Vladimir Dekanozov (Dekanozishvili) was born into the family of Giorgi Dekanozishvili, founder of the Party of Georgian Social-Federalists. Dekanozishvili, in Georgian meaning literally "Son of a Deacon", were a noble Georgian family belonging to the Georgian Orthodox Church. Albeit being born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in all official documentation he was listed as a Georgian. Although he self-identified as a Georgian, some rumors falsely suggested that he might have Armenian heritage due to his russified name. These rumours are known to have originated as a joke from Joseph Stalin who frequently teased and mocked Dekanozov.