TBILISI AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A046000310001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 25, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 19, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.O. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY USSR (Georgian SSR)
REPORT L_
SUBJECT Tbilisi and the Surrounding Area DATE DISTR.
NO. PAGES
REFERENCES
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
19 December 1958
A report on Tbilisi (N 41-42. E 44-45 acid the surrounding area
area overlay showing the location of a hydroelectric plant, a lake, and '
report contains information on opograp , housing construction, population,
industries, utilities, transportation, street systems and bridges,'prices
of consumer goods, educational and religious facilities, hospitals, Party-
sponsored lectures, resistance activity, civil defense, and personalities.
A sketch of the city with a key listing 80 installations and an
the city a34e included,
#X INAVY
AEC
LI
I N FORMATION REPORT I N FORMAT ION REPORT
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KLX$I AIM ii- ---W W AL{C A
General Description
the Tbiliskiy Pry&dLl no-T rilwtazbkvy I=Mnet yarn and knLtUng
will , Tbilisi se. city 0 covering an area, 18 kilometers
by two and one-seas ki ters in dissension, located on bath sides of tbs
mire River. Efforts were being made to forest the barren slopes of Us
mawacbains at the eastern side of Tbilisi where a health an recreational area
was being developed near Tbi1iskoye ltoare large artificial lake created
in 1953 bey Jas three f 17.er lakes. a Tbilisi in-
habiitants bed been concerned by the --- t~- of being flooded in the
event at an earth trsesar, casamon to the area during Sumer, which would
disrupt the new lake bed. Tbdlisi's berate cliute ranged from tesapera-
tures of 1400 centigrade in soarer to 5? centigrade in the winter.
sketch of the city plan of Tbilisi based on an
3.ay of the City of Tbilisi (reverse side of ar Tbilisi
FVKA has been rem. cod aced . as an aattacbrent to this report.
identified the mmerically designated points on this sketch as follows:
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Central Goverment Building containing all local gawereent offices.
Caumnist Party Th adquarters Building where MPD offices were also located.
Lenin Square, the central square of the City of Tbilisi.
Military Headquarters for the Caucasus area.
Bus station.
Goverment swseua.
City Hus7.l. and city ad inistrative offices.
Square, name unknown.
Gosbank.
Inturist Betel Where most visitors stayed.
Ministry of Health.
Rustaveli Hotrel.
Telephone and Telegraph Center.
Newspaper offices and printing plant.
Ministry of Cosmamications.
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Zbosamo1 Offices 0
Hotel and restaurant which was open only during the summer season.
Television tower.
Larger Resort Park i/n Stalin.
Statue of Stasim.
Double, c46le canine to Stalin Park.
New residential district.
New stadiua.
Student dondtories.
University of Tbilisi Law School
University of Tbilisi School of Education.
University of Tbilisi School of Science.
University of Tbilisi Medical Institute.
University of Tbilisi
New street completed in 19543, nme unlmoan.
Ministry of Food Supply.
Radio station.
Fire station.
Catholic church.
Athletic field (summer sports).
Post Office.
Orthodox Church.
Hotel.
ZimYod 26 Ramisarov.
i
Ulitsa 25 Fsrralya.
(40$) Library
(41) Red Cross and Had Crescent Offices.
(42) tU itsa HYylora.
(43) Palace of Culture (winter sports).
(44) Ulitsa Sartanya.
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Main railroad stain.
Ulitsa Cbe],yuskintsev.
Open Market and Bazaar.
University of Marxist-Leninists (evening classes).
Main offices for Caucasian Petroleum Industry.
Circus Building and Grounds.
Square, name unknown.
Railroad Shop and Steam, Locomotive Works.
Squsre, name unknown.
Hospital for treatment of tuberculosis.
Municipal Stadiums.
Electric Locomotive Works.
Textile Factory (wool).
Hospital for treatment of infectious diseases.
Tbilisk3y Pryadilno-Trikotazlmyy Kamsbinat.
Fire Station.
Zaved i/a Mirora.
Trikotazya Ulitsa.
Ulitsa Kolektivivatsiya.
