The Destroyed Statues of Armenia

The practice of dismantling monuments is not unique to the post-Soviet space. After the October Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks actively demolished monuments tied to the tsarist regime as part of the so-called "Lenin's Plan of Monumental Propaganda." This underscores that a change in political systems is often accompanied by a revision of the symbolic landscape and the removal of monuments from the previous era.

Thus, the destruction of monuments during and after the collapse of the USSR was driven by a mix of ideological shifts, a desire to reevaluate historical heritage, and public sentiment, often expressed through acts of vandalism, particularly as many statues were made of valuable materials like bronze, copper, and others.

Joseph Stalin's statue was considered a masterpiece by the sculptor Sergey Merkurov. The pedestal was designed by architect Rafayel Israyelian.

The statue of Stalin was unveiled in Yerevan on October 29, 1950. Designed by architect Rafael Israelyan and sculpted by Sergey Merkurov, the bronze figure stood 17 meters tall. With its imposing 33-meter pedestal, the monument reached a total height of 50 meters, making it the tallest Stalin statue of its time.

In 1952, a monumental statue of Joseph Stalin, standing 24 meters tall, was erected at the Volga–Don Canal in Stalingrad (now Volgograd). The pedestal added an additional 30 meters, bringing the total height to 54 meters. As a result, it became the tallest Stalin statue in the Soviet Union, a record that was never surpassed.

Yesterday... today...

In 1962, the statue was dismantled, and in 1967, the "Mother Armenia" monument, created by sculptor Ara Harutyunyan, was erected in its place, utilizing the original pedestal.

The statue of Joseph Stalin by Ara Sargsyan

Another notable statue dedicated to Joseph Stalin was created by renowned artist Ara Sargsyan and was once located in Gavar (formerly Nor Bayazet until 1994). The statue's current fate remains unknown.

Lenin's Statue in the Republic Square (Lenin Square in Soviet times) of Yerevan! Its body now resides in the courtyard of the National Gallery of Armenia, while the head is kept in storage

Lenin’s image was omnipresent during Soviet times, dominating central squares, schools, cultural halls, and workplaces. The most iconic of these was the Lenin statue in Yerevan, erected in Republic Square—then known as Lenin Square—in 1940 to mark the 20th anniversary of Soviet rule in Armenia. Crafted by renowned sculptor Sergey Merkurov, with artistic contributions from architects Natalya Paremuzova and Levon Vardanov, the monument depicted Lenin addressing a crowd, symbolizing his leadership and revolutionary ideals.

It served as the focal point for public events, military parades, and political gatherings for decades.

Following Armenia’s independence in 1991, the statue was dismantled. Today, its body rests in the courtyard of the National Gallery of Armenia, while the head remains in storage. The pedestal was removed in 1996 and is currently housed in a Yerevan Municipality warehouse in Charbakh.

For now, I will refrain from publishing additional photos of the destroyed statues of Lenin and Stalin, as there are countless examples, particularly in the case of Lenin. Instead, I plan to publish separate articles on this subject in the future.

Sasuntsi Davit (David of Sassoun) Statue by Yervand Kochar

In 1939, Yerevan was preparing to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the epic poem Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoun) with grand festivities. The celebrations were set for October, and during the summer months, it was decided that the event would be incomplete without a statue of the epic's central hero. A competition was announced, inviting Armenian artists to submit designs for a statue of David of Sassoun. However, some sculptors argued that the task would take 1–2 years, while others were preoccupied with other commissions. At this juncture, Yervand Kochar, who had recently returned from Paris, took on the challenge. He required only a few assistants to complete the work.

Kochar’s plaster statue of David of Sassoun, mounted on a wooden pedestal several meters high, was completed in just 18 days. The statue was installed in the square near the station and stood there for about two years until Kochar’s arrest. One of the charges leveled against him was that the figure of the rider, with a drawn sword, appeared to be rushing toward "friendly" Turkey. He was accused of formalism, a charge that equated to being labeled an “enemy of the people.” As a result, he was imprisoned, and the statue was destroyed.

After spending 2 years and 2 months in prison, Kochar was released due to a lack of evidence. In 1957, by then recognized and respected by artists, art lovers, and both the public and the ruling elite, he was commissioned once again by the Supreme Soviet to create a statue of David of Sassoun.

The statue Kochar crafted remains on display in the same square today and is one of the most beloved and renowned monuments in the country.

Glory to Labor or Worker's statue by Ara Harutyunyan

The "Glory to Labor" monument (better known as the "Worker's Statue") is located in the Shengavit administrative district of Yerevan. It is one of the notable works by Ara Harutyunyan, a People's Artist of the Armenian SSR, Honored Artist of the Arts, and a renowned sculptor. This monument represents one of Harutyunyan's last monumental works. Unveiled in 1982, it was positioned in the square adjacent to the "Gortsaranayin" metro station in the Shengavit district.

Over time, the square became popularly known as "Worker's Statue Square," and even after the statue was dismantled, it continued to carry this name.

