Kyrgyzstan Takes Down Monument to Lenin as Nations Redefine Their Identities

On Saturday, Kyrgyzstan, a Russian ally, discreetly removed Central Asia’s tallest monument to Vladimir Lenin, the revolutionary leader who established the Soviet Union.

Former Soviet republics in the region are working to bolster their national identities by renaming cities with Russian names and replacing statues of Soviet figures with those of local and national heroes.

As Russia strives to preserve its influence in Kyrgyzstan amidst competition from China and the West—and in light of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine—it maintains military bases in the country.

In Osh, where the 23-meter (75-foot) tall monument was located in the main square, city officials cautioned against «politicizing» the move to «relocate» it.

Osh is the second largest city in this landlocked mountainous nation.

The statue was taken down quietly during the night, with city officials stating it is set to be «relocated.»

The city hall emphasized that the decision «should not be politicized,» highlighting similar instances in Russia where Lenin statues have also been removed or moved.

«This is a standard practice aimed at enhancing the architectural and aesthetic appeal of cities,» the statement explained.

Even as there are attempts to de-Sovietize the region, monuments and statues of Soviet figures remain widespread, with Lenin statues found in most cities across Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan was annexed and integrated into the Russian Empire in the 19th century and subsequently became a part of the Soviet Union following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.

It achieved independence after the collapse of the USSR in 1991.