Museum of Soviet Occupation, History museum in Tbilisi, Georgia
The Museum of Soviet Occupation occupies part of the Georgian National Museum on Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi's main thoroughfare. Its permanent exhibition follows Georgia's history from the 1918–1921 independence to the 1989 crackdown and the 1991 declaration of independence, with archive documents, photographs, video and about 3,000 items, including KGB and Communist Party files.
The museum opened on 26 May 2006, Georgia's Independence Day, as the third such museum in the post-Soviet states, partly inspired by exhibitions in Tallinn and Riga. Its financing came mainly from the Presidential Fund. It traces Georgia's path from the 1918–1921 independence to the 1989 crackdown and the 1991 declaration of independence. David Tskhadadze directed it from 2006 to 2008; Levan Urushadze has managed it since December 2008.
The museum shows how Georgian families lived under Soviet rule and what objects they kept in their homes. It gives a sense of everyday life for people navigating this period of control.
The museum is located in the city center and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should plan for about 2 to 3 hours to view the collection thoroughly.
The collection contains personal belongings and prisoner numbers from people who were deported to Soviet prisons. These objects tell quiet stories of resistance and survival that might otherwise go unnoticed.
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