Georgian and Soviet (book) by Claire P. Kaiser, discussed at the Kennan Institute March 21, 2023

I have not read the book, so I can merely mention the issues for our time that the book raises.  I consider this to be a very important opus on Russian culture today.  The discussion took place at the Institute and online, 2-3 PM, March 21st.; moderated by the Institute's director William E. Pomeranz.

Seemingly, there's still a cult of followers of Stalin flourishing in the nation of Georgia and elsewhere in the former Soviet Union Empire.  As Ms. Kaiser points out, through the Soviet Republic years of Russia, i.e., as a the Russian Empire, Georgia retained the distinction of being the province where Joseph Stalin was born and raised.  Henceforth, within the Empire, the  province was honored as being especially related to Moscow, the imperial capital: Georgia's capital, being regarded as the cultural city of communist heritage.

And, the fact that Tbilisi became identified with the cultural heritage of the Empire bespeaks the favorable reputation and fond feelings the Russians have still for Stalin, as cited in polls taken in the early 2000s.  Mentioned in the discussion by way of passing, it's almost as if Stalin's ghosts resides still in the city--despite the city fathers' attempts to move on!

It is clear indeed, that today's nation of Georgia wishes to be identified with the West--the EU; and NATO, because of their government's attempts to seek affinity with the EU block.  Nevertheless, Georgia's past contains remembrances of how Stalin withstood the onslaught at the gates of Moscow bravely with his soldiers against Hitler's crack troops.

With the imagery ever-present in the minds of Russians living today--in countries which have become independent from Russia and in Russia itself--are the Russian people psychologically capable of "moving on"--refusing to be encumbered by the horrors of WWII even though, at the same time, extolling the courage of their Stalin in leading to victory over Nazism?  

P.S. But then again, President Putin, by his invading Ukraine (i.e., another former province), is denying it to move on--as is the will of this independent nation.