Georgia Protesters Call for Consequences for Woman Accused of Vandalizing Stalin Icon

A substantial protest unfolded in Tbilisi on Saturday, intensifying the demand for severe repercussions against a woman accused of vandalizing a religious icon portraying Josef Stalin, recently placed in the Georgian capital. The incident, which occurred in the main Holy Trinity Cathedral, has heightened tensions and revealed profound divisions in Georgia regarding the legacy of the former Soviet dictator in his homeland.

The woman is accused of splashing paint on the icon as an act of protest, sparking outrage and controversy over Stalin’s honor in the cathedral. Thousands of Orthodox believers and supporters of the Alt-Info pro-Russian ultra-conservative movement convened in front of the country’s parliament and marched through the city towards the cathedral.

The crowd, monitored by the police, numbered up to 3,000, according to a Reuters reporter. A speaker addressing the assembly expressed discontent over the icon’s defacement. The Alliance of Patriots, a Georgian nationalist party with pro-Russian views, claimed responsibility for presenting the icon to the cathedral.

The icon, positioned in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, featured a side panel portraying Georgian-born Stalin, an atheist who violently suppressed religion in the Soviet Union, receiving a blessing from St. Matrona of Moscow, a Russian Orthodox saint, during World War Two.

Following the incident, the police initiated an investigation into “petty hooliganism” and interrogated the woman involved. However, some Orthodox Church activists and believers insist on a criminal investigation, advocating for potential imprisonment for what they perceive as an act insulting the icon and their religious beliefs. There are also calls for stricter legislation addressing such incidents, according to local reports.

On Saturday, flowers were placed by the icon, and believers lined up to kiss the part depicting Stalin. Reports from Georgian media indicate that Orthodox activists attempted to storm the woman’s apartment in Tbilisi on a previous occasion, but police intervention prevented the incident.

The incident reflects the ongoing struggle in Georgia to reconcile conflicting historical narratives and interpretations of figures like Stalin, who remains a polarizing figure with a complex legacy. The clash of opinions surrounding the religious icon underscores the deep-seated divisions within the country, manifesting in public protests and demands for legal consequences. As the controversy unfolds, the Georgian government faces the challenge of navigating a path that respects freedom of expression while addressing the sensitivities surrounding historical figures and their representations in religious contexts.