Icon depicting Stalin in Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral defaced

An icon featuring Stalin and Matrona of Moscow, a Russian saint, in Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral, gifted by Irma Inanishvili and her pro-Russian domestic opposition group, was defaced with paint on Tuesday amid controversies surrounding its presence in the cathedral.

Civic activist Nata Peradze shared images of the defaced icon on social media late Tuesday. Police are currently investigating the incident as an act of petty hooliganism. Penalties for such offenses range from a fine of 500 to 1,000 GEL or administrative imprisonment for up to 15 days.

Cleric Ilia Chigladze first shared the icon’s image on social media on January 6, triggering negative public reactions. Responding to the criticism, a representative of the Georgian patriarchate argued that antagonists are also depicted on icons and dismissed the controversies as “unfounded,” emphasizing the need to avoid comparing religious values, especially in the lead-up to Christmas.

Critics of the icon argue that it portrays the Soviet leader, known for his opposition to religion and spirituality, in a positive light and is in line with Russian propaganda campaigns to promote “tyrants”.