In Sochi, war and labour veterans oppose removal of Lenin monument

In Sochi, representatives of veteran organizations appealed to the local branch of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) with a complaint against the initiative of the Department of Culture to remove the Lenin monument from Soviet Square. According to Ruzanna Barsigyan, Chief of the Department of Culture, a fountain can be constructed on the place of the monument.

Ruzanna Barsigyan filed to the City Mayor a motion to move the monument. This was reported by Yuri Dzaganiya, the leader of the local branch of the CPRF.

According to him, a group of war and labour veterans appealed to the CPRF with the complaint against the actions of the officials.

"I believe that this is a fault of leaders of the city, region and country, who move the protected monument to Vladimir Lenin throughout the country and build in those places something else to permanently erase the memory of the Soviet people and future generations about the past of our country. There were already conflicts, associated with that question. For example, the monument to Vladimir Lenin in front of the Regional Legislative Assembly was removed and the monument to Catherine was erected," Yuri Dzaganiya said.

After the first reports on the initiative of the Department of Culture, Sergey Obukhov, a deputy of the State Duma, sent a complaint to the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation.

"The complaint mentions the fact that the monument is a cultural heritage and protected by three laws, including the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Paragraph 3 of Article 44 states: 'Everyone shall care for preservation of historical and cultural heritage and protect monuments of history and culture'," Yuri Dzaganiya explained to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Not all city residents support the initiative to move the monument.

"It is unacceptable to destroy our history. However, no one asks people's advice. It is wrong, it is a demonstration of authorities' contempt to residents of the city, region, country," said a pensioner Pyotr Leschenko.

Tour guide Irina Lyankevich, a resident of the city, supported his point of view.

"With such an attitude to the cultural heritage, they can demolish the Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery, the Hermitage and all the national museums and monuments. However, no people can live without history," Irina Lyankevich said.

In her turn, Ruzanna Barsigyan, Chief of the Department of Culture, confirmed the authorities' intention to remove the Lenin monument from Soviet Square.

"The issue is still at the stage of preparation, search for the place for transfer, legislative regulations for transfer, and architectural solutions," Ruzanna Barsigyan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her, it is possible that a fountain will be erected on the place of the monument.