Sewage Disposal Plant.
CamretarF ?
Tbiliskoye More.
an station and Tbili$kaye More Management Offices.
Military CMWIP and Barracks.
Bus Station.
ffigbmy leading to Lake.
Military Camp and Barracks.
Municipal Prison.
Militia Headquarters.
Military Aaadsmr (artillery).
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(75) Army Caags and. Barracks.
(76) Az* CwQ- and Ba racks.
(77) Shoe Factory.
(78) N(e3.nyy &sebinat.
(79) Aviation Plant No. 31.
3?
(80) Civil and l(iitary Airport.
new housing areas were being constructed throughout the 25X1
city, particularly in the southern and western sections. Bake (see attached
overlay sketch of the city plan of Ttril.isi) was the most recently cca1eted
housing development. The new brick and cement multi a apartment units were
Tram eight to nine stories high. there Were no new in- 25X1
dustrial plants under construction s .
Population
4.
the population of Tbilisi to be approximately 200,000, of
vbich some 140 percent were Russian-speaking Armenians, 45 percent were Georgians
who spoke only their own language, and the remainder were Russians. Tlie
majority of laborers and factory workers were Armeenians, Aereas the Georgians
were usally employed as clekks,, merchants and taxi drivers.
jprison labor had been utilize&enly during and shortly after World war II.
In 1956 the city experienced an influx of labor, and temporary, cheap housing.
units called "chabolas" people living in Tbilisi, had been con-
structed on the mountain slopes at the eastern and western outskirts of the
city. 25X1
54
Indus=
Atrp~roxinstely 30 percent of the population of Tbilisi were employed in the
manufacturing centers rich included an aircraft production plant and textile
mills. Another 15 percent of the working force were emgaoyed in the vine',
cognac, and tea producing industries. The remainder of the population was'
occupied with construction of housing, studying at the university or maain-
taining various cooperatives and stores.
The largest industrial sections were concentrated in the northern and southern
districts of the city. The northern industrial area contained the textile
mills, the locomotive works and Zavrod I/!( Bixrna, a plant Alch manufactured
heavy industrial machinery allegedly for export to China and Korea. This
plant was located in a restricted area and was surrounded by a high concrete
and brick wail. (See attaolaent, overlay sketch of Tbilisi, point 61.)
76
Zavod I/M 26 Romisarov, located on Peskovskaya ulitsa
adjacent to the railroad, was a secret plant which reportedly manufactured
steel articles. Me plant grounds contained mug high chimneys and were
surrounded by high brick walls.
8. Aviation Factory Nu ber.31 was located in the southern part of the city in
a restri
this man ones World War II. In addition* air-
DI
production, alwcLniat articles were also produced at this plant.
(See attacbiment, point 79.)
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Utilities
B-C-R-E-T
9. Electric purr vas supplied to the city of Tbilisi from a large kidroelectric
power plan located at Mtskheta (N 45-50, R.+-42), apparoxiaately ten kilo-
'L of the city. (See overlay sketch of. Tbilisi, page 10 ). Electric
power line carried 220-volt AC current installations. and 12
11 volt cyan. for domestic conweuiqption. there were no natural
A garbage daagr was located near the sevagb outlet point
on the Karin, River, north of the city.
for irlra cii
or artificial gas lines in Tbilisi. Tbiliskoye More was used as a reservoir
10. In 1956 a television tower had been erected in Tbilisi, however at that tine
telecasts herd not yet been. received. Tbilisi had a
large radio station as well as telephone and telegraph facilities.
Transportation
11. 'lye Baku-Tbilisi-Yerevan trunk railroad was the min transpcf a'babion facility
serving Tbilisi. The double track railroad line was electrified from Kutaisi
(N 42-l5, E 1e2-140) in the north to Tbilisi, lrit Tbilisi to ;Yerevan, and
from Tbilisi to Beau. A network of higyi-s in the area silo peraitted 17
truck transportation.
12. The Kura river was shaLtow, (two to three asters deep) dirt', and unnavigable.
High brick walls were constructed along the river's edges, giving it the
appearance of a canal. T h" river which was used for sewage and factory re-
fuse disposal did not freeze in the winter.
