VI Lenin – Naryn, Kyrgyzstani
VI Lenin – Naryn – Kyrgyzstan
I don’t know if someone in this part of the world has come across a big load of gold and silver paint but this seems to be the favourite colour to paint many of the existing statues of VI Lenin that remain in Kyrgyzstan (as well as often in Kazakhstan and Russia).
One of the most recent to be ‘discovered’ sits inside the surrounding fence of the Zhastrar sports centre in the southern Kyrgyz town of Narayn. Presently the sports centre is closed – and looks like it has been for some time. By it’s location – right next to the town’s sports stadium – I would assume that during the Soviet period this would have been to town’s public sports centre. Since the early 1990’s investment in any repairs or modernisation probably dried up and the place became unusable. This is, unfortunately, a story that has been repeated across many post-Socialist countries and cities. Newer sporting developments might open up but these will be private and not available to the general population.
It was quite common for statues of VI Lenin to be placed outside such venues, as well as schools and other places of education, so its no real surprise that he stands in this location. However, when the building was fenced off from the public Vladimir Ilyich was caught up in the project and now it is no longer possible to get really close the ‘Founder of the USSR’ – as it says on the plaque on the plinth on which he stands.
Although having been covered in an inappropriate paint – and not carried out exceptionally well and not particularly with an expert brush – the statue looks in a reasonably good condition.
As is usual I have no details about the statue; date of inauguration; reason for being erected; or any information on the sculptor. (I’m beginning to realise they are generic and were just churned out of the factory but there must have been actual sculptors who made the original moulds. Who they were I have no clue.)
Location;
In the grounds of the abandoned and closed down Zhashtar Sports Centre
Saginbay Orozbakov Sok 36A
Naryn
GPS;
41.430084 N
75.994937 E
Naryn was one of the most wretched places we had ever stayed in – a group of four In pseudo yurts in the courtyard of an ex InTourist bunk house. We didn’t find Lenin.
But at Balykchy between the Issyl Kul Cinema and the railway line from Bishkek (6:hours) there was a statue of Lenin painted silver with a dead dog at the foot of the base.
More impressive was a silvered statue of a Soviet worker. It was not clear whether he had broken free of his chains or had worked in what was once an important shipyard but was now just a home for rusting hulks.
I wasn’t enamoured with Naryn myself. The imprisoned Lenin and the mountains surrounding the place made my couple of days there tolerable. I made a bit of a cock-up when it came to Balykchy. When I had the time I didn’t have all the information and when I knew what (possibly) was in place I was just passing through and only had the time of the lunch break to get some pictures of the metal framed Lenin. However, I would be very surprised if any of what you mention is still in situ. Apart from the dead dog, that is.