“Ali and Nino” Monument in Batumi Damaged During Relocation

The sculpture of “Nino” of the “Ali and Nino” monument, situated in Batumi, has been damaged while being relocated.

According to eye witnesses, a cable was severed during the relocation and several wings of the sculpture were damaged.

Batumi Boulevard Administration Director Giorgi Zirakishvili said the damage is minor.

“I spoke with the head of the company, who told me that it will be restored within a week and everything will be all right,” he added.

The monument was installed in Batumi in 2011. Internet sources said Batumi Boulevard administration took a decision to move the monument to a different place after a storm damaged its foundations.

“According to the experts’ report, it was impossible to reinforce that part of the seashore and therefore, it was necessary to relocate the monument” - Zirakishvili noted.

Tamar Kvesitadze, the sculptor of the monument in her interview with Rustavi 2 said she had not been informed about the relocation of “Ali and Nino”.

Later, however, www.batumelebi.ge, a local website, published correspondence between the monument’s sculptor and the boulevard administration. The communication shows that Kvesidze had agreed to the terms of relocating the monument to a safer place.