1956 Georgian demonstrations
1956 CE.
Shown on the map at 41.722°, 44.792°.
The 1956 Georgian demonstrations (Georgian: 1956 წლის საპროტესტო გამოსვლები) were a series of protests against Nikita Khrushchev's de-Stalinization policy that took place in Tbilisi, capital of the Georgian SSR, Soviet Union, and other cities in the republic from 4 to 10 March 1956. The immediate trigger was the publication of Khrushchev's "Secret Speech", which criticized Joseph Stalin, the former Soviet leader born in Georgia. The demonstrations began as spontaneous gatherings to mark the third anniversary of Stalin's death but evolved into large-scale protests, primarily led by students, defending Stalin's legacy and expressing Georgian national pride. Initial demands focused on retracting criticism of Stalin and acknowledging the anniversary of his death. However, as the protests grew and faced official opposition, demands became more radical, including calls for the removal of Soviet leaders like Khrushchev and Anastas Mikoyan, the rehabilitation of Stalin's associate Lavrentiy Beria, and even Georgian independence from the Soviet Union.
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