December 21 is the birthday of former Soviet Union leader, Joseph Stalin, who was born 138 years ago. In the Georgian city of Gori – Stalin’s birthplace, some senior members of the Communist Party still commemorate his birthday every year despite the cult of personality that once surrounded him now long gone.
Updated 10:27, 28-Jun-2018
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Retired builder Vasili Sidamonidze, 70, poses for a portrait at his home in Gori, Georgia, December 6, 2016. "Unfortunately, Stalin is not popular nowadays. Our people don't respect him. Only we, members of the (Communist) Party, respect him," Sidamonidze said. "I always try to attend Stalin's birthday anniversaries in Gori. Unfortunately many people don't want to join us even if they live nearby. They look at us from their windows."

Retired builder Vasili Sidamonidze, 70, poses for a portrait at his home in Gori, Georgia, December 6, 2016. "Unfortunately, Stalin is not popular nowadays. Our people don't respect him. Only we, members of the (Communist) Party, respect him," Sidamonidze said. "I always try to attend Stalin's birthday anniversaries in Gori. Unfortunately many people don't want to join us even if they live nearby. They look at us from their windows."

Natia Babunashvili, 40, an unemployed mother of two, poses for a portrait with her children Tamuna (R), 14, and Giorgi, 13, at her home in Tbilisi, Georgia, November 24, 2016. "My father was a party boss in one of the regions of Soviet Georgia and he taught me to love Stalin from childhood," Babunashvili said. "I tell my children of my childhood during Soviet times...how good my life was, how happy I was in the USSR. They form their own opinions but they share my views for now."

Natia Babunashvili, 40, an unemployed mother of two, poses for a portrait with her children Tamuna (R), 14, and Giorgi, 13, at her home in Tbilisi, Georgia, November 24, 2016. "My father was a party boss in one of the regions of Soviet Georgia and he taught me to love Stalin from childhood," Babunashvili said. "I tell my children of my childhood during Soviet times...how good my life was, how happy I was in the USSR. They form their own opinions but they share my views for now."

Retired engineer Guram Kardanakhishvili, 86, poses for a portrait at his home where he lives alone in Tbilisi, Georgia, November 25, 2016. "I have been a fan of Stalin since school," Kardanakhishvili said. "He cared for his people. He is very popular among older people because life was better under his rule, there were lower prices and higher salaries but the younger don't know about that."

Retired engineer Guram Kardanakhishvili, 86, poses for a portrait at his home where he lives alone in Tbilisi, Georgia, November 25, 2016. "I have been a fan of Stalin since school," Kardanakhishvili said. "He cared for his people. He is very popular among older people because life was better under his rule, there were lower prices and higher salaries but the younger don't know about that."

Nazi Stefanishvili, a 73-year-old retired economist, poses for a portrait in a room dedicated to Stalin at her home in Gori, Georgia, December 6, 2016. "Every morning I go to the room to say good morning to Stalin... I take part in every occasion marking the anniversary of his birthday or death," said Stefanishvili. "I have paintings, a lot of books about Stalin, busts, old newspapers, souvenirs. Most I bought, others were gifts; some were even found in the garbage."

Nazi Stefanishvili, a 73-year-old retired economist, poses for a portrait in a room dedicated to Stalin at her home in Gori, Georgia, December 6, 2016. "Every morning I go to the room to say good morning to Stalin... I take part in every occasion marking the anniversary of his birthday or death," said Stefanishvili. "I have paintings, a lot of books about Stalin, busts, old newspapers, souvenirs. Most I bought, others were gifts; some were even found in the garbage."

Jiuli Sikmashvili (C), 77, a leader of the United Communist Party of Georgia, poses among other activists before a portrait at the party office in Tbilisi, Georgia, November 30, 2016. "I cannot say how many people support us but we have regional offices all around Georgia," said Sikmashvili. "Unfortunately the youth don't want to join our party, so our members are mostly elderly people."

Jiuli Sikmashvili (C), 77, a leader of the United Communist Party of Georgia, poses among other activists before a portrait at the party office in Tbilisi, Georgia, November 30, 2016. "I cannot say how many people support us but we have regional offices all around Georgia," said Sikmashvili. "Unfortunately the youth don't want to join our party, so our members are mostly elderly people."