Controversial Georgian Monument Demolition Kills Mother and Child

The destroyed Georgian 'Monument to Glory', whose demolition caused the deaths of two people, and severe injuries to several other bystanders. Photo by rferl.org

A woman and her 8-year-old child have died while watching the scheduled demolition of a civic monument in the Georgian city of Kutaisi on Saturday. Several other bystanders have also been seriously injured.

The “Monument of Glory” was a Soviet memorial to the dead of World War II. The demolition had been planned so that the area could be cleared for the construction of a new Georgian parliament building.

Demolition of the monument had been strongly opposed by politicians, writers, artists, NGOs and prominent members of Georgian society.

The area has since been cordoned off, and an investigation has been launched by the authorities. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili canceled his planned visit to the Copenhagen climate summit after being informed of the fatal incident.

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