MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) – The unveiling of the statue took place on Friday in Chavez’s home village of Sabaneta. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Chavez’s older brother Adan, and CEO of Russian oil company Rosneft, Igor Sechin, took part in the ceremony, among others, according to VTV.
The six-meter- (20-feet-) tall statue was commissioned by Rosneft at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the statue plaque. The artwork was created by Russian sculptor Sergei Kazantsev.
Maduro announced on Friday that he would establish a peace prize in honor of Hugo Chavez and would give it to Putin.
