1956 Georgian demonstrations

1956 Georgian demonstrations
Crowd gathered at the Stalin monument in Tbilisi during the demonstrations
Date	4–10 March 1956 (1956-03-04 – 1956-03-10)
Location	Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Caused by	Resistance to de-Stalinization
Goals	Defence of Joseph Stalin's legacy and of Georgian national identity
Methods	Protest march, picketing, rioting
Resulted in	Destabilization of the city and subsequent repression of the protests by Soviet military authorities
Parties
Soviet Union Georgian SSR Pro-Stalin demonstrators Pro-independence underground students
Lead figures
Nikita Khrushchev Vasil Mzhavanadze
Casualties and losses
21 killed 55 wounded 200+ arrested

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The 1956 Georgian demonstrations, also known as the March 1956 events or the Tbilisi riots, were a series of protests against Nikita Khrushchev's de-Stalinization policy which 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. Clashes occurred between protesters and authorities, culminating on the night of 9–10 March when Soviet Army units opened fire on demonstrators in central Tbilisi, resulting in dozens killed and injured.

The violent suppression shocked Georgian society and marked a turning point. While initially rooted in pro-Stalin sentiments intertwined with national pride, the events fostered a strong anti-Soviet and anti-Russian sentiment among many Georgians. The demonstrations are considered a key moment in the development of Georgian nationalism and catalysed the emergence of an organised dissident movement, including figures like Zviad Gamsakhurdia and Merab Kostava, who would later lead Georgia to independence in 1991. The events also exacerbated tensions between the Georgian majority and ethnic minorities within the republic, particularly the Abkhaz.