The cast iron statue was designed to portray an Armenian worker walking towards Western Armenia. Its artistic and volumetric solutions were unique for the time. In 1997, the 11-meter statue, widely known as the "worker's statue," was dismantled and dismembered. Seven years later, in 2004, a group of individuals began searching for the statue, which had gone missing. After some time, the dismembered statue was discovered at one of the factories in Shengavit. Subsequently, the statue's parts were moved to private property under unclear circumstances. The head, hands, fist, legs, shoes, and the back of the torso were all preserved from the original statue.

On June 1, 2022, the "Worker's Statue: Post Scriptum" exhibition opened at the National Gallery of Armenia, where the head and fist of the statue were displayed for the first time.

Sergei Kirov by Ara Sargsyan

The statue of Bolshevik leader Sergei Kirov, created by sculptor Ara Sargsyan in 1942 from basalt, was installed in 1950 at Kirov Square in Kirovakan, now known as Vanadzor. Not long after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the statue was removed, and its fate remains unknown.

The bust of Kirov in Yerevan

The bust of Sergei Kirov, created in 1936, was displayed in the courtyard of the Kirov Chemical Factory, now Nairit, in Yerevan.

Ara Sargsyan’s "Lightning"

Among Armenia’s vanished artistic treasures, one of the most striking is "Lightning", a decorative sculpture by renowned sculptor Ara Sargsyan, created in 1934. This three-meter-high masterpiece, crafted from concrete, once adorned the facade of the Yerevan Central Post Office.

Characterized by expressive classicist forms, "Lightning" was a bold and dynamic addition to the architectural landscape of Yerevan. Unfortunately, during a later renovation of the building, the sculpture was removed and was not preserved.

Size:

Height: 300 cm

Width: 250 cm

Depth: 60 cm

The statue of Ghukas Ghukasyan

The monument to Bolshevik revolutionary Ghukas Ghukasyan was located in the Student Park, at the heart of Yerevan, between Abovyan and Teryan streets. Created from basalt, the statue was designed by sculptor Suren Stepanyan, with architectural contributions by Hayk Asatryan.

In 1990, under cover of night, unknown individuals detonated the statue of the Bolshevik revolutionary and party figure. In December 2009, a new sculpture of the renowned astronomer Viktor Hambardzumyan was installed in the same park, where Ghukasyan’s statue once stood.

The Stocking Woman by Frid Soghoyan

The Monument to the Stocking Woman, created in 1964 by artist Frid Soghoyan, stood 5 meters tall and was made of aluminum. Located in Gyumri (formerly Leninakan), Armenia, the statue was an iconic piece of public art. Unfortunately, it was either destroyed or stolen under unknown circumstances during the 1990s.

Harvest Festival by Suren Nazaryan

The "Harvest Festival" statue, created in 1968 by sculptor Suren Nazaryan, was located in Yerevan. Sometime in 2011, a part of the statue—a man—was stolen, most likely by metal scavengers looking to sell it as scrap.

While I was writing this article, G. Mattu reached out to Suren Nazaryan's son Arshak Nazaryan for more information about the statue. Here’s what he said:

"I took this picture myself in 2011. It was vandalized sometime after—one of the figures was broken and stolen. The rest of the statue was taken down and stored in the Nor Nork city storage. I don’t know its current status!"

While researching old Soviet Armenian magazines, G. Mattu came across a page featuring a statue that remains unidentified. To this day, its creator, location, and fate remain a mystery. The small image depicts Akhtamar, perched high on the cliffs above the Sevan highway.

While reviewing old Soviet magazines, G. Mattu uncovered another intriguing monument that was previously unknown to us and for which we have been unable to find any information. The article mentions, accompanied by an image, that a monument dedicated to bakers was unveiled at the Yerevan Bread Factory No. 3. The fate of this monument remains unclear.

The bust of Karl Marx. Sculptor: Artashes Hovsepyan, 1962

The bust of Karl Marx stood in front of the Polytechnic Institute in Yerevan named after him. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the bust was removed, and the university was renamed the State Engineering University of Armenia. In November 2014, by decision of the Armenian government, it was renamed the National Polytechnic University of Armenia.

In 1968, at the entrance of Vardenis city, Armenia, a unique monument was erected. It consisted of a bull statue and a sculptured monument. The authors of the monument were the sculptor Rafael Yekmalyan and architect Rafael Israelyan.

Unfortunately, the monument has not survived. According to sculptor Harutyun Yekmalyan, son of Rafael Yekmalyan, it was destroyed by Azerbaijanis. The bull statue was severely damaged and, by some accounts, buried by Azerbaijanis in the 1980s. Efforts to restore the monument were once blocked under the pretext of avoiding heightened tensions with Azerbaijan.

The remnants of the monument today

Another lost masterpiece is Ruzan Kyurkchyan's statue "Family." Once standing at the intersection of Sayat-Nova and Abovyan streets in Yerevan, the sculpture has since disappeared, and its fate remains unknown.

"Family" by Ruzan Kyurkchyan

Another statue that did not withstand the test of time was located in Yerevan's Youth Palace, which was demolished in 2006.

Spring by Tadevos Gevorgyan

Before the Youth Palace was demolished in 2006, Tadevos Gevorgian's statue Spring disappeared, and its fate remains unknown.