Presentation of the online-edition “Civicus” at the Museum of the Victims of Soviet Political Repressions

On November 15, presentation of the new issue of Civicus was held in Kaspi at the Museum of the Victims of Soviet Political Repressions. The main topic of the meeting was peace. Students from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and from Georgian-American University participated in the presentation.

Levan Lortkiphanidze, the editor of the online edition, gave a speech about the Soviet totalitarian system and Russian occupation of Georgia. He noted how important it is for our future generations to be aware of the dire consequences of the Soviet occupation and to realise that country’s development is impossible without peace, freedom and democracy. “During the war human life becomes worthless. During the war, death seems to be inevitable. Only real peace gives people the chance of self-realization. But peace, achieved without freedom, under the slavery, shouldn’t have any importance.” – Said levan Lortkiphanize.  

Students were introduced to photos and other documentary materials about the victims of the totalitarian regime at the Museum of Occupation. The museum is located in the building, which used to be a former Militsiya (police) building during the Soviet Union, where the people unacceptable for Soviet regime were detained, tortured and executed there.

During the presentation, the editor also gave the speech about the Georgian democrats some of whom are well-known to the public and some of whom are not, but all of them have contributed to the creation of the First Democratic Republic and to the declaration of Georgia’s independence. 

At the end of the presentation, the new movie premiere about the heroes fighting for Georgia’s independent was held for students.

The event was made possible with the financial support of USAID in the framework of the project Strengthening Electoral Processes (SEP), implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).