Russia: Nashi wants to return the Tashkent monument of Defender of Motherland
Nashi Russian Movement is going to organize picket in Tashkent, protesting against the removal of Defender of Motherland monument, ITAR-TASS reports. Nikita Borovikov, the leader of Nashi organization, informed that Nashi is going to travel to Uzbekistan in order to organize demonstration against dismantlement of monuments, dedicated to the heroes of Great Patriotic War in the Park of military fame.
"The park administration explains the open vandalism by thematic inappropriateness of dismantled monuments in the City park museum that reflects the history of military art of people in Central Asia – Borovikov said. – Moreover, the administration believes that these monuments do not fit new Uzbek history… We view it as the attempt to re-write our common history, where the Soviet citizens defeated Fascism. We will do our best to preserve the deed of Soviet soldiers as we already did that in Estonia". Borovikov also informed that "Russian youth will demand the excuses and the return of monuments from the government of Uzbekistan".
It has to be mentioned that in the night of November 22 the local authorities dismantled the monument of Defender of Motherland and the soldiers’ path in the Tashkent park of military fame. The perennial trees were also cut down. The authorities also removed the samples of Mig-15, Mig-21, Katyusha, tanks, rockets and canons.
Most likely, the aspiration of Nashi to protest against the dismantlement of the monument will remain as advertising since it is unlikely they will reach Tashkent. Russian government made no official response yet.
Today, we also heard the response from Tashkent eparchy for the removal of church building under normal school. "No doubt, we regret about this as well as any other member of the Orthodox", Interfax quotes priest Andrey Tugushev. He also added that this temple, built at the end of XIX century and designed by Russian architect Alexey Benua, was owned by the state.
It also has to be mentioned that the Soviet authority demolished the building of normal school and dismantled the domes of the church. In the last years the building was rented by public library and banks. At the same time, it has remained in the list of monuments, protected by the state.