Sovereignty Belongs to the Whole Nation — A Lawyer in the Spirit of the 1921 Constitution

The 1921 Constitution was adopted on February 21, 1921, and by February 25, 1921, it de facto ceased to operate because it no longer had a territorial space to function. Yet, since that February 21st, the first constitution of our Georgian citizens has proudly looked down upon its enduring legacy. I particularly love and appreciate its Article 52, believing that it best expresses the aspiration, desire, and genetic legal code of the Georgian state and its citizens. "Sovereignty belongs to the whole nation" — making such a profound declaration in 1921, as one nation among equals, required immense courage. This article goes on to elaborate on this "sovereignty," specifically stating: "The Parliament exercises the sovereignty of the nation within the framework of this Constitution."

One could argue at length about how this constitution would have worked in practice, whether it would have functioned according to its own principles, or how many political or social crises it might have sparked. However, one thing is unequivocally clear: this constitution declared exactly what the current constitution formulates as "the source of state authority in Georgia is the people." Even though the modern version was adopted in 2018, it does not change the core truth for me: "Sovereignty belongs to the whole nation." The fact that the 1921 Constitution remains alive is confirmed even by the preamble of the current constitution: "The citizens of Georgia, relying on the basic principles of the Constitution of Georgia of 1921, publicly proclaim this Constitution.";

When a nation regains its freedom and independence—a milestone we achieved after March 31, 1991—it has further crucial steps to take. To preserve this freedom, free citizens begin fighting for their rights, a struggle that now takes place within the legal sphere. A state is only as strong as the protection of its individuals' rights; oppressed people cannot build a strong state. Protected individuals, in turn, require a guide, a sort of legal compass they can trust. In modern terms, this figure is called a lawyer (advocate). Ancient Georgians called this figure "Vekili," which translated to an authorized representative or proxy. The great Georgian scholar Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani defined it as a "co-plaintiff in a court of law for a fee." Ultimately, however, the substance of this role is far more important than its title;

Today, a century later, following the legacy of the 1921 Constitution, the duty of our Georgian citizens, and primarily that of a lawyer, is to uphold the principle that "sovereignty belongs to the whole nation." We must do this through words, actions, and professionalism, acting as a living legal conscience;

This constitution may no longer be legally in effect, but its spirit remains highly active—and it operates whenever we fight for justice, equality, rights, and human dignity;

Attorney Guram Kontuadze: my legal practice, professionalism, and defense of human rights serve as a continuation of the 1921 Constitution's history, aimed at building a strong Georgian state with thoroughly protected individual rights. For a lawyer who refuses to accept injustice, acting in the spirit of 1921 for the sake of "today's justice" is the absolute greatest honor;