Historic rotunda, which was city symbol, demolished in occupied Alushta
In the russian-occupied Alushta, a historic semi-rotunda on the waterfront, which has been considered one of the city's symbols for decades, has been dismantled. The occupation administration said that the building was allegedly not subject to restoration, so they decided to demolish it and replace it with a copy, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
What happened to the rotunda in Alushta?
A video has been posted online showing an excavator destroying a semi-rotunda on the Alushta embankment in the russian-occupied Crimea. This is an object installed in 1951, which later became the hallmark of the resort.
The occupation authorities explained the dismantling by the emergency condition of the columns and said that a new structure would be erected in this place. Representatives of the occupation administration claim that the columns were allegedly in disrepair, and their frame was completely destroyed due to corrosion. This is how they explain the decision to dismantle them.
At the same time, local residents are outraged by the barbaric act of the occupation administration. After all, the occupation authorities initially announced the alleged restoration and restoration of the object. But instead of the promised restoration, the historic building was simply destroyed.
What was the rotunda in Alushta known for?
The semi-rotunda consisted of six columns of the Corinthian order and symbolized the restoration of the city after World War II. Initially, it bore the inscription "Citizens of the USSR have the right to rest", and later - "Alushta resort."
For tourists, it was one of the most famous locations in the city, and for locals it had a symbolic meaning, becoming a symbol by which the resort was recognized far beyond the peninsula.
It is worth noting that after the occupation of Crimea by russia, scandals regularly arise on the peninsula around the state of cultural heritage, coastal development, and interference with the historical environment of cities. Also, against the backdrop of the russian occupation in Crimea, cases of destruction or rebuilding of historical sites under the guise of "reconstruction" have been repeatedly recorded.
As previously reported, the day before, the Warsaw District Court granted the request of the Ukrainian authorities for the extradition of russian Alexander Butyagin, who is suspected of conducting illegal archaeological excavations in the occupied Crimea.