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Burjanadze protests demolition of the Military Glory Memorial

Georgian government’s decision to demolish the Memorial of Glory is shameful, says the former Speaker of Georgian Parliament and the leader of the United Georgia Democratic Movement Nino Burjanadze.

She said, it is an unreasonable decision to build some parts of Georgian government at the Memorial place in 2012. “These steps won’t solve country’s problems, besides, it will lead to big costs,” she said.

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Suspect detained in Georgian monument demolition blast deaths

MOSCOW, December 20 (RIA Novosti) - Georgian authorities have detained a suspect as an investigation is underway into Saturday's deadly demolition of a monument in the South Caucasus country's second largest city, Kutaisi.

An eight-year-old girl and her mother were killed in yesterday's controlled blast when a monument to World War Two heroes, the Glory Memorial, was demolished in Kutaisi. The deaths apparently resulted from violation of safety regulations.

The detained suspect is the technical director of a private company involved in the blasting work, Georgian prosecutors said, adding that he faces up to five years in prison should he be found guilty.

A parliament building is reportedly planned to be built at the site of the demolished monument.

Georgia's opposition has said the officials who decided to demolish the memorial should be held accountable. Opposition forces intend to hold a protest rally in Kutaisi on Monday.

Russia has condemned the Georgian war memorial blast as an act of barbarism and state vandalism.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday the Georgian authorities "committed an act of state vandalism, offending the feelings of any civilized person."

The Memorial of Glory is dedicated to the World War II lost soldiers, and is built in Kutaisi, country’s second largest city.