Authorities in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city, have dismantled a prominent statue of Vladimir Lenin, believed to be the tallest effigy of the Soviet revolutionary leader in Central Asia. Standing at a striking height of 23 meters (75 feet), this monument had been a fixture since its installation in 1975, during the time Kyrgyzstan was part of the Soviet Union.
Over the weekend, images surfaced online showing the statue lying flat on the ground, having been carefully lowered using a crane. Unlike other nations formerly connected to the Soviet Union, which have actively distanced themselves from Russia to foster a renewed national identity, the statue’s removal in Osh was conducted with minimal public attention. Local officials framed the act as part of routine city planning rather than a political statement.
Osh City Hall issued a statement describing the removal as “common practice” aimed at enhancing the “architectural and aesthetic appearance” of the cityscape. Authorities highlighted that other cities in Russia, including St. Petersburg and Belgorod, have similarly dismantled or relocated Lenin statues. They emphasized that this move should not be viewed through a political lens.
The statue is set to be replaced by a flagpole, following a precedent seen when a similar Lenin monument was moved in the capital city of Bishkek. This change comes shortly after Russia, a close ally of Kyrgyzstan, unveiled a statue of the controversial Soviet figure Josef Stalin at a busy subway station in Moscow.