Russian Tsar Alexander II Statue Returns to Sofia

The process of assembling back the statue to its site in the center of Sofia. Sofia Photo Agency

The landmark statue of Russian Emperor Alexander II was returned to the square in front of Parliament in Sofia Thursday, after undergoing repair.

The statue of the mounted tsar was re-assembled, with workers installing a headless horse first, then installing its head and the torso of the tsar.

Some of the legs of the horse had to be replaced because of wear, and other parts of the statue and the additional figures that went missing had to be also replaced.

Svetoslav Glosov, who was part of the team responsible for the reconstruction, defended the procedure used as both innovative and flawless.

During the restoration process there were controversial reports that the landmark statue is not being taken adequate care of.

Around December 20, a photo exhibition will open at the Sofia Central Bath documenting the whole process.

The restored monument will be officialy inaugurated on March 3, the day of the peace contract in the 1877-8 Russo-Turkish war led by Alexander II, which resulted in Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman Empire.

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