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Robert Sturua: “It is ironic to blame me in xenophobia”

October 20, 2011

Theater Director Robert Sturua wrote in his open letter published by The Guardian that it was ironic of Georgian government to blame him in xenophobia.

In the beginning of his letter, the theater director wrote that he lives in Georgia, where the president has now concentrated complete power over the arts, education and media in his hands. There are increasingly uncomfortable echoes of the methods of another son of Georgia, Joseph Stalin, while a similarly misleading veneer of justice and democracy is presented to the outside world.

“During the Soviet era, I used my theatrical performances to oppose injustice, violence and tyranny. Today, in articles and speeches, I try to resist the transformation of my country into a brutal police regime. My position and performances have always irritated the powerful,” Sturua wrote.

The director noted that now the patience of the government has run out and he was fired as artistic director of the Rustaveli Theatre in Tbilisi.

“It's somewhat ironic that the authorities, who base their own politics on hatred, fear and Russophobia in endless ethnic wars should punish me because I dared to mention the national identity of our president. If I really overstepped the law or ethics, I am ready to answer to any independent court – but not to a regime of authoritarian ethnic nationalists,” Sturua wrote.

He hopes that artists, intellectuals and genuine internationalists will speak out against the clampdown on freedom now taking place in Georgia.

Culture and Monument Protection Minister of Georgia Nika Rurua fired Robert Sturua from the position of art director of the Rustaveli State Drama Theatre on August 9, 2011. The minister said the motive was xenophobic statements of the theater director.

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