Moscow's avant-garde buildings under demolition threat

Moscow

HUNDREDS of people rallied outside a 1920s-era former telephone exchange in Moscow, decrying a plan to demolish the avant-garde landmark and build luxury flats.

But days later, developers started ripping out the building on a central boulevard anyway, watched by a disconsolate crowd of activists and locals.

"How can they destroy this? I don't understand," said local resident Yelena Khmelevskaya, walking her two dogs.

She lunged at a repr…