1879 –1967
Minadora Orjonikidze graduated from St. Nino Women’s Gymnasium and continued her higher education at the medical faculty of Geneva University in 1901. When being in Switzerland, she got actively engaged in socialist circles of Geneva. She married Malakia Toroshelidze in Geneva.
After returning to Georgia in 1905, Minadora Orjonikidze – Toroshelidze engaged in revolutionary movement. After a split in Social-Democratic Party of Caucasus, she became an active Menshevik.
In 1918, Minadora Orjonikidze – Toroshelidze got involved in the activity of the National Assembly of Georgia. Her signature is affixed to the Act of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. In 1918, she became a member of parliament of the Democratic Republic of Georgia whilst in 1919, a member of National Council of the Democratic Republic of Georgia from Social-Democratic Party. Minadora Orjonikidze – Toroshelidze worked in the Labor and Public Health Commission.
In February 1921, during the invasion of Georgia by the Russian Red Army, Minadora Orjonikidze – Toroshelidze worked in the Red Cross. After the Sovietization of Georgia, she got engage in anti-Soviet movement. In parallel to her activity in the American Relief Administration, she led an illegal women organization designed to assist families of arrested Social-Democrats and Federalists. For this activity she was sent to Moscow. In 1925, she arbitrarily returned to Tbilisi but was again sent back to Moscow and later was given the right to return to Tbilisi.
In 1963, Minadora Orjonikidze – Toroshelidze was charged with treason because of anti-Soviet talks while being in the city of Kislovodsk and her ties with the exiled Menshevik, Grigol Lortkipanidze, and was sent to exile in Kazakhstan for the term of five years. When being in exile, on 5 June 1937, she was arrested and on 29 October 1937, the so-called Troika sentenced her to eight years in prison. Her husband, Melakia Toroshelidze as well her sons Levan and Giorgi Toroshelidze, were victims of Soviet repressions too; they were sentenced to death by the security service Troika.
Minadora Orjonikidze – Toroshelidze returned from the exile to Georgia in 1950. In 1956, she was rehabilitated. She died on 19 October 1967.
“We hope that the Georgian people will again exercise caution today and with doubled energy support Social-Democratic Labor Party and vote for their party.
Candidate No 30
Minadora Toreoshelidze
An experienced member of the party and respected public figure.”
Eshmakis Matrakhi (Devil’s Whip), issue #46;
12 November, 1917