Page "1956 Georgian demonstrations" Paragraph 14

Protesters worked out their demands to authorities: official holiday day on 9 March ( Stalin's birthday ) publishing of articles devoted to Stalin's life in all local newspapers, show of films The Fall of Berlin and The Unforgettable Year 1919 by Mikheil Chiaureli ( both films were typical cinematic pieces of Stalin's cult of personality ) in cinemas and invitation of the Chinese marshal Zhu De, who was at that time visiting Georgia, to the meeting.

By the end of day, the number of demonstrators reached 70, 000.

The central Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs initially underestimated the scale of the protests and the information based on the minister Janjghava reached the Central Committee later on 8 March.