Memory and Disinformation Studies

Access to State Archives Discussed by International Researchers in Georgia

On April 27-28, IDFI hosted an international conference titled: Enhancing the Openness of State Archives. The event enabled more than 30 archivists from over 20 countries to share their experiences on the accessibility of archival documents to the public. Topics discussed at the conference included: the best international practice of archive openness; legal regulations and practice of access to archives; access to state security archives; challenges in accessing archives; and archive openness in post-soviet countries.

IDFI Took Part in an International Archive Conference in Croatia

Anton Vatcharadze, coordinator of the project Openness of State Archives in Former Soviet Republics participated in the 4^th Croatia ICARUS days & EURBICA Conference. The tagline of the event was European Archival Landscape: Reaching out for New Horizons.

Preserving the Prison Archive

IDFI expressed interested in the Ortachala Prison archive as early as in 2013. The organization requested clarification from National Archives of Georgia, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Corrections. The Ministry of Justice responded by forwarding the mail to the Ministry of Corrections, and National Archives stated that documentation was not kept in their system.

Congressional Delegation in Georgia: Meeting with President Gamsakhurdia’s Opposition

IDFI continues to publish declassified secret documents from U.S. institutions. This time we present document sent from U.S. Embassy in Moscow to the State Department in September 1991. The document describes meeting of the congressional delegation with the representatives of the opposition.

CIA Documents

For the first time, IDFI publishes these documents, allows general audience and scholars, interested in studying modern Georgian history to access CIA documents from June-September 1991.

Byzantine Politics Thrive in Soviet Georgia

This time IDFI published second report prepared after Poloff’s visit, which is available at the WIKILEAKS Public Library of US Diplomacy. The document describes political situation in Georgia at the beginning of 1991. The WIKILEAKS Public Library of US Diplomacy is the largest online collection of US open and secret diplomatic communications. As of 2013, it holds more than 2 million publications.

Gamsakhurdia Continues to Challenge Moscow

Today is the birthday of the first President of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Furthermore, on March 31, 1991 the referendum was held on the issue of Georgian statehood. The overwhelming majority of Georgians supported the restoration of the independence of Georgia. In connection to this date, IDFI continues to publish declassified archival documents. This time, the report sent form US Embassy in Moscow to US Department of State is released. 

Human Rights in Georgia: 1991

The document titled the “1991 Country Human Rights Report for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic” was sent from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to the State Department. The document discusses political and human rights situation in USSR and its member republics. The August coup and its aftermath, ending of 70-year communist rule, independence of Baltic States, killing innocent civilians in Riga and Vilnius, and Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is only a short list of topics discussed in the report. Below, IDFI provides information regarding Georgia of that period.

The Letter of President of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia to United States Secretary of State James Baker

IDFI continues to publish declassified documents kept in US archives. This time, we are publishing a letter of the Georgian President Zviad Gamsakhurdia to US Secretary of State James Baker dated December 12, 1991. This letter is a response to the criticism expressed by the US towards President Gamsakhurdia.

February 25, 1921 is the Day of Occupation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia