15 January
"In Moscow there is a fuss over a new history textbook. Members of United Russia are demanding that Putin should require that 'pride at the events' of the Russo-Finnish War of 1939 and Stalin's collectivisation of agriculture should be included. They insist that our children should once more read a Soviet treatment of the Second World War and the supposedly positive role played by Stalin. Putin is going along with this. Homo sovieticus is breathing down our necks. Another textbook has meanwhile been banned for including the comment by Academician Yanov that Russia is in danger of turning into a national socialist state armed with nucler weapons."
"The authorities are insinuating ever more busily, on television and in speeches by their most prominent figures, that Stalin was really not as bad as he was subsequently made out to be....Re-Stalinisation is a reality."
- Writes Anna Politkovskaya in her Book "A Russian Diary”.
You really have to read it, as Russia is very important player in our region. You need to know with whom you are friends. If you can't find the Book in your country, ask yourself, what are the reasons? Why it is not available? But these aren't the questions I am writing this post about. My real question is about a miracle that Abkhazian’s blame Georgia for the actions of the people they have never elected. Neither Stalin nor Beria was appointed by Georgians. Kremlin, where all power came from, made them political figures. Who brought Kadyrov junior in power? He represents in my eyes Moscow's politics. If Putin were against the unjust what was happening to many people, he wouldn’t promote Kadirov to keep on going his way. Even after many crimes, after dead of many journalists and after many unjust, which are still happening to many Caucasian families, Putin is still asking Kadirov to torture. What do I want to say with it? My point is, once you have power over other country and take control in your hands, you can find in any country and in any nation a dog that eats other dogs. Red army has occupied Georgia and Abkhazia as well, Stalin and Beria were chosen from Moscow and not from Tbilisi, because they were people, whom soviet Russia needed. I don't get why Georgians have to be blamed for the Soviet heroes? Many ethnic Georgians had suffered under their brutal regime too.
In public speeches, when there is mood to blame Georgians, Stalin is Georgian, who made horrible things to Abkhazians. Private though "Stalin is a hero", whose museum-Dacha is national pride of Abkhazia, powerful and memorable. "And actually he is not Georgian at all. Don't you know his father was Ossetian?" - asks me my friend from the other side. I am confused, really. I think over this issue is total misunderstanding between Georgians and Abkhazians and at least we could remove it from our way with answerin some questions. First, is Stalin Abkhazian’s enemy or a hero? Second, who has created Stalin-Power, was it Moscow or Tbilisi? And last question, who is proud child of this dictator in our modern time?
I don't know what your answers are, but I know mines. And everything is so ironic, especially Abkhazian side serving Stalin's descendant, who can't have long term interest to support one more Caucasian nation. Some people are smart though. They guess what Russia's only real plans could be, but still favor, as they say "let the beast help them out of problem" and use it to destroy their neighbouring nation. Same people blame Georgia for being traitors long ago, because of not helping Abkhazians against soviet army. ...Aren’t we facing some what similar actionstoday, now from Separatist side? Aren’t these actions carried on with being proud of it? Why? We have nobody so close and related to us as WE ARE to one another. I am afraid I talk here about farther issues and for now, please let us just answer on the questions mentioned above to have at least one disagreement less in the next year :)
You look so confused. :)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all , Abkhazians do not blame Georgia for what Stalin and Beria did.
They blame Georgian leaders that they do not accept what they did to that region. If they accept and see the historical facts they will see that Abkhazia is not part of Georgia.
I dont know if you have and idea before stalin and beria and after?
Well , Saving Stalin's Dacha and use it as a museum in Abkhazia does mean that Stalin is Hero? What kind of mentality it is?
Let me answer your highlighted questions for my personal ideas.
Stalin was not Abkhazian's hero.
It was Soviet Moscow who created Stalin-Power
I never heard someone proud of his actions.
is it clear?
Thank you Alper for your comment. I wished to have those answers. I did heard people blaming Georgians for Stalin, so I don't lie in my post. That's why I thought it was important somebody would answer this questions. I am glad you did.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that anything have to be destroyed. Did I said it? No. You can have museum, but you should also have good understanding, what that museum and what that person means for you. One thing is displaying something just as a history, other is to display things as something very honourable (I mean here, if it's still not clear, adoring Stalin and his work). I simply wanted to call the things what they are. Oh, believe me, there is a lot of hypocrisy in this world.
