The last Soviet style celebration of the 1st of May in Tbilisi was held in 1987. At Tbilisi University red banners and placards were being prepared for the university’s representatives in the march and the main building was decorated with flags of the 15 union republics and a huge picture of Lenin was hanging over the entrance.

The parade assembled on former Republic Square – in front of “Andropov’s ears” – with the slogan on the wall: “Glory to our multinational fatherland” in Georgian and Russian. Photos of General Secretary Michail Gorbachev and other high-ranking party officials in the Politbro decorated the facade of a building at the far end of Lenin Square (now Freedom Square).
(Photos Karina Vamling)