
Eerie images of former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin's summer home show the extensive lengths he went to to hide away from the public while on holiday.

Hidden deep in a forest off of Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia, an autonomous region of Georgia - the modest property is hard to find.

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

Historians believe up to 20 million people perished as a result of Stalin's actions - more than the six million killed during Hitler's genocide of the Jews.

Built in 1947, the holiday home on Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia an autonomous region of Georgia, was home to former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin and his family during the summer

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

Floor-length curtains cover many of the walls of the holiday home, perhaps a sign of Stalin's paranoia and desire to be discreet

A telephone that was likely used by Stalin during his summer holiday months still sits on a table in one of the home's many rooms

Many of the rooms in the holiday home feature two twin beds with elaborate bed frames side by side instead of a single, larger bed

In the 1920s millions were shot, exiled to Siberia, or died of starvation after their land, homes and meagre possessions, were taken to fulfil Stalin's vision of massive 'factory farms.'

In the 1930s millions more whom he considered or suspected a threat to the USSR were executed or exiled to Gulag labour camps in remote areas of Siberia or Central Asia, where many also died of disease, malnutrition and exposure.

In buying the holiday home Stalin ensured he had a place to escape and relax in, hidden away from the places where his brutal crimes were committed.

The Soviet Union leader had five holiday homes he would regularly frequent, but he reportedly would not tell officials which one he was going to stay at. All five would always be prepared for his visit.

While his favorite was a villa in Gagra, Abkhazia, which overlooked the Black Sea, he often frequented the other four as well, including one near Sochi.

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

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

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.

'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.'

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

The property sits on Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia and features a dock that gives residents a stunning view of the lake and surrounding mountains and foliage

Outside the holiday home four national flags are still flown on tall flag poles on the former Soviet Union leader's property

A corridor in the home shows several doors leading to various rooms of the house, and another leading outside to the back patio of the home

Stalin's holiday home is designed in a modest fashion despite it boasting a library and games room equipped with a billiards table.

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.

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.'

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 dacha remains 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.'

Stalin's modest three-bedroom holiday home was likely used by the Russian leader as early as the 1930s. The original decor, including the above radio, is still in the home

A game room in the home features a wooden billiards table, wall-to-wall windows and a wrap-around couch that covers two walls

Known for his simple taste Stalin's holiday home is designed in a modest fashion. The home does, however, boast a large library (not pictured)

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

A tiled bathroom in Stalin's former holiday home features unique decor and a pink bathtub and soap dish. The dacha remains one of the last remaining positive legacies left behind by the divisive leader

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