Memory and Disinformation Studies

IDFI’s Activities Dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Soviet Occupation

A century has passed since 25 February 1921 when the Russian 11th Army invaded the Democratic Republic of Georgia. 100 years ago, the occupation of Georgia was preceded by the battles for defending the independence of the country, which continued even after 25 February.

Online Conference - Discovery, Archaeological Research and Commemoration of the Mass Burial Sites of the Victims of the Soviet Regime – International Experience

On 3 February 2021 the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), with the financial support of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, held the online conference “Discovery, Archaeological Research and Commemoration of the Mass Burial Sites of the Victims of the Soviet Regime – International Experience”. 

Interview with the Director of "Memorial", Irina Flige: Study and Commemoration of the Mass Graves of the Victims of Soviet Terror

For acquiring information about international experience, the head of Memory and Disinformation Studies at IDFI, Anton Vatcharadze talked with Irina Flige – human rights advocate and researcher, who has been studying the mass graves of the victims of the Soviet regime since the 1980s.

Evaluation of the Work of the Freedom Charter Committee in 2017-2019

In 2020, IDFI still became interested in the work of the “Freedom Charter” commission in 2017-2019 and addressed to the State Security Service. According to the information received from the State Security Service, in 2017-2019, the commission addressed to the 37 competent persons to eliminate the communist totalitarian and fascist symbols and propaganda (0 cases in 2017, 5 cases in 2018 and 32 cases in 2019).

Online Discussion on the Issues Related to the First Mass Grave of the Victims of the Soviet Regime in Adjara

On 22 December, online discussion regarding issues related to the first mass grave of the victims of the Soviet regime in Adjara, organized by the Institute for Freedom of Information (IDFI) and Society “Memorial” was held.

IDFI Calls for the Prime Minister of Georgia to Increase the Subsidy for the Repressed Individuals in the 2021 State Budget

In the nearest future, the 10^th Parliament of Georgia will vote for the Legislative Proposal on the 2021 Budget of Georgia. The increase of the 7 GEL living subsidy for the persons recognized as the victims of political repressions (hereafter: repressed individuals) still is not included in the budget.

Openness of State Archives in Post-Soviet Republics and Eastern Bloc States During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), in partnership with international scholars, conducted a study within the framework of the “Evaluation of the Openness of State Archives in Post-Soviet Republics and Eastern Bloc States” project in 2019-2020.

Soviet Propaganda and the AIDS Epidemic

Until 1987, the Soviet Union claimed that no cases of infection had been reported on its territory. Doctors were pressured not to diagnose AIDS. In addition, the Soviet Union waged an active information war and blamed the United States for spreading the virus.

Were Georgians Beloved in the Soviet Union?

On 27 August 2019, the historian Sergey Bondarenko published an article called “Stalin – Insole, Goat, Hooligan” (“Stalin – stel’ka, kozyol, khaliugan (sic)” in which he presented five different stories of insulting the Great Leader in the 1930s based on criminal case files. 

Official Documents of 1944 on the Resettlement of the Minorities of Georgia