A monument to the members of the "SVO" was erected in Yakutsk on the site of the demolished memorial to the exiled Poles.
A monument to those who died in the war with Ukraine was ceremoniously unveiled in Yakutsk. The monument was erected on the site of a demolished memorial to Polish exiles and victims of political repression.
A memorial to the military in the center of Yakutsk
A monument to the "Hero of Russia" Dmitry Yegorov and his "comrade-in-arms" Nikolai Romanov was erected at the intersection of Kurashov and Poyarkov streets.
Near educational institutions. This place is perfect for young men—so they can watch, understand why our boys died, and learn from them as an example of courage and upbringing.
Deputy Chairman of the Government of Yakutia Anatoly Semenov made this statement.
Dmitry Egorov is from the village of Toibohoy, and Nikolai Romanov is from the village of Myryla. Both men volunteered for the SVO, where they met at the front and died on the same day.
Demolition of a monument to Polish exiles and victims of repression
However, a memorial "In Memory of the Poles" previously stood on this very spot. This complex was dedicated to the exiles of the 17th-19th centuries and the victims of mass repressions of the 20th century.
In the summer of 2023, plaques began to be removed from the monument in stages, and by September, the memorial was completely dismantled. The local Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites stated that the site had allegedly not been officially included in the register of protected sites.
Ultimately, the authorities never explained the exact reasons for the demolition. Furthermore, officials did not say where exactly the dismantled elements of the memorial were taken.
The destruction of historical memory in Russia's regions
Therefore, this case is not isolated. Monuments commemorating the repressions are being systematically destroyed in various regions of Russia:
- Tomsk: the Memorial Square was completely demolished;
- Tyumen: The entrance to the monument to the victims of repression was officially closed;
- Irkutsk region: The memorial in the village of Pivovarikha was removed.
At the same time, the regions are spending millions of rubles on erecting monuments to the "Heroes of the North Military District." According to NeMoskva's estimates, over 36 million rubles have been spent on such memorials since the beginning of the year alone.
