Transcaucasus electoral district (Russian Constituent Assembly election, 1917)

The Transcaucasus electoral district was one of the 79 electoral districts established in November 1917 to elect delegates to the Russian Constituent Assembly. The district covered the territory of Transcaucasia, a region encompassing modern-day Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

The election in Transcaucasia was characterized by intense competition among various political factions, reflecting the complex ethnic and political landscape of the region. The dominant parties included the Georgian Mensheviks (Social Democrats), the Armenian Dashnaks (Armenian Revolutionary Federation), and the Azerbaijani Musavat party. The Socialist-Revolutionaries also contested the elections, although with less success than in other parts of Russia.

The results of the election showed a fragmented political landscape. The Georgian Mensheviks emerged as the largest single party in the region, securing a significant number of seats. The Dashnaks also performed strongly, reflecting the strong Armenian national sentiment. The Musavat party obtained a sizeable proportion of the vote in Azerbaijani-populated areas. The Bolsheviks garnered limited support in Transcaucasia, a region where national and socialist movements aligned with national interests proved more popular.

The elected deputies from the Transcaucasus electoral district briefly participated in the Russian Constituent Assembly in January 1918, before its dissolution by the Bolsheviks. Following the dissolution, the Transcaucasus region declared its independence as the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, further complicating the political situation and ultimately leading to the establishment of separate republics in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The results of the election serve as a valuable historical record of the political allegiances and national aspirations prevailing in the Transcaucasus region during a pivotal moment in Russian and Transcaucasian history.