Georgia commemorates thousands of victims of Soviet repression

Today is European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, which is an international remembrance day for victims of totalitarian ideologies. 

The day, also known in some countries as Black Ribbon Day, commemorates the victims of the totalitarian communist regimes, Stalinism, Nazism and Fascism. 

Tens of thousands of Georgians faced immense hardships when the country came under Soviet control in early 1921. 

Especially painful were the years 1937 to 1938 when 29,051 Georgian were repressed by the Soviet totalitarian regime and those in power. 

Of these people 14,372 were executed (shot), while 14,679 were exiled. 

"Georgia stands with all of Europe today in remembering the victims of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, and this is a sad reality which forms a crucial part of Georgia’s past,” said the Government of Georgia in special statement today. 

"Coming under Soviet occupation in February 1921 Georgian citizens, like millions of Europeans, had to fight to regain their country’s freedom and basic human rights, for democracy and the rule of law,” read the official statement.

"Georgia started its unstinting climb to freedom in 1991, 25 years ago. And this year we are set to hold free, fair and transparent elections in October, which would have been unthinkable a few years ago,” the Government stressed. 

The country’s leadership said Georgia had progressed in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the new generation of Georgians is able to live with freedom, to study, work and travel in a Western, liberal environment.