Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin, was the founder of the Russian Communist Party and leader of the Bolshevik Revolution. This statue depicts him holding open his long winter coat and reaching out to the snowcapped mountains outside of Bishkek as he (perhaps?) promises Peace, Land and Bread to the adoring masses. However, since 2003 he lost his perch in the premier Ala Too Square (which was then called “Lenin Square”), so he is no longer facing the mountains, but is now facing in the opposite direction as he is tucked behind the State Historical Museum. Ironically, he now reaches out toward the republic government buildings of the only multi-party parliamentary democracy in Central Asia (ooh, that’s gotta hurt!).
I was told that this was the last statue of Lenin still standing in this part of the world, but even on this same trip I was able to see that this was not true, when I saw the Lenin statue in Khujand.
The statue of Lenin was first replaced by a statue of Erkindik (Liberty), represented by a winged female figure resting on a globe holding a tunduk above her head. The tunduk is the circular frame that rests on top of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt (tent).
Perhaps due to the concern of having a female figure in such a prominent spot, this statue was replaced in 2011 with one of Manas, the national folk hero, which is the one that is still standing there today.
Stand in front of the statue and turn around to see VL’s current view.
Why go?
- Lenin is a large part of the political history of Russia and her neighboring countries. Whatever you think of him and his actions, you can’t separate him from the history of this region.
- Isn’t it interesting that several countries are moving Lenin statues, but not REmoving them? I’m not well versed in the current political climes of this region, but there’s certainly a story there somewhere.
What you need to know:
- The statue is very easy to get to from downtown Bishkek. As you are standing admiring the prominently displayed statue of Manas in the central Ala Too square downtown, walk around to the back of State Historical Museum, et voila!