Authorities in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city, have taken down what is believed to be the tallest statue of Vladimir Lenin in Central Asia. The 23-meter (75-foot) monument, erected in 1975 during the Soviet era, was lowered by crane and is now lying flat, as shown in photos shared online.
While many former Soviet republics have sought to distance themselves from their Soviet past and reduce Russian influence, officials in Osh described the statue’s removal as part of routine city planning rather than a political move. Osh City Hall said the action was a common practice intended to enhance the area’s architectural and aesthetic appeal.
They also pointed out that Lenin statues have been dismantled or relocated in Russian cities like St. Petersburg and Belgorod, emphasizing that this issue should not be politicized. The statue will be replaced with a flagpole, similar to a previous Lenin statue relocation in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.
This development comes shortly after Russia unveiled a monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin at a busy Moscow subway station, highlighting contrasting approaches to Soviet-era symbols in the region.