I want to thank you again for your direct, simple and more than clear answers. Next time I can use your answers as mine to people, who I think need to hear it :) Thanks!
about 'historical facts' I will write next time. We can definitely talk about it as well. I just don't have time now and I don't want to just write something in a hurry. If you want, you can say, what you want/have to say http://abgeo.tumblr.com/submit I'll be there ;)
In the history Abkhazia and Georgia may lived together in some periods but there always Abkhazia has its own national management , country, kingdom , republic etc.
ReplyDeleteSo it is not like it was always part of Georgia. That is not true.
So I wont go to deeper history.but the situation starting from Stalin and even a bit earlier didn't go well.
Stalin reduced the status of Abkhazia to that of an autonomous republic within Georgia in 1931
In 1937 Beria started Anti Abkhazian movements.
About these 2 fact above, I want to hear your comments as well.
Till the war in 1992, Abkhazians always asked their rights from Georgian management. (1978 and 89 actions)
But what they heard at the end?
Gamsakhurdia, 1989 : "We will stand by them as long as they right historical wrongs, leave Georgia and go back where they come from. Abkhaz nation doesn't exist"
and after war ;
Shevardnadze: " Kitovani, defence minister, should never sent troops to Sukhumi. That was our biggest mistake. I was head of state council on that time but I wasn't the commander in chief.I wasn't control of the national guards. We could prevent the war."
And in 2006 Georgia and Abkhazia were close to peace. When Sergei Shamba visited Tbilisi for peace talks. And What Saakashvili did same day? He went visiting Georgian troops to show how Georgian army ready for a war.
Does these sounds friendly to you?
And last war Saakashvili sent its troops to Ossetia , which he never would do that. Because he knew if he do this, Russia will attack.
I am not blaming Georgian as whole nation. But when I see you keep these people on the top that does not give trust to other side.
War happened and finished, what we need to do is looking for future.
To do it, all sides should respect to each other.
I see many people bringing topic to Russian invasion, Abkhazians are Russian puppets, Abkhazia will become part of Russia.
These are funny things. Because of you have problem with Russia, you can not behave like this.
in Abkhazia, there are people who are supporting Russian policy of Abkhazia. And there are people who are not supporting as well.
This is Abkhazia's inner matter.
Ah, but if you still think that Abkhazia is under Georgia. I do not have anything to say to you.
You can not find anyone to talk about anything in that case.
No one will talk about how we can be part of Georgia and will have peace which is not possible as we have seen many times.
On the other hand, you will find many friendly people who wants to keep peace and friendship between two neighbour countries if you respect to people's thoughts in Abkhazia.
Cheers
Can you read my notes from my laptop? :) I am preparing myself (what means I am thinking on it) and taking some points from video "Absence of will" too.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest to cut your questions in separate peaces and discuss things step by step, not all at once. mix-max topics give good chance for terrific chaos answers and chaotic discussions :) Can you please submit each one separately as a New Topic, so people can follow later discussion better. (If you have concern about submitting your e-mail, nobody submitted post yet, but I am almost sure, I will be not able to see your e-mail. It's just for you to have an account.)
For new year actually I hoped people would write one another some new year wishes! :)
http://abgeo.tumblr.com/submit
ReplyDeletevery good points Khatia. I personally have encountered many blames from Abkhazians that Stalin's policies was apart of Georgian nationalism - so he is to be blamed. I have also heard Ossetians being proud that His father/or mother was Ossetian. And, definitely, there is Renaissance of Stalin in Russia, not in Georgia. I dont know if Abkhazs take the dacha as a honor, but my responds to your question are...Stalin is NOT a hero, but a mass murderer. He was not elected by the Georgians or by any other people but rather he was very much suitable for Moscow...and finally, I, as a Georgian, am NOT proud of Stalin and would only welcome the discussion of this issue between Georgians and Abkhazians
ReplyDeleteAlper,
ReplyDeleteI dont understand why you bring up historical events here? this post was not about Georgian-Abkhazia history, it was about a specific man with specific questions. Thanks for responding questions, but, please, let us stop manipulating the history. Yes, history needs to be discussed but by professionals...and maybe in separate posts...but, please, lets not end up in history discussions after each and every post.