WWII memorial in Kyrgyzstan demolished, new one promised

Authorities in Kyrgyzstan's Chon-Aryk village have demolished a World War II memorial, promising to replace it with a new, modern monument. The decision to remove the old structure, which officials described as dilapidated and unmaintained, has sparked discussion among residents.

Akyl uulu Ermek, head of local administrative department MTU No. 108, explained that the monument was not officially registered or maintained, leading to its deterioration. He stated that the decision to relocate and rebuild was discussed with residents and a representative of the presidential administration. The old monument's poor condition, including cracks and damage to its entrance staircase, made it a safety concern.

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This is true, the monument was demolished. I don't know by whom. It was old. We decided to move it to another place. There will be control there. There was no control here, which is why cracks appeared, and the entrance group, the staircase, is also damaged.

Plans for the new memorial include modern features such as lighting, while ensuring all names of fallen soldiers are preserved. The design is being developed by the Bishkek City Capital Construction Department, with a project completion expected by the end of June. The relocation aims to provide better control and maintenance for the memorial.

While the demolition proceeded, community opinions were divided. Ermek noted that roughly half of the residents supported the move, while the other half were against it. However, many acknowledged that the old monument had become unusable. The project aims to honor the soldiers' memory with a more durable and fitting tribute.

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When this issue was discussed with the residents, opinions were divided almost equally: some were for, some were against. But many agreed that the old monument had become unusable.