Russia’s Yakutia unveils ninth Stalin monument amid Soviet legacy debate

A ninth monument to Joseph Stalin has been unveiled in Russia’s Far Eastern region of Yakutia, alongside a concurrent tribute to Vladimir Lenin.

The installation took place on June 4 in the village of Berdigestyakh in the Gorny district, where busts of both Soviet-era figures were formally opened during a local ceremony, according to the Telegram channel “News of Yakutia”.

Representatives of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation said they are continuing legal efforts to block the renaming of Lenin Square in Yakutsk. Court filings have been submitted to the Ninth Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction in Vladivostok.

The dispute reflects ongoing tensions in parts of Russia over Soviet-era symbolism and historical commemoration, with local initiatives continuing to restore or preserve monuments linked to Soviet leaders.

By Aghakazim Guliyev