**Legendary Sculptor Zurab Tsereteli Passes Away at 91**

**Zurab Tsereteli, a Tbilisi-born artist who achieved fame through his monumental sculptures, has died at the age of 91, leaving a mixed legacy in the realms of art and politics.**

Georgian-Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who gained fame for his monumental sculptures and often divided public opinion, passed away at the age of 91. Born in Tbilisi, his works can be seen in cities worldwide, including Moscow's towering 98-meter monument to Tsar Peter the Great, a figure who historically disdained the city he is immortalized in.

Tsereteli's rise came during the Soviet era, where he served as a chief designer for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, later creating oversized sculptures that sparked both admiration and controversy. He also enjoyed close relationships with Russia's political elite, having drawn inspiration from President Vladimir Putin, whom he portrayed in bronze.

In a tribute from the Russian Foreign Ministry, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Tsereteli as "an artist of world renown," whose influence extended beyond Russia. His works include the Tear of Grief monument in New Jersey, commemorating the 9/11 attacks, and the sculpture Good Defeats Evil at the UN Headquarters, which symbolizes the end of nuclear threats amidst US-Soviet relations.

Despite the polarizing reception of some of his creations, like the heated debate surrounding the Peter the Great statue, Tsereteli commanded respect within the art community and served as president of the Russian Academy of Arts. His monumental works are not only present in Russia but also stretch across continents, featuring in locations such as Seville and Puerto Rico, where he constructed one of the tallest sculptures, Birth of the New World, after being turned down by several American cities.

A multi-talented artist, Tsereteli was also a painter and an architect, contributing to the reconstruction of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. His death marks the end of an era for a man whose creations, both beloved and loathed, echo in the artistic landscape around the globe.