The "Rike Tubes" were in extremely poor condition and had effectively become a dumping ground, which is why the private owner decided to demolish the structure, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze told journalists.

According to Kaladze, the private owner has not yet submitted to City Hall a proposal for the project that will replace the Rike Tubes.

He added that he is confident one of the best projects will ultimately be implemented on the site.

"This is private property—a building that had become completely non-functional. It had become a dumping ground, so to speak, and was in extremely poor condition. It was no longer functional, and therefore the private owner decided to proceed with its demolition.

Although there was a government decree in place, when the Architecture Service issues a demolition permit, all architectural requirements must be met. Demolition is governed by its own procedures, and these have been under review for quite some time.

Together with the Cultural Council, we gave the owner the opportunity to carry out the demolition. After that, we will wait for the new project to be submitted to City Hall, and we will discuss its development.

No proposal or project has been submitted yet. As soon as one is presented, the public will be informed. This is a very important location, so the project must be appropriate for its surroundings. I am confident that, with the involvement of specialists in the field, one of the best projects will be implemented," Kaladze said.