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Kyrgyzstan removes largest Lenin statue in Central Asia

Politiko 2025-06-08 20:54:50

Kyrgyzstan removes largest Lenin statue in Central Asia

Local authorities in the Kyrgyz city of Osh have removed one of the most iconic monuments of the Soviet era, a giant 25-meter statue of Vladimir Lenin, which was considered the tallest in all of Central Asia.

The statue had been in the city since 1975, when Kyrgyzstan was still part of the Soviet Union. The decision to remove it was made by the city council and was carried out quietly overnight. Local authorities described the move as a “common practice” to improve urban aesthetics and architecture, avoiding any political commentary on its symbolism.

A flagpole will be installed in the statue's place, a move that follows previous precedents in the capital Bishkek, where another Lenin monument was similarly replaced.

Despite efforts to eradicate Soviet symbols from public spaces, Lenin's image remains a fixture in some parts of Kyrgyzstan. In addition to other monuments to him that still stand in various cities, Lenin's name also bears one of the country's highest mountain peaks - Lenin Peak.

This movement comes in a broader context of former Soviet countries seeking to strengthen their national identity and replace Soviet heritage with local figures and symbols.

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