13. Streetcars and buses were the principal mans of public transportation
within the city. All streetcar lines betsrinated at Stalin Square. Streetcar
lines 7 and 9 went in a southerly direction along ulitsa ShavmWana and
another street, name unknown. Streetcar line 35 led frost Stalin Square
along Sovetskaya ulitsa to the northern section of the city. Other carlines
served the "University City" area, or
connected with cable car line terminals.
14. Buses which followed routes along Prospekt Rustaveli, Prospekt Plekhanova or
ulitsa Lenina provided transportation Yvan Lenin Square to the min highways
leading from Tbilisi to other cities and to_ neighboring mountain resorts.
15. het passenger planes utilized the landing field of the
military-cc reial airport which was located five kilciaeters southeast
of Tbilisi.
Street System and WMdes
16. The principal streets of Tbilisi were laid in a south to north direction
between the mountain rages at the eastern and western borders of the city.
These min thoroughfares included Lenina ulitsa which joined the Georgian
Military H1.gh y-; Prospekt Plekheanov'a; Borba ulitsa; 'which connected with
ulitsa Klary Stetkin; ulitsa Sbm Tana w?hdch lead to the airport; a road
(name unknown) to Rwstavi (N 46-00, S 45-03), a new street which bad been
constructed through the university area, popularly called the University
City, and shorter streets such as Kirova ulitsa, Sartanya, etc. Generally,
the streets ware vide, old, and in. fair condition. Buildings on the right
hand side of the streets were niubered even umbers going fr?m south to
north, and with odd umbers going fftm east to vest.
17.
eight bridges spanned the Kira River in Tbilisi as
etically ketch of the city,provided
IdentIrled,
as an attachment to this report.
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Bridge "A": A new, reinforced concrete, arch bridge completed in
1953 which was built to acccamraodate all types of heavy motor traffic,
includt tanks. '.l'he roadway was a continuation of a street which
extended fr?as the. left and right banks of the river. On bridge's
20-mister wide roadbed included two sidewalks which had, iron guard
railings approximately one and one-half meters high.
Bridge "B": A small, wooden, foot bridge.
Bridge "C": In 1956 only the pilings had been constructed for this
projected. bridge.
Bridge "D": Ow in bridge in Tbilisi over which traveled the
heaviest as unt of bus, streetcar, truck, and vehicular traffic.
Ms bridge vu si:dlar to Bridge "A" in construction, except that
the roadbed was between 30 to 40 asters vide, ap roxiteactely 55
asters long, and eight and one-half asters above the river. This
bridge was the continuation of ulitsa Chelyuskintsev which led from
the .An railroad station to the center of the city.
Bridge "E": Similarly constructed but smaller than bridges "A" and
"D". Beaty traffic including trucks and autobuses also utilized
,this narrow bridge.
Bridge "F": A new(195) bridge, similar to bridge "A" designed for
heavy traffic. !Zhe roadbed was approximately 25 asters wide and was
between four or five asters above the river.
Bridge "a": A one-way, steel truss, single span, arch bridge which
aceaamaodated streetcars, buses and trucks, no roadway was approxi-
mately 12 asters wide, 35 asters long, and was constructed approxi-
mately eight and one-half meters above the river surface.
Bridge "H": Similar to bridge "F" in size and use.
Bridge "I": A steel bridge without arches which was no longer used
to any great extent.
ooncuic Conditions
18. During the years 1948 through 1956, food supplies in
Tbilisi were adequate but the prices were higt. oes were scarce and of
poor quality, and it was necessary to pay a bribe of 100 or store rubles
above the price of 400 rubles for a pair of shoes for an adult. In 1956
the cost of a poor quality suit was 2,200 rubles, and a dress, 1,000 rubles.
High prices of food on the open market reflected the scarcity of products
in the state markets. Fruits and vegetables were abundant since there were
army orchards and truck:-gardens in the Tbilisi area.
