Russia’s PM Vladimir Putin offered “to recreate” a World War II memorial, demolished in Georgia’s second largest city of Kutaisi, in Moscow - “the capital of once united state” Soviet Union.

“In our experts’ opinion, this monument is of artistic value. However, of course this is not the case. This [demolition] is yet another attempt to erase from the minds of people of former Soviet Union the memories about the common past, including about heroic past,” Putin was quoted as saying by the Russian news agencies at a meeting with government members on December 22..

”In this regard I consider it possible to recreate this monument in the capital of once united state – in Moscow,” he said. “I believe that this initiative will be supported by the society of Russia and Georgia and I am sure that there will be enough people in our country, who will contribute their own money to erect this monument in Moscow, in this case for those Georgians, who died during World War II defending our common homeland.”

Putin also said that he was sure “the representatives of Georgian diaspora [in Russia] will take the most active part in it.”  

“The Moscow authorities need to find a worthy place [for the monument],” Putin said. “Thank God, the author of the monument [sculptor Merab Berdzenishvili] is alive.”