Authorities in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, have approved the demolition of a cultural complex, reigniting debate over the 'Pipes,' whose design divided the country between those who considered it an architectural eyesore and others who described it as a modernization of a state emerging from the Soviet Union.

The complex was intended to include a concert hall and an exhibition center, but construction stopped in 2012 after Mikheil Saakashvili's National Movement was defeated by the Georgian Dream party, leaving the interiors unfinished. It was later sold for a much lower price than its construction cost.

According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, supporters of the complex believe that 'its demolition is an attempt by the ruling Georgian Dream party to erase architectural symbols associated with Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president who is currently imprisoned. The country has been witnessing conflicts for years between advocates of integration with the European Union and a government that increasingly adopts anti-democratic methods.'

The current private owner of the buildings wants to build a hotel on the site and has until December 25 to complete the demolition. Mikheil Saakashvili expressed his opposition to the decision, accusing the authorities of destroying a 'world-class architectural and cultural masterpiece' built with public funds.

According to the Georgian fact-checking organization Factcheck.ge, about $29 million (more than €25 million) of public money was invested in the project. Massimiliano Fuksas also criticized the demolition, calling it 'madness.'

The 82-year-old architect told Radio Free Europe: 'If public money was spent to build something, why demolish it?' He explained that his architecture firm 'contacted the Georgian authorities in May to discuss alternative uses for the complex, but received no response.'

The two cylinders made of metal and glass were designed by Italian architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, in the historic Rike district between 2011 and 2012.