On November 2, 2023, in Kutaisi, the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) held a lecture for the students of the autumn school within the framework of the project "Youth awareness through engagement", which is implemented by the Center of Regional Initiatives "Bright Future".

Marika Vatcharadze, head of the Center of Regional Initiatives "Bright Future", addressed the participants of the event and spoke about the issue of the Soviet occupation and, in this regard, the need for public awareness. 

Anton Vatcharadze, head of the Memory and Disinformation Studies Direction of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), spoke about the Soviet occupation and its consequences in the memory of Georgia within the framework of the lecture. Discussed the causes and course of the 70-year occupation and Soviet repressions. He focused on the importance and determining factors of the creation of the First Republic of Georgia and 3 years of its independence. Also,  young people were presented with the memorial album of Akaki Chkhenkeli (1874-1959), an outstanding political figure of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to France. Anton Vatcharadze talked about the content of the memorial album and the importance of the archive materials used, and reviewed the special role of Akaki Chkhenkeli in the creation of the political history of Georgia.

The memorial album of Akaki Chkhenkeli was prepared as a result of the joint work of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and the National Library of the Parliament of Georgia. The release of the album was financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida.

At the end of the meeting, Anton Vacharadze noted that it is important to popularize memory and studies of the Soviet past among young people and raise awareness about the Soviet occupation in society.