The Fate of Statues of Stalin in post-Soviet Countries: Some Critical Reflections on the Management of Contested Cultural Heritage

Abstract

ABSTRACT The statues of Stalin can be inscribed in the controversial category of contested cultural heritage: they are simultaneously important resources of historical memory that celebrate the “man who defeated Nazism” as well as inconvenient symbols of a totalitarian leader who executed millions of people. In post-Soviet countries these statues have received drastically diverse treatments: a few have been preserved in situ, many have been toppled down, some have been removed from public accession, while others have been relocated in parks and museums. Still, identifying and enforcing an appropriate method of management for these statues remains a thorny issue. By critically analysing the cases of Asht (Tajikistan), Gori (Georgia), and Grūtas Park (Lithuania), this article provides some preliminary reflections on the complex dilemmas associated with the management of contested cultural heritage.