Controversial demolition of Georgian war memorial leaves 2 people dead
By APSaturday, December 19, 2009
Demolition of Georgian war memorial kills 2
TBILISI, Georgia — Georgian authorities say a woman and her 8-year-old daughter were killed when a World War II memorial was intentionally blown up.
The deaths cast a cloud over the controversial demolition of the Soviet-era memorial. The plans had drawn condemnation from Russia and Georgia’s political opposition.
Prosecutor General Murtaz Zodelava said the deaths Saturday in Georgia’s second largest city of Kutaisi were caused by a violation of safety standards. A city official said the dead were a mother and daughter.
The 46-meter (150-foot) concrete and bronze war memorial stood on the proposed site for a new parliament building.
Russia said its destruction showed disrespect to the hundreds of thousands of Georgians who fought in the Soviet army during World War II.
