Frunze Museum – Bishkek – Kyrgyzstan

Posted on 16/07/2025 by Michael

Frunze Museum – Bishkek

Frunze Museum – Bishkek – Kyrgyzstan

The Frunze museum was originally opened in December 1925, centred on the small house where he was born. This house is now a feature on the ground floor of the modern building.

The present building was constructed after the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the October Revolution in 1967. The murals that surround the exterior of the building were the work of Alexei Kamensky and Alexander Voronin. The murals depict events and personalities from the Civil War in which Mihkail Frunze played such an important role, especially in the Central Asia front, that part of the future Soviet Union from where he originated.

There are two exhibition floors (plus the family house on the ground floor). At the time of my visit in the summer of 2025 only the top (second floor) was open to the public. I have no idea why the first floor was closed or how long it will remain so.

The floor that is open tells the story of Frunze through photographs and documents, with an obvious emphasis on the period following the Revolution and the battle against the White (reactionary) Russian forces – assisted by the imperialist powers.

The sculptors of the large statue of Frunze at the end of the room were A Muhutdinov and V A Shestopal.

Although interesting for those who might know little about Frunze what is more impressive, I believe, and which is probably overlooked by many people who visit the museum, are the murals on the outside of the building. These include a profile image of Frunze just above the main entrance and scenes representing the Red Army in its struggle to defend the Revolution between 1918 and 1922. Unfortunately, in places the trees are starting to obscure some of the images but it is still possible to follow the story being presented.

Location;

364, Frunze Street, Biskek

GPS;

42.88068 N

74.60514 E

Entrance;

125 Kz Som (which has to be paid by card)

Opening;

Monday; closed

Tuesday-Friday; 10.00-17.00

Saturday and Sunday; 10.00-16.00

VI Lenin in Karakol – Kyrgyzstan

Posted on 29/06/2025 by Michael

VI Lenin in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

VI Lenin in Karakol – Kyrgyzstan

The only remaining statue of VI Lenin in Karakol, a town on the southern shore of Lake Issyk Kul in eastern Kyrgyzstan, is one that stands facing the large, open square between the University building and the public park in the centre of the town.

Although Comrade Lenin looks down on the square where, in the Soviet past, there would have been various parades and celebrations, and was therefore placed in a ‘suitable’ location, the proportions make the statue look somewhat out of place.

The statue of VI Lenin is life size yet he has been placed on a very tall pillar making him look somewhat lost so high up. The fact that he is located at the end of an avenue across the road from the square further distances him from any events that would have taken place there – a square which itself stretches into the distance.

Further, the statue has suffered the ‘golden treatment’, having been given a coat of gold paint. As I see more of this treatment of Lenin statues I’m starting to wonder if this treatment is a sign of respect or just the reverse. I still haven’t been to decide which not having seen what the original was like, pre-1990 and the so-called ‘independence’ of Kyrgyzstan. That conclusion has been made more difficult due to the fact that (in the summer of 2025) statues of Lenin are being removed in Kyrgyzstan at an increasing rate.

Location;

On the corner of Gebze Street and Tynystanova Street.

GPS;

42.49161 N

78.40014 E

VI Lenin – Naryn – Kyrgyzstan

Posted on 26/06/2025 by Michael

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.)