Kaliningrad city requests Soviet Green Bridge statues from Vilnius

The administration of Sovetsk, a city in the Russian region of Kaliningrad, has officially made a request to Vilnius Municipality to adopt the Soviet-era statues removed from the Green Bridge in central Vilnius on July 18/19, 2015.

In a signed letter to Vilnius Municipality, Sovetsk Mayor, Nikolai Voishchev said the city would cover "all costs of transporting the sculptures to Kaliningrad.”

He outlined "the very name of Sovetsk implies that symbols of the Soviet era could find a place within our territory."

Vilnius Municipality confirmed receipt of the proposal, saying it would be discussed along with other proposals from Vilnius residents and other cities in Autumn this year. 

Aleksandras Zubriakovas, spokesman for Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Simasius, noted the sculptures were currently subject to legal protection, and could therefore not be sold in an auction or transported from Lithuania. 

After more than 60 years on the Green Bridge, the four sets of sculptures were removed following expert advice, which suggested they were in urgent state of repair and a threat to public health and safety.

Gruto Park near Druskininkai, Europe Park located near Vilnius and a stone sculpture park, have also expressed interest in taking the statues. 

The sculptures are currently stored at a municipal company.

The four groups of sculptures portrayed Red Army soldiers, Soviet workers, farmers and students. 

They were built on the Green Bridge in central Vilnius in 1952, and are listed on the Register of Cultural Values.