UNESCO approves Moscow Vladimir the Great statue with height restriction

UNESCO has approved Moscow’s controversial Vladimir the Great statue, on the condition that it does not exceed eight metres in height.

“As far as I know, UNESCO has agreed to the installation of the monument on the condition that it is not more than eight metres high,” Lev Lavrenov, chairman of the Moscow Duma Monumental Art Committee, told RIA Novosti.

The Russian authorities notified the UN’s cultural and scientific body of the statue due to its anticipated location on Borovitskaya Ploshchad near the Kremlin, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list along with Red Square.

Although a founding stone was placed on Borovitskaya Ploshchad on 3 November, Mr Lavrenov noted that the statue would not necessarily be erected on the exact site of the founding stone.

The statue was initially set to be 24 metres high and placed on Sparrow Hills, visible from much of Moscow. After tens of thousands of Muscovites signed a petition against this location, the Moscow authorities voted to erect the statue on Borovitskaya Ploshchad. The dimensions of the monument will be adjusted to better suit the new location.

Source: The Moscow Times