Prague has completed the supports in the underground of the former Stalin monument

Prague – The Prague City Hall has completed the support structures in the underground of the former Stalin monument at Letná. They were placed at the most critical locations that were at risk of collapsing. They cost 32.5 million crowns, said Prague councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09) today to ČTK. The building authority closed the area above the underground part of the monument for several weeks last autumn. Subsequent tests showed that the structure is in better condition than the city had assumed. What will happen to the monument's remains in the future is still unclear.

"We have built supports for critical areas where weaknesses were identified. And these areas have been reinforced with metal structures," Chabr stated. Some areas were reinforced with additional concrete and load tests were also conducted.

The construction authority of Prague 7 originally decided last September to close about 1000 square meters of space above the underground areas, as there was a risk of collapse. In the first half of October, it reopened the area after the city had the load tests performed.

The city has not yet decided how the remains of the former monument will be used in the future. The previous administration considered opening a gallery here. The current one has stepped back from that idea. Within the current coalition, there has been a thought to establish a Museum of the 20th Century here. However, there was no consensus on that among the coalition of Pirates, Prague Sobě, and United Forces for Prague (TOP 09 and STAN). The plan was not favored by Prague Sobě, as it would disrupt the local park.

The Stalin monument was created in 1955. At its time, with a height of over 15 meters, a width of 12 meters, and a length of 22 meters, it was the largest group sculpture in Europe. The monument was dismantled at the end of 1962, when criticism of the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev regarding Stalin increased.