New Georgia cemetery monument: ‘Now they can find and commemorate family’

Tika, who comes from Georgia, is also the initiator of the monument that was placed on the cemetery with large equipment. The memorial will be a memorial to all Georgians who lost their lives during the uprising, also known as the Russian War. Their names and origins have been discovered after years of study and are engraved on the monument in both Georgian and Dutch.

Tika, who is also the founder of the foundation for Georgian culture in the Netherlands, wants to strengthen the connection between the island and Georgia. She came to Groningen as a student in 1994.

Five years later she was involved in organizing the visit of the Georgian Patriarch Ilya II of Tiblisi and head of the Georgian Orthodox Church. “I then took care of the translation as an interpreter,” she says. She herself was not happy about that visit to the island. “When I came here, I was very sad,” she says. “They talked about Russian soldiers then. But they are Georgians. But nobody knew that, because we were under the Soviet Republic.”

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She felt she had to do something to present the story of the past in a better way. After wandering in Singapore and Chicago, Tika and her family moved to the Netherlands in 2014. That is when the idea for the monument was born. She feels very connected to the island. “I also told my children about the tragic events that took place here. They were also impressed by that, but at the same time also a little proud. Texel is now also in their hearts.”

Her enthusiasm to bring history even better to the attention was not shared by everyone. Certainly not at the municipality of Texel. Sulkhan Amiranashvili, a historian specializing in the Georgian uprising on Texel, had retrieved all the names after years of study. “I called him and told him about my plans. But he did not want to release the list, because the municipality was not positive about paying attention to this.”

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In 2016 she presented her plans to mayor Michiel Uitdehaag who, according to Tika, was enthusiastic. The story was well received. “The monument is very important to us,” says Tika. “In Georgian culture, the victims are always mentioned by name and preferably with a photo. That is our pride.” On Texel, the victims were anonymous. “And they are also forgotten, I cannot accept that. Now the relatives can find and commemorate their grandfather, grandmother or relatives.”

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“All victims have now been given a name, also in Georgian. The Georgian alphabet is very unique,” explains Tika. According to Tika, soldiers from Abkhazia and South Ossetia are also among the fallen. Areas held by Russian-backed separatists since 2008. Ten Georgian Jews have also been identified. “It is important that these names are now also known and know that they are Georgians.”

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She wants to strengthen ties with the island. Tika has a tourist agency, also focused on Georgia. “I want to promote and connect the highlights of Texel and Georgia more. I’m also working on getting Georgian wine on the island. I want to do that to also draw more attention to the history on the island.”

Her enthusiasm even goes so far that she wants to organize a Georgian holiday at the De Krim holiday park in early November on Texel. There will be various events with art and theater. Many delicacies from Georgia will also be presented.

Georgian Ambassador David Solomonia was also present at the memorial’s erection. He too is proud. “This is very important for the people of Georgia,” he says. “This preserves history. For me it is an important but also emotional day. And I am also proud to be present at this momentous event.”

The monument will be unveiled on May 4 under the supervision of several dignitaries. The Aviation and War Museum at the airport is also visited on this day. The bunkers where the Georgian uprising took place are also visited.