Stop IMELI Demolition

Petition to

President of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia
Tbilisi City Hall
Tbilisi City Council
Ministry of Culture, Monument Protection and Sport of Georgia

We are appealing to those who understand that cultural heritage is not a matter of taste, but a fact, in other words, a value that should be protected; to those who know that Stalinist architecture (especially as because this architectural momument belongs to A. Shchusev), is equally valuable for our culture as other civic or religious facilities built in various periods of our history; to those who think that ‘new’ should not be built at the expense of ‘old’.

Tbilisi, 29 Rustaveli Avenue is the address of a former a branch of Marxism and Leninism Institute building, where recently the Constitutional Court was located. This building was built according to the project of a famous Russian architect Alexey Shchusev in 1933-1938. The importance of this building for Georgian, specifically Tbilisi history and architecture is widely known. It is the unique, high-quality example of architecture of the Stalin era. Apart from its architectural value, the factor contributing to its uniqueness is that the world famous architect A.Shchusev designed not only the façade of the building, but every detail of its interior. A special project was designed by A. Shchusev for interier decoration - all the door handles, chandeliers, lamps, furniture for the assembly hall - was made by well-known painters and craftsmen according to that plan.

The way this building was planned, its architecture and the construction process itself was specific professional school for young Georgian architects. We would like to remind that during this process pumice stone and concrete reinforced constructions were used for the first time. A good deal of books and articles were dedicated to arvhitectural and artistic value of the building. Until recently, the facade of the building was decorated by high reliefs made by famous sculpture Jakob Nikoladze and beautiful frieze created by well-known Georgian sculpture Tamar Abakelia.

All the above said proves once again the importance and value of the building at 29 Rustaveli Avenue, which used to be a branch of Marxism and Leninism Institute.

Due to the decision of bureaucrats at the Ministry of Culture and Tbilisi City Hall, which was based on the order N3/181 of 01 October 2007 ‘On cultural heritage protection’, signed by the Minister of Culture, Monument Protection and Sport of Georgia, seriously breaching the law, the ’Imeli’ building was removed from the list of the monuments with cultural heritage status. The building was granted the cultural significance status in 1986. This is the year when the first record of immovable statues was made.

After depriving of the status, the building was sold profitably. The new owner dismantled the left, four-storey wing of ‘Imeli’ without having any official permission. A very big part of the remaining roof has also been removed. Atmospheric precipitations continuously permeates through, thus creating hazardous conditions for the building. The interfloor cover is demolished, bearing walls, assemply hall, the unique interier and archive materials, doors and windows are removed, this fabulous monument of cultural heritage is consistently demolished.

After demontstrations, numerous articles and various urban activisms organised by ‘Tiflis Hamkari’, despite the promise of the investor, there still does not exist a project approved by the Tbilisi City Hall architeture service, the permit of demolition, a guarantee to maintain the building, an expert conclusion of sustainability of the construction and geological research.

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