GEORGIAN UNREST

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27990, 9 June 1956, Page 9

GEORGIAN UNREST

Independence Sought (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) VIENNA, June 7. Posters proclaiming an “independent Georgian republic” had appeared on the walls of buildings in Tiflis, the capital of Stalin’s home republic of Georgia. Western diplomatic sources said today. It was the first such demonstration reported in the Soviet Union m 14 years. The posters appeared last week and Soviet secret police moved quickly to crush the flare-up against Kremlin discipline. More than 100 persons were arrests ed on the day the posters appeared. In another raid the next day, more members of a suspected anti-Russian underground were arrested. The sources said that on the morning of May 26. tha^thirty-seventh anniversary of the original proclamation of Georgia’s independence in 1919, factories and public buildings were covered with the posters, reading, “Long live the independent Georgian republic.” R was the second outburst against the Kremlin leadership in Georgia this year. Last March 9. troops opened fire on waves of Georgians in Tiflis who were trying to seize the post office building to protest against the attacks on Stalin. Up to 100 Georgians were killed, according to some estimates. Georgia has been a seat of antiRussian feeling in the 12-State Soviet Union.