Inside the holiday home of Joseph Stalin

TAKE a peek inside the holiday home of one of history’s most controversial leaders

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The holiday house was built in 1947 and was used by Stalin and his family members

Located on Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia an autonomous region of Georgia - the modest property once belonged to former Soviet Union leader, Joseph Stalin.

The design of the house was kept simple in keeping with Stalin's modest taste

Built in 1947, the holiday home or ‘dacha' as it’s known in Russian was home to Stalin and his family during the warm summer months.

Photographer Ioanna Sakellaraki, 26, took the images during her travels around the little known region of Abkhazia.

Known as a Dacha in Russian the impressive house boasts a games room and library

A living testament to Stalin and his renowned paranoia the dacha is surrounded by thick trees and is painted green to make it pretty much invisible from the air.

Ioanna said: “Such conspiracy is a tribute to the Stalin's paranoia. There is only one way to get here, and that is by a mountain road that winds through the thick forest.

Stalin had five Dachas which he would during the course of a year

“It is interesting that Stalin would never say exactly which of the many Abkhazian dachas he was going to stay at; so all five of them would be prepared for his stay.”

Famous for his paranoia Stalin's holiday home was surrounded by thick trees and painted green

Known for his simple taste Stalin’s holiday home is designed in a modest fashion despite it boasting a library and games room equipped with a billiards table.

Many of Stalin's government officials also had summer homes in the area

Fortunately for visitors to the historic house many of the original fittings are still in place and have been well maintained by the Abkhazian government.

The Abkhazian government have managed to keep the house in good condition

Ioanna said: “In the dacha you can see the interiors and furniture of those times. It boasts reception rooms, three bedrooms, huge library, and a separate house for protection, which consisted of 300 people.

"In the distance is a playground, pier, park and decorative stone bridge across the creek, where you can stroll."

Despite being built 70 years ago the house still contains the original items

The location of Stalin’s dacha on Lake Ritsa was a popular holiday spot for the Soviet establishment and was regularly visited by elites within Stalin’s regime.

The dachas remain one of the last remaining positive legacies left behind by the divisive leader.

Ioanna added: “The dacha is popular among tourists as it is one of the five summer cottages he spent most of his time.”