There are moments in a town’s life when a sudden act reverberates through its streets, not just as an event but as a reminder of what communities choose to hold dear. In Velenje, such a moment unfolded late last year when a public monument — a statue of Josip Broz Tito — was deliberately damaged, setting in motion a costly process of restoration and reflection.

The bronze sculpture, standing on Titov trg in the city center, was vandalized in December 2025 when its head was removed by a local man — an act that stunned residents and authorities alike. The perpetrator was quickly identified and detained by police, and the municipality of Velenje filed criminal charges and sought compensation for the damage.

In the months since, officials have overseen expert conservation work to return the statue to its former condition. According to the city’s claim tied to the ongoing legal case, the cost of repairing the monument — including replacing or restoring the head — exceeded €11,200. This figure reflects both material and labor costs, as well as the specialized work needed for a culturally significant statue.

While the municipality has pursued compensation from the individual responsible, the episode has sparked broader local discussion about cultural heritage, community values, and how public spaces reflect history. Velenje’s leaders have emphasized that the statue, installed decades ago, is part of the city’s fabric and merits careful preservation.

City officials also note that the vandalism itself was not only an act of property damage but a breach of communal trust. By restoring the monument, they argue, the process acknowledges both the physical and symbolic significance of public art. At the same time, pursuing compensation from the alleged perpetrator is intended to affirm civic responsibility and discourage similar actions in the future.

For many in Velenje, the cost of repair is more than euros on a ledger — it is a reflection of how a community responds when its shared spaces and histories are challenged. As the statue once again stands in its place, the debate lingers not solely around its figure but around the meanings that monuments carry, and what a city is willing to invest — in both restoration and dialogue — to preserve them.

AI Image Disclaimer Visuals are created with AI tools and are not real photographs.

Sources preberi.si N1info.si Delo Dnevnik RTV Slovenija