Lenin statue, which killed young man, removed

Authorities in Uvaravichy, Buda Kashalyova district, Homyel region, have demolished the remains of the Lenin statue, which collapsed in August killing a young man. The decision was taken after a telephone poll among local residents, half of whom said the statue should be removed.  The 20-foot-high concrete monument collapsed on August 9 after the 21-year-old local resident climbed on it.

The young man, an employee of a local farming company, was celebrating the birth of his baby, which he planned to take from the maternity hospital the following day. After drinking alcohol with friends, the man climbed on the monument and attempted to hang by his hands from the outstretched arm of the statue, which stood in the yard of the village school. The statue broke to pieces and the man fell down. The head, arm and chest of the statue fell on him, with the arm hitting him in the head. The young man reportedly died on his way to the Homyel regional hospital.