Hrdina nebo viník: paměť Zviada Gamsachurdii v Gruzii

Osterrothová, Sára

This thesis examines the contested legacy of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, the first president of independent Georgia, through the lens of memory studies. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Georgia in 2024-2025, it applies memory studies concepts and an interpretative research design to analyze how Gamsakhurdia is remembered today. It explores how various mnemonic actors have constructed his memory since Georgia's independence and situates his remembrance within broader mnemonic frames that shape the possibilities of memory formation. The findings of this thesis reveal the existence of two dominant and interconnected mnemonic frames: the post-colonial and post-conflict frames. These frames lead to an emphasis on themes such as the national struggle for independence. What emerges is the institutionalization of a selective, depoliticized image of Gamsakhurdia as a symbol of national independence. Furthermore, thematic analysis of expert interviews reveals that, aside from the dominant, institutionalized image of Gamsakhurdia employed by political actors, a spectrum of interpretations about Gamsakhurdia exists in society, ranging from very positive, sanctifying and very negative, villainizing images.

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