 The Committee maintained close contacts with the Government of Georgia-in-exile though its "Constantinople Bureau" based in Istanbul, Turkey.The Committee set up a military center chaired by the retired general Kote Abkhazi, who was to prepare for a popular insurrection.Several members of the former Menshevik government returned clandestinely from exile, including the former Minister of Agriculture, Noe Khomeriki, as well as the former commander of the People’s Guard, Valiko Jugheli.