WWII memorial demolished in Kutaisi, Georgia

The Military Glory memorial commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory in WWII in Kutaisi, Georgia, a day before the explosion.

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

The Military Glory memorial commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory in WWII in Kutaisi, Georgia, a day before the explosion.

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

Two ruined columns and rubble where the 600-ton structure once stood.

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

A bronze horseman, which had been part of the memorial, was moved to the yard of a neighboring house a week before the demolition. The sculpture was made in Leningrad, and was designed by the Georgian sculptor Merab Berdzenishvili, who said of the demolition: “In destroying this stone, the authorities have returned to the Stone Age.”

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

The explosion propelled fragments hundreds of meters through the air away from the memorial.

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

The blast wave shattered windows in neighboring houses.

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

A woman and her 8-year-old daughter stood here, behind the garage, to watch the demolition.

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

They were killed by a cement fragment like this, which was propelled over 300 meters.

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

The son of Givi Gureshidze, who died in WWII, said: “They are barbarians. Today they demolished this memorial, tomorrow they may erect a monument to Hitler.”

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

The place where the Glory Memorial stood has been fenced off for security purposes, while demining specialists complete their work.

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© RIA Novosti . Besik Pipiya

Georgian authorities say that the Glory Memorial was demolished to clear the site for a new parliament building. This is how it will look.