Young Stalin

30

11. Paternal candidates: author’s interviews with Koba Egnatashvili’s grandson Guram Ratishvili, son of Sasha Egnatashvili, about the family house, Koba’s wrestling and businesses, attitude to Stalin, substitute father, great affection and later destiny of Egnatashvili boys Vaso and Sasha. There are huge inaccuracies in most accounts of the Egnatashvili connection, but Stalin was very close to Sasha Egnatashvili. Within NKVD, attitudes to Stalin’s relationship with Egnatashvili: GARF 7523.107.127.1–6, General N. Vlasik and other interrogations. Guram Ratishvili is by far the most revealing and intelligent of the family witnesses. On genetic connection: author’s interview with Tina Egnatashvili, great-niece. Davrichewy, pp. 26–28, and see also Davrichewy, “Je suis le demifrère de Staline,” where Gori mayor Jourouli is quoted as saying, “As far as I know, Soso was the natural son of pristav Damian Petrovich Davrichewy, my friend… Everyone knew about the liaison with the pretty mother of Soso, Kato [Keke]. Besides, the armed attack on pristav Davrichewy is the proof.” Stalin’s fondness for Father Charkviani, and closeness to Egnatashvili family: Charkviani, “Memoirs.” Stalin’s comment about priest as father—“Comrade Liapidevsky, your father was a priest—mine was a priest too”—quoted in Robert Tucker, Stalin in Power, p. 627. Mgeladze, p. 242. V. Sukhodeev, Stalin v zhiznin i legandaakh, pp. 19–20, on rumours that Stalin said that Egnatashvili was his father and that Egnatashvili married Beso to Keke to hide his sin. Prince Amilakhvari: Davrichewy, p. 69. Stalin and Beso: GF IML 8.2.1.1.143–6, M. K. Abramidze-Tsikhatatrishvili. GF IML 8.2.1.53, Alexander M. Tsikhatatrishvili.