Authorities in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city, have dismantled the region’s tallest statue of Vladimir Lenin, quietly removing the 75-foot monument nearly 50 years after it was erected during Soviet rule. Photos shared online Saturday showed the towering bronze figure lying on the ground after being taken down by crane.
The statue, built in 1975 when Kyrgyzstan was part of the USSR, is the latest Soviet-era relic to be removed in a region gradually distancing itself from Russian influence. However, officials in Osh downplayed the political significance, framing the removal as routine city planning.
A statement from Osh City Hall called it “common practice” aimed at enhancing the area’s “architectural and aesthetic appearance.” The statue will be replaced by a flagpole, similar to what occurred when another Lenin monument was relocated in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital.
Local authorities emphasized that monuments to Lenin have also been dismantled or moved in Russian cities like St. Petersburg and Belgorod, urging that the event “should not be politicized.”
The statue’s removal comes just days after Russia inaugurated a new monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin at a major subway station in Moscow—highlighting the diverging paths former Soviet states are taking with regard to their shared history.
While many post-Soviet nations have accelerated efforts to shed Russian and communist symbols, Kyrgyzstan’s approach has generally been more measured. Still, the quiet removal of such a prominent Soviet figure suggests a growing shift in national identity away from Moscow’s shadow.
The statue’s removal reflects a broader regional trend, as several Central Asian nations reassess their Soviet past amid shifting geopolitical alliances. With Russia increasingly isolated on the world stage, countries like Kyrgyzstan are navigating a delicate balance between historical ties and modern sovereignty. Monuments to Soviet leaders, once symbols of unity under Moscow’s rule, are increasingly viewed as relics out of step with current national narratives.
Public reaction in Osh has been largely muted, possibly due to the government’s careful messaging. By emphasizing aesthetics and urban planning over ideology, authorities appear intent on avoiding the backlash seen in other countries when dismantling controversial monuments. The choice to replace Lenin with a national flagpole further reinforces a message of patriotism and modern statehood, without directly confronting Soviet history.
