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Tuesday,
August 14,
2007, #154 (1421)
By Anna Kamushadze The Ministry of Economic Development has sold off 1000 square meters of historic property in Zugdidi to an anonymous Georgian businessman. The land is situated around the Dadiani Palace museum, one of the largest regional museums in the country. The grounds include the palace of Queen Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani and Prince Niko Dadiani, the last Prince of Samegrelo, and house tens of thousands of archaeological and artistic treasures. The Dadiani complex, because of the nobility's history and the religious artifacts it holds, is a cultural treasure for many Georgians. The governor of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Zaza Gorozia, confirmed that the land was sold, but declined to name the new owner who, Gorozia says, has plans for a grand hotel. "A hotel will be built on the territory, and will be like a palace-very like those that Dadiani had in Kiev. These will be one of the more notable buildings made in this century," Gorozia told Imedi TV. But museum officials were furious at the sale. "The Economic Development Ministry does not understand what they're doing. This land belongs to the museum and I warn everyone that selling it would be their downfall," said the head of the Dadiani Palace museum, Abesalom Tughushi. The museum is owned by the state. The Messenger spoke with Ia Bagrationi-Mukhraneli, leader of Royal Crown, a movement for the restoration of the monarchy. Her group is decrying the sale of the land adjacent to the cultural landmark, and plans to officially petition the president on the matter. "A person who has no past can't create a present or future," Bagrationi-Mukhraneli told the Messenger. Bagrationi-Mukhraneli
said that remaining members of the Dadiani family would file suit to
block the sale. Tbilisi officials beg to differ. Deputy Minister of Culture, Sport and Monument Protection Nika Vacheishvili says they sold land outside the museum's control, and would be carefully overseeing the building plans. "The building
materials and the hotel plan will be agreed upon with us. Infrastructure
for the area will be improved, and the new hotel will be done with a
comprehensive view in mind," Vacheishvili told the Messenger. |
State
sells historic land from former nobility's estate
