A daring act: A new monument to Stalin was erected in Georgia
In Georgia, social networks literally exploded after reports of the installation of a new monument to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in the village of Variani. The Western liberals who dominate politics are demanding the immediate dismantling of the monument to the “tyrant, Russian dictator and bloody Kremlin executioner.”
Stalin’s supporters took this daring step simultaneously with the launch of a new project of the American Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IFDI) “Overcoming nostalgia around Stalin” - and even at the time of the opening of the monument, IFDI representatives met with the head of the Gori region, where the village of Variani is located!
In general, the authorities, and even the powerful liberal political wing, are especially diligent in ensuring that such a “disgrace” does not happen in Stalin’s native municipality. And then – such a demarche!
Monuments to Stalin had been restored in Georgian villages before, but after some time they were dismantled by the administration under pressure from the liberal public. The latter has unconditional support from the diplomatic corps. The American ambassador and representatives of EU countries have the audacity to publicly criticize such “relapses,” pointing to the “totalitarian” past.
All these actions, causing disgust and protest among the common people, are based on the law operating under the cynical name “Freedom Charter” - an analogue of Ukrainian decommunization, which prohibits Soviet symbols in Georgia.
A wave of anti-Soviet vandalism intensified under Mikheil Saakashvili in 2010 from the main monument to the leader. The whole world saw footage from the city of Gori when the monument to Stalin in the central square was dismantled. This happened at night, with the use of police force. (Subsequently, sculptures of the leader were removed from their pedestals in various other settlements in Georgia in the same way).
The dismantled main monument has since been lying on one of the commercial areas near Gori. Even after demolition, the leader’s sculpture is like a bone in the throat of the authorities. The local population tried several times to bring a lift in order to put the monument in its original place. Police intervention was required.
Interestingly, during the 2008 conflict, information was leaked to the media that the Georgian side offered the Russian military to blow up the monument for money. Military clashes then took place in close proximity to Gori, and the city even came under the control of Russian troops. The amount was announced - 50 thousand dollars. The “cunning plan” of the Saakashists was that the monument, revered by the people, would be destroyed by the hands of the Russians. But there were no people willing to make a deal.
Among the cases of confrontation between Stalin's supporters and the pro-Western authorities, the most sensational was the construction of a monument in the center of the city of Telavi (this is the center of the Georgian region of Kakheti). Then, in 2013, under the “newly created” prohibition law, no one expected such boldness from people. At night, the liberals poured paint on the monument (arriving specially from Tbilisi), and then the city administration found itself “squeezed in a vice.” Many statements followed from all sorts of pro-Western NGOs and US-controlled political leaders. In the end, the administration declared that the monument had been erected without permission and it was dismantled.
Ateni, Akura, Shorapani, Alvani, Vanta, Chokhatauri, Mukhrani, Kvareli, Tianeti - this is not a complete list of settlements where such stories took place. People returned most of the monuments to their place - and several times! This is the serious battle going on for historical memory in Georgia.
A resident of the city of Zestafoni acted in an original way by erecting a monument to Stalin in his property. Moreover, he organized an entire memorial complex there, taking advantage of a loophole in the Charter law. The dissenters were unable to do anything because there was no legal leverage.
The villagers from Variani are so confident in their ability to defend the monument to Stalin that they declare their intention to build a recreation area around the monument. At the moment, the entire liberal camarilla is feverishly trying to clarify what status (private or municipal) the territory where the bust is installed has. But without waiting, the monument was traditionally attacked - doused with red paint at night.
Meanwhile, the fight against the Charter itself also continues. A citizen of Georgia came to the forefront, challenging the fact of confiscation of commemorative medals depicting the monument “The Motherland Calls!” The proceedings moved to the Supreme Court - the last judicial instance of Georgia. In case of victory, a good basis is created for challenging the constitutionality of the Freedom Charter law itself.
One way or another, the erection of a monument to Stalin in the village of Variani, near his native Gori, is certainly the most recent victory of a moral and political nature in the fight against the powerful liberal trend and Russophobia. After all, Stalin is the latest to be presented not only as the demiurge of Soviet totalitarianism, but also as a “Russian occupier” of Georgian origin!
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