EU welcomes dismantling of totalitarianism symbols

A European lobby group has welcomed a recent law change to dismantle symbols of totalitarianism in Georgia.

Participants of the Reconciliation of European Histories (REH) group – informal group of Members of European Parliament – showed their support in a letter to the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament.

In the letter, chair of the REH, Minister Sandra Kalniete, expressed satisfaction to the amendment to the Liberty Charter.

The charter was adopted by the Georgian Parliament on December the 25th. The new amendment aimed to enforce actual measures to prevent public displays of symbols of totalitarian regimes.

"This act should effectively stop the construction of monuments dedicated to Joseph Stalin, started last year,” REH Group said in a statement.

Last year on behalf of the REH group, Minister Kalniete expressed outrage to Georgian Government officials at the fact that Georgia had approved plans to erect monuments in honour of the murderous leader of the Soviet Union. In addition, steps were taken by the European Parliament to formally condemn such behaviour.

However now, Minister Kalniete said she felt satisfied that the work of the REH group may have contributed to the Georgian Parliament’s recent decision.

After Georgia amended the law, Ministers of European Parliament were pleased to learn that the Stalin monument recently built in the city of Telavi was immediately removed.

"The law now provides real penalties for the glorification of communist and fascist regimes and facilitates the creation of a panel to identify and prevent such violations," the REH statement said.

In the letter to the Georgian Parliament Speaker, Minister Kalniete expressed support for the new Parliament decision and emphasised thatthis decision corresponded with European values and would help strengthen the already strong relationship between the EU and Georgia.