Arghuni

Overview

Arghuni (Georgian: არღუნი) is a village in eastern Georgia, in Dusheti Municipality of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region. It lies on the eastern slope of the Aleva Range, at the head of the Dushetiskhevi River, at about 1,200 m above sea level. According to the Georgian Encyclopedia, it is 7 km from the municipal centre, the town of Dusheti.

The village belongs to the Chonkadze administrative unit. The 2024 general population census counted 145 residents in Arghuni. The village has a public school and the single-nave Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul, which was rebuilt in 1990.

Location

The village centre lies at approximately 42.1174° N, 44.6370° E (OpenStreetMap); Georgian Wikipedia gives 42°07′04″ N, 44°38′07″ E. The elevation of the centre is 1,200 m.

Arghuni sits on the eastern slope of the Aleva Range, at the source of the Dushetiskhevi, a right tributary of the Aragvi. The Georgian Encyclopedia gives the distance to Dusheti as 7 km; calculated from OpenStreetMap coordinates, the centre of Dusheti is about 6 km away in a straight line, to the south-east. Russian Wikipedia likewise places the village north-west of Dusheti.

Neighbouring villages

Distances are calculated from OpenStreetMap coordinates, in a straight line:

• Dudaurebi — about 0.9 km to the north-east; in the same administrative unit, 17 residents in 2024.

• Okruaani — about 2.2 km to the north-east.

• Akhali Toncha — about 2.2 km; 228 residents in 2024.

• Javakhiantkari — about 2.8 km to the east-south-east.

• Vedzatkhevi — about 2.9 km to the north-east.

• Veltaurtkari — about 3.0 km to the east.

• Arboeti — about 3.5 km to the west (Gremiskhevi administrative unit).

Administrative status

Under Resolution No. 28 of the Dusheti Municipal Council (Sakrebulo) of 26 September 2014, "On approval of the administrative units of Dusheti Municipality", Arghuni is part of the Chonkadze administrative unit. The unit comprises 21 villages, including Aragvispiri, Bodorna, Kvavili, Taniantkari, Akhali Toncha and Dudaurebi.

Earlier, as of 2012, the village was within the area served by the Chonkadze territorial body of Dusheti Municipality, i.e. the Chonkadze community (temi). The 2024 census counted 1,797 residents in the Chonkadze administrative unit as a whole (1,818 in 2014).

Population

Data from Georgia's national censuses:

• 2002 — 194 residents (91 men, 103 women)

• 2014 — 163 residents (76 men, 87 women)

• 2024 — 145 residents (72 men, 73 women)

Between 2002 and 2024 the population fell by about a quarter. According to the 2014 census, all 163 residents were Georgians. In 2024 Arghuni was the third-largest village of the Chonkadze administrative unit, after Aragvispiri (907) and Akhali Toncha (228).

Education

The village has a public school — the LEPL Public School of Arghuni Village, Dusheti Municipality. According to OpenStreetMap (citing the school registry skolebi.emis.ge), it teaches grades 1–9, with Georgian as the language of instruction.

History and monuments

The village has its own entry in volume 1 of the Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia (1975, p. 612). According to the Georgian Encyclopedia, a medieval single-nave Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul stood in the village. It was demolished in the 1930s, as were the other shrines of the village.

In 1990 the church was rebuilt in almost its original form by staff of the M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics together with villagers, under the supervision of architects.

FAQ

1) Where is Arghuni?
In Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Dusheti Municipality, on the eastern slope of the Aleva Range at the head of the Dushetiskhevi River.

2) How high is the village?
About 1,200 m above sea level.

3) How far is it from Dusheti?
The Georgian Encyclopedia gives 7 km; in a straight line the centre of Dusheti is about 6 km away.

4) How many people live in Arghuni?
145 according to the 2024 census; 163 in 2014 and 194 in 2002.

5) Which administrative unit does Arghuni belong to?
The Chonkadze administrative unit (21 villages; 1,797 residents in 2024).

6) Which river is the village on?
It lies at the head of the Dushetiskhevi, a right tributary of the Aragvi.

7) Which villages are nearest?
Dudaurebi (about 0.9 km), Okruaani and Akhali Toncha (about 2.2 km each) and Javakhiantkari (about 2.8 km). All distances are straight-line.

8) What church is there in the village?
The medieval single-nave Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul; it was demolished in the 1930s and rebuilt in almost its original form in 1990.

9) Is there a school?
Yes — the LEPL Public School of Arghuni Village, Dusheti Municipality (grades 1–9).

Sources

• Arghuni — Georgian Encyclopedia (in Georgian)

• Resolution No. 28 of the Dusheti Municipal Council of 26 September 2014 on the administrative units of Dusheti Municipality — Legislative Herald of Georgia (in Georgian)

• Resolution No. 15 of the Dusheti Municipal Council of 30 August 2024 amending Resolution No. 28 — Legislative Herald of Georgia (in Georgian)

• Population by administrative-territorial units and sex, 2024 census — Geostat (in Georgian)

• 2014 Georgian census — ethnic composition by settlement (Geostat data)

• Arghuni (Dusheti Municipality) — Georgian Wikipedia

• Arguni — Russian Wikipedia

• Arghuni — OpenStreetMap

• Arghuni Public School — OpenStreetMap

• Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia, vol. 1, Tbilisi, 1975, p. 612 (in Georgian).