In 1956, at the Twentieth Party Congress, Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev delivered the “Secret Speech”, vilifying Stalin and ushering in an era of mild liberalization. The Secret Speech or the Khrushchev Report was a report to the 20th Party Congress on February 25, 1956. In the speech, Khrushchev criticized actions taken by the regime of Joseph Stalin, and the development of Stalin’s personality cult. He stressed that Stalin was Georgian by nationality. For this reason, the Georgians were insulted and many Georgian families were purged.

Despite the repressions of the Georgians, “Secret Speech” was criticized in Georgia. General protest began on March 5, 1956, the third year after Stalin’s death. Soon after, the protest covered Gori, Telavi, Kutaisi, Batumi and other towns.

Tbilisi was a centre of the strike. Demonstrations and manifestations were held in the central and coast streets. The March 1956 demonstrations (also known as the 1956 Tbilisi riots or March 9 massacre) In Soviet Georgia, were a reaction to Nikita Khrushchev’s de-Stalinization policy. The epicenter of the protests was the republic’s capital, Tbilisi, where spontaneous rallies to mark the third anniversary of Stalin’s death and to protest Khrushchev’s denouncement of Stalin quickly evolved into an uncontrollable mass demonstration and rioting which paralyzed the city. Soon, political demands such as the change of the central government in Moscow and calls for the independence of Georgia from the Soviet Union appeared. The local Georgian authorities, confused and demoralized, passed on the responsibility to the Soviet military. Later on March 9, the troops deployed in the city opened fire upon the students picketing the government buildings in what the officials Soviet version held was “an act of self-defense.” The agitated crowds continued resistance on March 10, but were eventually dispersed by tanks. The number of casualties has been estimated from several dozens to several hundreds.

One group of demonstrators intended to take communication house and appeal to the other Soviet countries for joining them but they couldn’t show resistance.

The Soviet Authority decided to solve the problem through the bloodshed and the Red Army and military technique were sent. A lot of young people were killed, wounded and mutilated in Rustaveli Avenue. The streets were flushed with blood.

The Soviet Authority did not end with it. The number of the dead people was secret. The families were not allowed to bury the deceased. The Georgians were accused of nationalism and chauvinism. Russia imposed responsibility on the demonstrators. The Great Purge began.

According to the data preserved in the Security Committee, first 22 persons were killed with the gun. Then 5 more were added. Many were wounded.

On March 9 and 10 the Soviet detachments arrested 300 persons in the city. The investigation was carried during 12 days. As a result, the following thirty-nine persons were brought to court: a) those who took an active part in the demonstrations with anti-Soviet agitations: V.G.Kacharava, Sh.D.Beruashvili, Z.N.Machavariani, I.A.Kukhianidze, I.P.Kinkladze, A.I.Zhordania. b)those persons who made provocative demands to the Soviet Authority: V.Z.Mchedlidze, K.S. Chkheidze, K.I.Osadze, K.D.Tsitsiashvili, A.P.Mirianashvili and others.

As a result of the Great Purge in 1956 375 persons were arrested, among whom were the following: the members of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union [ – 34, members of the Young Comminist Organisation [VLKSM] – 165, non-party men – 142. The number of the dead and the repressed is still unknown.