A monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin has been removed in the eastern Georgian city of Telavi.
Police were present during the monument's removal on December 31.
Telavi authorities say the monument was placed near a World War II veterans' memorial in Telavi without official permission.
The monument has been vandalized several times since it was first unveiled on September 1.
It was made with money collected by the nongovernmental organization Stalinist and the Union of Georgia's Veterans.
Stalinist's leader, Shota Lazariashvili, condemned the monument's removal, calling the authorities' decision "a shame."
Telavi is about 110 kilometers from Stalin's birthplace, Gori, in central Georgia.
Police were present during the monument's removal on December 31.
Telavi authorities say the monument was placed near a World War II veterans' memorial in Telavi without official permission.
The monument has been vandalized several times since it was first unveiled on September 1.
It was made with money collected by the nongovernmental organization Stalinist and the Union of Georgia's Veterans.
Stalinist's leader, Shota Lazariashvili, condemned the monument's removal, calling the authorities' decision "a shame."
Telavi is about 110 kilometers from Stalin's birthplace, Gori, in central Georgia.
