Despite their state-building efforts, the states of Central Asia have not completely shed their Soviet identity. One of the starkest reminders of the Soviet legacy is the many statues of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin that still stand in the region. While Lenin statues have been removed from some prominent locations in cities like Dushanbe and Tashkent, icons of the Bolshevik leader still overlook central squares in other Central Asian capitals, such as Bishkek, as well as in regional centers, towns and villages.
Certainly, a shortage of funds is one reason that so many Lenin statues remain in place. But with economic reforms languishing, nostalgia for the more secure Soviet era remains high, especially among older residents who have struggled to adapt to the post-Soviet economic realities. Lenin statues, a visible link to those less hectic times, thus enjoy a certain level of protection. Their removal at this stage could provoke an emotional response in some areas, among certain sectors of the population, that governments, already confronted with myriad other problems, do not want to face at this time.
It may be that time ends up doing the dirty work of dismantling Lenin likenesses. Many statues are already suffering from the ravages of neglect. It may not be long before the statues, like the Soviet Union they represent, collapse under their own weight.
Presented here is a photo essay compiled by Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert, who documented Lenin statues during his travels in Central Asia. The photos underscore that, for the time being at least, Lenin's image still looms large over daily life in Central Asia.
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