| Freedom Square – Liberty Square | |
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| Native name თავისუფლების მოედანი (Georgian) | |
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| Location | Tbilisi,Georgia |
| Coordinates | 41°41′36″N44°48′06″E / 41.69333°N 44.80167°E /41.69333; 44.80167 |
| Built | Early 19th century |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical andModern with somePseudo-moorish elements. |
  Location of Freedom Square – Liberty Square in Tbilisi | |
Freedom Square orLiberty Square is located in the center ofTbilisi,Georgia, at the eastern end ofRustaveli Avenue (inGeorgian, it is თავისუფლების მოედანიTavisuplebis moedani, pronounced[tʰavisupʰlebismoedani]).
UnderImperial Russia it was known asErivansky[1] orPaskevich-Erivansky[2] Square (Georgian: ერევანსკის მოედანი,Erevansk'is moedani,Russian: Эриванская площадь,Erivanskaya ploshchad.)[3] While part of theSoviet Union, it wasBeria Square (Georgian: ბერიას მოედანი,Berias moedani) andLenin Square (Georgian: ლენინის მოედანი,Leninis moedani).
The square was originally named afterIvan Paskevich, Count of Erivan, a general in the Russian Imperial Army ofUkrainian descent, who earned his title in honor of hisconquest of Erivan (present-dayYerevan) for theRussian Empire. During the Soviet era, the square was renamed twice: first to "Beria Square", and then "Lenin Square".[4] The location was first named Freedom Square in 1918, during the foundation of the First Georgian Republic following the collapse of the Russian Empire.
The Freedom Square was the site of the1907 Tiflis bank robbery. The Freedom Square has also been the site of various mass demonstrations including those forGeorgia's independence (from theSoviet Union), theRose Revolution, and others. In 2005 the Freedom Square was the location whereU.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush and Georgian PresidentMikheil Saakashvili addressed a crowd of around 100,000 people in celebration of the 60th anniversary marking the end ofWorld War II. During this event, Georgian-ArmenianVladimir Arutyunian threw a live grenade at the two presidents in an unsuccessful assassination attempt.[5]
Abutting the north side of Freedom Square is a small open space with a fountain and a bust ofAlexander Pushkin. Nearby the famous communistKamo (Simon Ter-Petrossian) was once buried, but during Stalin's rule his remains were moved to an undisclosed location.[6]
Tbilisi City Assembly is situated on the square. Other buildings include the formerBank of Georgia head office and theCourtyard by Marriott Tbilisi. The square will also accommodate theOld Tbilisi local government office, the building works of which are already started.
During the Soviet period, the square featured a large statue ofVladimir Lenin, which was built in 1956[7][8] and symbolically torn down in August 1991. On November 23, 2006, theLiberty Monument depictingSt George slaying the dragon, created byZurab Tsereteli was unveiled in the same place.
Branching out from this square are six streets: Rustaveli Avenue, Pushkin Street, Kote Apkhazi Street, Shalva Dadiani Street, Galaktion Tabidze Street and Giorgi Leonidze Street.
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