Yeghishe Charents Monument in Yerevan

Yeghishe Charents (1897–1937), a prominent Armenian poet and writer, fell victim to the Yezhovshchina during Stalin’s Great Purge. Charged with “counterrevolutionary and nationalist activity,” he was imprisoned and died under mysterious circumstances, with his burial place remaining unknown. His books were banned, but many of his manuscripts were saved by his close friend, Regina Ghazaryan, who secretly preserved them.

Yeghishe Charents monument in Yerevan

The Yeghishe Charents Monument, erected in 1985, stands in Yerevan's Circular Park, opposite the Radio House. This 18.5-meter-tall bronze monument, created by architect Jim Torosyan and sculptor Nikoghayos Nikoghosyan, is a multi-figure composition.

Nikoghayos Nikoghosyan working on the Yeghishe Charents monument, 1980

One side has 40 flowing springs representing Charents' years of life, while the other side rises as a memorial column crowned with an eternal flame.

This column is inscribed with lines from Charents' poetry:

«Ես եկել եմ դարերից ու գնում եմ հաղթական

Դեպի դարերը նորից՝ դեպի վառվող Ապագան…»։

("I have come from centuries and I am moving forward victoriously

Toward the centuries again—toward the blazing Future...").