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VI Lenin in ‘Lenin Park’ – Almaty – Kazakhstan

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VI Lenin in 'Lenin Park' - Almaty

VI Lenin in ‘Lenin Park’ – Almaty

VI Lenin in Stalingrad (Volgograd)

VI Lenin in Moscow

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VI Lenin in ‘Lenin Park’, Almaty, Kazakhstan

This statue of VI Lenin, in very good condition (apart from having been painted in gold paint) sits in the centre of a small park which bears his name. I don’t think it is the official name for the park, which, as far as I can see on the maps has no name at all. However, this was how the area was referred to by the local gardeners in a bigger, nearby park, when I was searching for the statue with incomplete information.

This is an interesting statue of VI Lenin. He is seated and leaning forward slightly. In his left hand is a notebook and in his right, which is resting on the back of the chair, he is holding a pen. Comrade Lenin was renown for making notes at the very last minute before he was to give a speech so this is what could be represented here. Perhaps he has asked questions of others, seeking clarification of the facts before he includes them in his presentation. So here we have a statue with a bit of life, a bit of movement.

The statue looked in good condition – apart from (as I’ve already said) being painted in gold paint. I’m sure that wouldn’t have been its original colour but this is not the only example where the Kazakhs have painted a Lenin statue gold. It’s the same for the large, standing statue that can be found in ‘Family Park’, also in Altamy.

The plinth on which the statue stands could do with a little bit of maintenance and the grass on either side is wearing a bit thin but apart from that the location is clean and well maintained – as are many of the parks and green spaces in the city.

As is, unfortunately, often the case I have no more information about the statue, who the sculptor was or when it was installed etc.

Location;

On the corner of Seifullin Avenue and Sholokov Street, on the road to Almaty 1 Railway Station.

How to get there;

There are many buses and trolley-buses that leave the centre of the city heading to the Altamy 1 Railway Station. Many of those run along Seifullin Avenue and the nearest bus stop is only a couple of minutes walk from the park. Examples, bus 18, 30, trolleybus 7.

GPS;

43.335695 N

76.945433 E

VI Lenin in Stalingrad (Volgograd)

VI Lenin in Moscow

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VI Lenin in Semiplatinsk – Kazakhstan

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VI Lenin in Semiplatinsk, Kazakhstan

VI Lenin in Semiplatinsk, Kazakhstan

VI Lenin in Stalingrad (Volgograd)

VI Lenin in Moscow

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VI Lenin in Semiplatinsk, Kazakhstan

This very large statue of VI Lenin is presently ‘hidden’ in a small park in one of the older parts of present day Semey. It hasn’t moved to far from its original location, which was in Central Park, in a direct line from the statues present position towards the river. It stands four stories high and I don’t know what the local people think when they open their curtains in the morning. Despite its size it is only when you are next to it that you are aware it is there. The surrounding trees mask it, even more so in the summer, and I’m sure that was the intention of the authorities who decided on its location.

There used to be other, much smaller statues of Lenin, as well as some busts (one or two showing signs of vandalism) in this park known as ‘Lenin Alley’ but this was too much for the present governors of the city/country and they are now in some unknown (to me) location. This is all part of an accelerating campaign to eradicate the Soviet/Socialist past. As an example of this one of the roads that runs from this park to the river was known as Lenin Avenue but that (I think within the last year or so) has been renamed. This is not just a local trend as a similar renaming has also taken place relatively recently in the city of Pavlodar and the two statues of VI Lenin that were still on public display there have also been removed from the locations they had occupied for years – the second one very recently as the destroyed remains of the plinth are still in evidence.

Not only is it difficult to track down the surviving statues and monuments of the Socialist period it is almost impossible to readily find information about the sculptor or any other relevant details such as when and why the sculpture was originally commissioned.

Presently, (early summer 2025) there is construction work taking place in the park but this follows ‘renovation’ of the area with the installation of seating and the improvement of the paths so it doesn’t seem that there are any plans to re-site this particular statue yet again.

Despite it being relegated to a less prestigious location the past movements have obviously been carried out with care as the statue looked in almost perfect condition and any signs of wear were related to age and not to manhandling when being moved from one site to another.

The biggest statue to VI Lenin in the world is the one that stands at the entrance to the Volga-Don Canal, just outside the city of Stalingrad (Volgograd), but I think that takes into account the plinth and the architectural arrangement that leads down to the river. When it comes to the actual statue itself the one in Semiplatinsk must be very close in height.

Location;

In the park between Manglik El Koshesi and Bawirjan Momisuli Street, a block behind the Semey Hotel and the northern edge of Victory Park.

GPS;

50.415778 N

80.261353 E

VI Lenin in Stalingrad (Volgograd)

VI Lenin in Moscow

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Statue of VI Lenin – Main Post Office – Stalingrad

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Stalingrad Post Office - 01

Stalingrad Post Office – 01

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Statue of VI Lenin – Main Post Office – Stalingrad

There are still many statues of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin throughout what used to be the Soviet Union. Perhaps they’ve disappeared from some of the principal squares but they are still to be found in many towns and cities if you look for them. It’s true that many have been taken down (possibly destroyed in some places) but many of them, I’m sure, have just been placed into some sort of storage – although if you have the money and the space you find versions of Lenin for sale on the internet auction sites. These tend to be mainly from those virulent anti-Communist parts of the erstwhile Soviet Union, such as the Ukraine.

Stalingrad Post Office - 02

Stalingrad Post Office – 02

One of those which is out of the way is in Stalingrad, standing inside the service hall of the city’s main Post Office building, just a short walk down from the main railway station.

Stalingrad Post Office - 03

Stalingrad Post Office – 03

I came across this one purely by chance after deciding to walk into the post office just to see what was there. As with many post offices throughout the world it would have been very busy in the past but now is relatively quiet.

Stalingrad Post Office - 04

Stalingrad Post Office – 04

Literally in the centre of the circular service hall is a standing, white stone statue of Comrade Lenin. He’s on quite a high plinth so he’s looking over the heads of all who visit the building. It’s a more than life-size statue of him and he’s dressed in a suit. His stance is of someone who is making a speech or giving a presentation with his right arm outstretched and in his hand he holds a scrunched-up bunch of papers, presumably the notes for the speech.

(Note; the Hammer and Sickle on the ventilation grill.)

Stalingrad Post Office - 05

Stalingrad Post Office – 05

This statue appears to be in a good condition and is kept clean, so it is still being treated with respect by the staff who work in the post office.

Stalingrad Post Office - 06

Stalingrad Post Office – 06

As with most of the statues produced during the Soviet period there is rarely any indication of the actual sculptor. Nor was I able to tell exactly of what it was made, whether it was of sculptured stone or, more likely, of plaster.

Related;

Lenin Square, Stalingrad

Location;

Stalingrad Main Post Office, Ulitsa Mira, 9

GPS;

48.709544º N

44.514978º E

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