SDM (Separatist Group)

Zemplen Independence Movement
Sakarvelbos Damouk’ideblobis Modzraoba
SDM’s flag.
Leaders	Avto Mzhavanadze Khatia Tumanishvili Valerian Zurabiani Marika Khujadze
Dates of operation	1942–2018 2 November 2014 (extant ceasefire) 4 January 2017 (disarmament) 12 February 2018 (dissolution)
Headquarters	Zemplen Country
Active regions	Eastern Syara Western Ruvelka
Ideology	Communism Revolutionary Socialism Karvelebi Nationalism
Opponents	Republic of Syara Commonality of Syara Grand Principality of Ruvelka

SDM (Karvelebi: an acronym for Sakarvelbos Damouk’ideblobis Modzraoba; “Zemplen Independence Movement”) was an armed leftist Karvelebi nationalist and separatist organization in Zemplen (a historically contested region between Syara and Ruvelka). The organization was founded in 1942 and was originally a peaceful movement that promoted traditional Karvelebi culture; it later evolved into a paramilitary organization that initiated a violent campaign of bombing, assassinations, and kidnappings throughout eastern Syara. The ultimate political goal of SDM was the independence of the Zemplen region and it was the main participant in the five decade Zemplen conflict.

SDM was classified as a terrorist organization by Syara in 1962; having killed 979 people and injuring thousands more. While the group primarily operated in Syara, it conducted a number of actions in Ruvelka which increased significantly following the outcome of the Zemplen War in 2010. In 2012, SDM was classified as a terrorist organization by the Grand Principality. Even though the organization has been officially dissolved, there are more than 340 imprisoned members of the group region-wide.

The group declared a final ceasefire in November 2014 and announced that it would end all armed activities in 2015. The disarmament process was completed in 4 January 2017 and the group was officially dissolved on 12 February 2018.