The Armenian–Georgian war, 1918

At the end of 1918 the Armenian–Georgian war began after the Georgian side occupied the Armenian-populated areas of the former Tiflis Governorate, Lori and Javakhk. The Armenian side insisted that the borders be drawn on the ethnic principle, while the Georgian side relied on the administrative division of tsarist Russia. On 5 December troops under General Abel Makashvili entered Akhalkalak. Meeting stubborn resistance from the inhabitants of Odzun, Georgian troops shelled the village, but on 9 December the Georgian garrison of the village was disarmed and taken prisoner.

When negotiations brought no result, the government of Armenia instructed Dro to free Lori from Georgian troops. On 13–16 December Armenian forces liberated Vorontsovka, Privolnoye and Alaverdi, on 22 December they took Sadakhlo and a day later Shulaver. The war ended on 31 December 1918 through the intervention of British and French military representatives.

The photograph shows a long line of men armed with rifles along an avenue, with people in long dark cloaks in front of them.