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ROMANS SUTA’S LIFE TBILISI PERIOD (1941–1944) ROMANS SUTA’S LIFE TBILISI PERIOD (1941–1944) From the history of the later period of the life of a Latvian artist On the occasion of Romans Suta’s 120th birthday Nikolai Javakhishvili [email protected] The late period of life and activity of the famous Latvian painter, designer, and teacher Romans Suta (1896–1944) is connected with Georgia. The presented article dwells on Ro- mans Suta’s Tbilisi period and his nearest Georgian confreres. In the summer of 1941, Romans Suta came to Tbilisi. He started working in a Georgian movie studio as a painter. He has worked on movies: In Black Mountains (1941, Producer Nikoloz She n gelaia), Giorgi Saakadze (1942, Producer Mikhail Chiaureli), The Shield of Jurgai (1944, Pro du cers: Siko Dolidze and David Rondeli). Romans Suta’s successful career was stopped abruptly because of his arrest on 4 Sep- tember 1943. He was charged for being an “enemy of people” and for “faking bread cou- pons”. He was tried and sentenced to be shot on 14 July 1944. In 1959, Romans Suta was partly rehabilitated, because the Military Collegium of the USSR Supreme Court exculpated Romans Suta’s charge of “enemy of people”, but “faking bread cards” still remained into effect. The article shows the real reasons for accusations to Romans Suta. The me moirs of his acquaintances, kept in the archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, prove that Romans Suta was a member of the Georgian anti-Soviet or ganisation “White George” (in Georgian, “Tetri Giorgi”). The leader of this or ga n i sa tion was Levan (Mustafa) Shelia, the members: Levan Abdushelishvili, Shalva Svanidze, Mzechabuk (Chabua) Amiredjibi, Maria Amiredjibi (Nakashidze), Pavle and Archil Kharanauli, Giorgi Machavariani, Vakhtang Jordjadze, Archil and Giorgi Tsulukidze, Amiran Morchiladze, Vilhelm Siller, Eleonora (Nora) Pfefer, and others. The aim of the above organisation was to make use of the German–USSR war and meanwhile restore Georgia’s state independence. The article is based on a variety of archival materials. Alongside with being a professional art- personal contacts with his European col- ist, Romans Suta was pretty much aware of leagues. the world history of culture and the current Starting from 1939, R. Suta got keen on events in contemporary arts, thanks to his arts. His first work was to design the scen- self-education and international trips, and ery for the film Uprising in Kauguri, made by 79 RAKSTI the Riga Film Studio. Afterwards the design- with Evgeni Machavariani, as well as on the er proceeded to make the scenery for Mel- film Giorgi Saakadze (1942–1943, directed ancholic Waltz, a film about the composer by Mikhail Chiaureli). Emīls Dārziņš, but this work was interrupted R. Suta’s successful career of a designer due to the outbreak of the war between Ger- was discontinued by his arrest on 4 Septem- many and the USSR. ber 1943. He was convicted according to According to the film director Vilis La- Article 58-Ia and 58-II of the Criminal Code penieks, in the spring of 1941, he and of the RSFSR (on “enemies of the people”), R. Suta were in Moscow where they got ac- as well as for faking bread coupons (bread quainted with “the administrator of the Geor- cards) (in accordance with the Law of 7 Au- gian Film Studio”1. gust 1932) and was sentenced to ten years Since 1940, the famous theatre and film in camps and confiscation of property. On 14 director, actor, screenwriter, sculptor, painter July 1944, he was executed.4 and teacher Mikhail Chiaureli (1894–1974) In 1959, the Military Collegium of the was an artistic manager of the State Film Pro- USSR Supreme Court quashed the verdict duction of Georgia (later, Kartuli Pilmi “Geor- against R. Suta under Articles 58-Ia and 58- gian Film”). II, but upheld the verdict concerning bread According to Nataļja Jevsejeva, curator coupons. Therefore, he maintained the status of the Memorial Collection and Head of the of a repressed artist and was not completely Museum of Romans Suta and Aleksandra rehabilitated. Beļcova in Riga, “the head of the Georgian In his memoirs, the famous Georgian Film Studio offered R. Suta a job in Tbilisi; playwright and journalist Kita Buachidze the Latvian painter accepted the offer with (1914–2000), who, owing to his anti-Soviet pleasure. He was very fond of the Caucasus way of thinking, spent many of his youth and, particularly, of its central part — Geor- years under arrest, has revealed interesting gia, and everything associated with it. As the facts about R. Suta’s life in Tbilisi. He re- aforementioned V. Lapenieks said, R. Suta called that when, having endured a long and was “infected with the bacillus of the Cau- tiresome queue, characteristic