TBILISI, Georgia — Diggers tore into a Soviet World War II memorial in Georgia on Thursday to make way for a new parliament, angering Russia and President Mikheil Saakashvili’s foes.

Saakashvili wants parliament sessions to be relocated to Georgia’s second city of Kutaisi under an initiative to revitalize the former industrial hub.

But the demolition of a 46-meter-high concrete and bronze war memorial at the proposed construction site has been criticized by Georgia’s opposition and Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement saying it was “concerned.”

(Reuters)