Bidding goodbye to Stalin’s heavy hand on Georgian psyche

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Georgia is sending a final farewell to its Communist relics. Joseph Stalin’s monument will be removed from the central square of Gori to the Stalin Museum. Gori will be left without its carte de visite.

It might seem paradoxical, but what former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushov and President Zviad Gamsakhurdia could not do, President Mikheil Saakashvili ultimately could. The remnants of Stalin’s influence on the Georgian psyche is finally coming to an end. The only remaining relic is his favorite song “Gaprindi Shavo Mertskhalo” (“Fly Black Swallow”), which is so popular it was sung during U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Tbilisi. According to legend, the song was often sung by Stalin.

The Georgian subconscious love of Stalin ended after last year’s war. What Khrushov’s ideological machine could not accomplish in 30 years happened in seconds when a Russian cluster bomb exploded in front of the monument in Gori. At that moment, Stalin ceased to be a Georgian, and instead became a symbol of Russian aggression.

The most important thing is that the bomb not only destroyed Stalin’s legend, but also the doctrine of “oneness” that was used skillfully by Russia for 200 years to manipulate the Georgian people. In his speech dedicated to the one anniversary of the war this year, Saakashvili uttered an incredible phrase.

“The ‘oneness of beliefs’ among Georgians and Russians is talked about a great deal,” he said. “When Russian planes were dropping bombs on Georgian churches, it was incredible that the Iskander rocket burst near the pedestal of the Stalin Monument. Dead people were lying all around, but the 12-meter-high statute of the Soviet leader was left unharmed.”

Several days after the statement, talks began about removing Stalin’s statue from the Gori square into the yard of the Stalin Museum. Additionally, as the Culture Ministry stated, the museum will soon become a museum of occupation reminding visitors of the 70-year Soviet control of the country.

In the past, no one was able to start a dialogue about removing the monument from Gori’s square. Even National Movement leaders failed to do so after the April 9, 1989 tragedy. The idea of removing the statue was met by active opposition by the people. At the time, Gori residents even arranged nightwatching shifts and did not allow cranes to approach the monument. The crane that lifted Lenin’s statue from its pedestal on Freedom Square was allowed to pass unhindered. This makes clear the role that Stalin played in the Georgian psyche.

Saakashvili’s statement ushered in a new era for the Georgian conscience, and quickly altered the people’s perception of the long extolled Soviet leader. His statement must have been deliberate, especially if one considers his frequent comments about being born Dec. 21, just like Stalin. In the past Georgians often called “Misha” the second “Soso,” and Saakashvili well understood their fascination with the figure.

The president’s statement was not followed by public indignation. No one ran to the center of Gori to protect the monument. Shida Kartli Regional Governor Lado Vardzelashvili said the Gori Municipality intends to hold a referendum to remove the statue. More importantly, he added that a large monument will be erected in its place commemorating the soldiers who died when the cluster bomb fell.

As one can see, in life even statues get the places they deserve.

Zaza Jgharkava

21.08.2009