of the Soviet casus”. In the spring of 1941, when the Ger- way of life, and having bought her favour- man armed forces were attacking on Riga, ite boots, Margarita (Margo) Astvatsaturova, Romans Suta understood that it was his last a resident of Tbilisi, told her friend R. Suta chance to leave and see Georgia. The painter about her sufferings, he jokingly replied: made the decision to leave quickly, without “And after that your portrait did not appear really waving goodbye to his family. As his on the cover of the Magazine USSR in Con- daughter Tatyana Suta recollects it, father struction to glorify how heroically you got called her mother (Alexandra Beltsova) and the boots?” told her that he was leaving.2 According to K. Buachidze, shortly after In 1941–1943, R. Suta lived in Tbi- the joke, M. Astvatsaturova and R. Suta were lisi working as a designer at the Georgian arrested.5 Film Studio.3 At the Georgian Film Studio, The essential question is the follow- R. Suta worked on the following films: In the ing: how realistic were the charges brought Black Mountains (1941, directed by Nikoloz against Romans Suta and having caused his Shengelaia), Elusive Jan (1942, directed by death? Answers to this question can be found Isidor Annensky and Vladimir Petrov), The among his friends and in the Archive of the Shield of Jurgai (1944, directed by Siko Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. The Dolidze and David Rondeli) in association Archive preserves the materials6 providing 80 ROMANS SUTA’S LIFE TBILISI PERIOD (1941–1944) detailed information on the activities of overthrow the hated occupation regime and R. Suta and his associates. to regain the independence of the Georgian At the end of January 2011, I talked with state. We hoped that the German troops, who the prominent writer Mzechabuk (Chabua) successfully got hold of the northwestern part Amirejibi (1921–2013) about the organisa- of the North Caucasus and, by the Autumn tion “Tetri Giorgi” (“White George”). It should of 1942, stood at the border of central Geor- be noted that he is an author of famous nov- gia, would soon liberate us from the Soviet els, Data Tutashkhia, Gora Mborgali, George regime. In order to collect money for clan- the Brilliant, and a number of other writings. destine activities, we printed and sold fake The TV series Shores (1977, screenplay by bread coupons, in which R. Suta’s talent Chabua Amirejibi, directed by Giga Lortkip- and know-how appeared to be very benefi- anidze and Gizo Gabeskiria), based on his cial. He was a friend of Georgian artists with novel Data Tutashkhia, was a great success some of whom he got acquainted during his on the USSR television. He was awarded stay in Paris. Romans hated the Soviet re- the State Prize of the USSR (1979) and the gime which victimized his homeland as well Shota Rustaveli Prize (1994), and decorated as Georgia. Therefore, he enthusiastically with the Order of Honour and Order of Vakh- got involved in the activities of our organiza- tang Gorgasali (1st and 2nd Classes), as well tion. Levan Shelia and I respected Romans as of St. George (from the Georgian Orthodox very much who was 25 years older than Church). He was elected to the Parliament of we and was actually of a father’s age. He Georgia from 1992 to 1995. Three years be- frequently told us interesting stories of his fore his death, C. Amirejibi was consecrated life in independent Latvia and in countries as a monk by the blessings of the Catholicos- of Western Europe. The Latvian artist was Patriarch of All-Georgia Ilia II and was given fascinated by the rich history and culture of the name David. Due to his severe health the Georgian people. Our struggle for inde- condition, the Holy Synod of the Georgian pendence reminded him of the history of the Orthodox Church permitted the ceremony to freedom-loving Latvian people.” be held at the writer’s own apartment. He On May 26, 1943, “Tetri Giorgi” cele- was buried on the Mount of St. David (Mtats- brated the 25th anniversary of the restoration minda) in the Pantheon of Writers and public of Georgia’s statehood. The friendly feast was figures. led by the brilliant toastmaster Levan Ab du- Chabua Amirejibi told me the following: she li s h vili. Since his early years, he was an “After the outbreak of the war between ideological enemy of the Bolsheviks. Follow- Germany and the USSR, my close friend ing the Geor gi an tradition, at the end of the age-mate Levan (a.k.a. Mustafa) Shelia banquet, the toastmaster pronounced toasts founded the illegal national liberating or- to all the participants of the feast, among ganization “Tetri Giorgi”, and, together with them, for Romans Suta, a representative of me, both ethnic Georgians (mostly of the no- the older generation of our or ga ni za tion.