions of the regular army and the People's Guard, Colonel Giorgi Khimshiashvili's cavalry division, and Colonel Kargareteli's 4 artillery batteries, comprising a total of 6,000 infantrymen and twenty cannons, were mobilized.[1] Georgia ceased reporting to the British military mission and decided to launch an attack on Gagra. On April 12, Gegechkor informed the new commander of the British occupation forces, General Thomson. On April 13, Thomson sent a message to the Deputy Minister of Defense of Georgia, Aleksandre Gedevanishvili, informing him that Denikin's army would liberate the Sochi region within 48 hours and that Georgia would commence military action only if Denikin did not comply with his ultimatum. The ultimatum was conveyed to Denikin through General Milne. On April 15, Aleksandre Gedevanishvili presented an ultimatum to Denikin for the final time and demanded the crossing of the border at the Mekhadir River.

On April 16, as soon as the ultimatum expired, the People's Guard launched an attack. The Guard attacked in three columns. The left column was led by Khimshiashvili, the right column was led by Kargareteli, and the special forces battalion led by Khukhunaishvili encircled the extreme right flank. Kargaret's cavalry division attacked the opponent's artillery and occupied the manor "Otradnoe," while the left wing occupied the country house "kokhida." On April 17, at 2 o'clock, the 3rd battalion under the command of Giorgi Lomtatidze took Gagra. On April 19, the Georgian army took positions along the Mzimta River, but in accordance with the order received from Tbilisi, they retreated to Mekhadir. The Volunteer Army retreated behind the Mzymta River near the village of Vesioloe. The Volunteer Army lost 87 people killed in battle, with 88 officers and 500 soldiers captured[2]

Georgia had the opportunity to continue the attack and capture Sochi. But the pressure of the British military representatives gave up the further attack[3] and they demanded from Tbilisi to maintain the status quo of February.[4]

Anderson, Andrew (2020). საქართველო და საერთაშორისო შეთანხმებები 1918-1921 [Georgia and the International Treaties of 1918 - 1921] (in Georgian) (Georgian ed.). თბილისი: მწიგნობარი. ISBN 978-9941-485-77-0.