Georgia decides on Stalin replacement in Gori

The Georgian Ministry of Culture has announced the winner of the
contest for the best memorial of the war in August 2008 and Stalin's
repressions. The memorial will replace Stalin's monument in Gori,
press-service of the ministry told News Georgia.

Stalin's monument was at the central square of Gori since 1952. It was
taken down in June 2010. The new memorial was designed by sculptors
Tamar Kvesitadze and Paata Sanaya. The project was presented by
TAMARASTUDIO.

The monument will resemble a group of 11 naked figures. They symbolize
the victims of the war in 2008 and Stalin's repressions. Tamar
Kvesitadze lives and works in the USA. He is the author of the
sculpture "Love", built in Batumi (Adzharia) in mid-2010.

The Georgian Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection and the city
administration were holding the contest. The rules were to have the
construction costs below $165,000. The winner of the contest will
receive $5,500.

The contest was announced in June 2010. However, the commission failed
to choose the winner. Georgian Culture Minister Nikoloz Rurua extended
the contest terms in November 2010 and proposed the authors to improve
their works.

42 projects were presented in the second round of the contest. The
exhibition of projects was held at Tbilisi Academy of Arts on January
21 - February 1.

Stalin's monument at the central square of Gori was made by sculptor
Shota Mikitidze and architect Zakharia Kurdiani. The statue was 6
meters tall and stood on a three-level pedestal with a height of 9
meters.

Pulling down and transport of the monument to Stalin was raised on
various occasions. The first attempt to take it down was motivated
with the fight against personality cult, then with proclamation of
independence. The government decided to move the memorial after the
August war of 2008. It was taken down on June 25, 2010.