Stalin Statue Evicted From His Hometown
A statue of Josef Stalin which stood for more that four decades was removed from the Georgian town of Gori. Gori is the birth place of the known Russian dictator who withstood against Hitler of Nazi Germany and also caused the death of more than 2 million people.
The Associated Press report says that the statue of Stalin will be replaced by a monument for the victims of Georgia's 2008 war with Russia and of Stalin's repression. Many observers say that though Stalin is a native of Georgia, there are more Georgians which deserves such a historic and revered place in the town's central park.
Gori is the birth place of Stalin and is a relatively small town. In 2008 the Russian army occupied the town amidst the war between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia. Gori is located 80 km (50 miles) west of the capital, Tbilisi.
Many Georgians are saying that the monument was more of a symbol of Moscow's power over the country more than 20 years after the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s. Culture Minister Nika Rura said, "There is no place for such an ugly idol in Georgia."
However, due to the historical value of the statue and out of respect for the native of Gori and Georgia, the statue will not be destroyed or discarded. The statue will be moved to the courtyard of Gori's Stalin museum.
