Museum of Soviet Occupation (Soviet Occupation Exhibition Hall)

The Museum of Soviet Occupation, formally an exhibition hall inside the Georgian National Museum at 3 Shota Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, Georgia, covers the years from the Red Army invasion in February 1921 to the restoration of independence in 1991. Georgia had been an independent republic from 1918 to 1921 before it was taken by Soviet forces and incorporated into the Soviet Union. The exhibition is arranged chronologically and in themes. It covers the 1921 invasion, the 1924 August Uprising and its suppression, collectivisation, and the Great Terror of 1937 and 1938, which killed and imprisoned many Georgian writers, scientists, clergy and political figures. Displays include archival documents, photographs, personal belongings, propaganda items and recreations of an interrogation and prison cell. Later sections discuss the Second World War, the dissident movement and the events leading to independence, including the demonstrations of April 1989. The exhibition is explicit about its interpretive stance, framing the period as an occupation rather than a voluntary union, which has also drawn public discussion. The hall is part of the museum and is included in the ticket, about GEL 40. The museum is usually open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00AM to 6:00PM, and closed Mondays. Visitors should allow around an hour for the exhibition, and it pairs with the main archaeological galleries in the same building. Some of the material is distressing, particularly sections on executions and imprisonment, so parents may want to consider whether it suits younger children. English labelling is available throughout most of the exhibition, and guides can provide further context.