Sociological Factors
19. Tbilisi had many educational institutions including a large university,
w ich was located in a section called "University City". (See attached
overlay sketch of the city of Tbilisi). A large library std museum were
also included in the city's public educational facilities. Religious
services were held in the four Russian orthodox and one Ronan catholic
churches of Tbilisi.
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20. The city's rocreationsl facilities included two sport stadium and one
indoor and outdoor athletic center. D~ring the susmesr, the area surround-
ing Tbiliskoye More, and Stalin Park were popular recreation spots.
21. The Gorodskaya Bolnitsa was the largest hospital in Tbilisi. Several hos-
pitals for treatment of infeetiaus diseases were located in the Soburtolo
District in the northwestern section of the city. A hospital for tubercular
patients was located on ulitsa Borba. every susseer cases
of dysentery reached epideais proportions.
the recurrence of this disease was the result of the failure of the populace
to take sanitary precartions and their predisposition to the heavy drinking
of vodka.
22. Cultural meetings lea two hours were heldevery week in all the factory
*boys of Tbilisio those OP sponsored Sessions, anti-religious pro-
paganda *ss a popular ogle. Although the aettings were allegedly not
cCaq~u1sC all worke attended for fear of being identified as anti-re-
\
giaists. ' the mutual dislike of the Georgian population
for the Armenians and Russians frequently resulted in street brawls. An
example of the anti-Soviet sentiment existent in the Tbilisi area was the
Georgian uprising of 1955 described as follows:
On 5 April 1955 a group of students entered and overcame the officials
of the Tbilisi Telephone and Tel~ h Builds~gg and the radio station. After
takiag over the broadcasting stud', of the raQ;Lo station, the students broad-
cast repeatedly that the revolutio l had begun s*n . the time had come for all
the people to rise against the regime and the 'es'tLy. 'lie a hire city was in
a turmoil and soon vinous groups of rebellions inhabitants! attacked the
Government Building where they captured the Cc lssiunist Party, chief. Thee OP
leader was forced to, march through the streets carrying a Geeorgian flag
ands a placard `which stated that he was the leader of'! the revolt.
the revolutionists also took over the press offices and printed a newspaper
proclaisdng the indeyendenee of the Georgian Republic. On 8 April 1955,
Soviet Armed Forces intervened and unidentified tank and artillery units
frost casqp south of Tbilisi were sent to c vercolee the uprising. Martial
law was declared throughout the city and 2200 hour curfew was enforced.
For*ation of groups of more than two persons was prohibited and talking
in the streets was forbidden. The revolt was completely suppressed by
9.'April. after hundreds of arrests and political prisoner eltacuations had
been effected. more then 100 rebels and soldiers
were killed during the ng.
Civil Defense
23. Under the DOSAAF program, civil defense instruction was given to unesployed
residents of Tbilisi and to all factory, school and business personnel
through DOSAAF units organized at each installation.
each installation nominated a DOSAAF cosadttee headed a presift-M
(vbLch at a factory was usually the chief guard) whose duty it was to
plan and conduct air raid and fire drills several time a year. 2base
exercises consisted of the sounding of an air raid alarm,, the reporting
of all personnel to a designated point., the attendance of the volunteer
DOSAAF first aid groups to the "wounded", the fire-tt Sing drills by
those DOSAAF group designated for this type of defense activity, and
the return of all personnel to their normal occupations at the sound
of the all-clear siren. 1f rsonnel d
two rubles a month for the s of the DOSAAI' organization.
no air raid shelters in Tbilisi other than the shelters located
at the Tbiliskiy Pryadilno 'Triko taz IGorebinact
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24.
Personalities
o were presens 3i Tbilisi in 1956:
names of the following Soviet political personalities
l~udzhdrishvili, fnu; ChairWan of Council of Ministers of the Republic
of Georgia.
Georgadze, fnu; Communist Party secretary, Tbilisi;
8ikbaruldze, fau; Cow in4 at Party Secretary of Culture and Sports,
Tbilisi.
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Area Overlay Tbilisi
47
46u,
459
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Area Overlay Tbilisi
47
46u,
459
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Area Overlay Tbilisi
47
46u,
459
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