Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suggested on Tuesday that Russia rebuild in Moscow a World War II memorial demolished in a botched operation by Georgian authorities in Kutaisi.
An eight-year-old girl and her mother were killed during Saturday's demolition of the Glory Memorial, when explosives used to topple the structure sent large chunks of concrete hurtling into a residential area.
"This was yet another attempt to erase the common Soviet past from the memory of former Soviet nations, including their heroic past," Putin said.
"Therefore, I believe it is possible to rebuild the memorial in Moscow, the capital of once a unified state."
Sculptor Merab Berdzenishvili, the creator of the war memorial, said he had no objections to the memorial being rebuilt in Russia.
He earlier said the demolition was an insult to the memory of thousands of Georgian soldiers who gave their lives in World War II, and opposition activists staged protests.
A Georgian opposition figure said the memorial should also be rebuilt in Kutaisi.
"We will do that when we come to power," said Zurab Nogaideli, leader of the For a Just Georgia opposition movement.
Georgian authorities say the memorial was removed to make way for a new parliamentary building.
The Georgian government has said that the relocation of the Georgian parliament from Tbilisi to Kutaisi will boost the development of western Georgia. However, the move has sparked protests among Kutaisi residents and the Georgian opposition.
Moscow earlier said Tbilisi had challenged the entire international community, defying the latest resolution by the UN General Assembly condemning the destruction of WWII memorials.
MOSCOW, December 22 (RIA Novosti)
