“I would like to recall them all by name.” These poignant words from Anna Akhmatova’s Requiem are etched onto the south face of the Solovetsky Stone. The Solovetsky Stone stands here in Troitskaya Square. It is a stark reminder of a dark period in Russian history.
This monument is not just a stone. It is a symbol. It represents the millions who suffered political repression in the Soviet Union. It honors those who fought and continue to fight for freedom. The Solovetsky Stone is a place for reflection. It is a place for remembrance. It stands near other buildings linked to Soviet-era repression. These buildings include the House of Tsarist Political Prisoners and the Peter and Paul Fortress.
The Solovetsky Stone itself is a large granite boulder. It was brought from the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea. In 1923, the Solovki prison camp opened on these islands. This camp became the origin of the Gulag network.
Yuly Rybakov and Yevgeny Ukhnalyov designed the Solovetsky Stone. Both men were political prisoners during the Soviet period. They understood the pain and suffering the monument represents.
The name “Solovki” became shorthand for a network of brutal camps. In the 1920s, these camps held over 100000 inmates. It is estimated that 1.5 million died in the Gulag. The Gulag left a lasting scar on Russian society.
The granite for the Solovetsky Stone came from near the Savvatiyev Skethe. This hermitage housed political prisoners in the 1920s. Guards killed protesting prisoners there in 1923. Some say the stone is from Mount Sekirna. This hill held the Voznesensky Skethe. It was used as a punishment block and execution yard.
The Solovetsky Stone’s design is minimalist and secular. The rough granite slab sits on a square pedestal. The monument faces the four cardinal points. Some say it resembles an elephant. “Slon” in Russian sounds like S.L.O.N. This was the abbreviation for “Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp.”
Inscriptions on the pedestal add to the monument’s meaning. The north face reads “To the inmates of the Gulag”. The west face reads “To those who fight for freedom”. The east face reads “To the Victims of Communist Terror”. The inscriptions do not name individual victims. The designers felt that not all victims were known. They wanted to spark curiosity and further inquiry.
The Memorial Society in St. Petersburg created the Solovetsky Stone. They wanted to honor those “shot, arrested, exiled, banned, broken by the Communist regime”. The monument is a gift to St. Petersburg on its 300th anniversary.
The Solovetsky Stone was finally installed in 2002. It was funded by donations from former political prisoners and their families. The stone serves as a place for commemorative events. It is a gathering point for discussions on human rights. Every year, people gather to remember victims of political repression. They read aloud the names of those who perished.
The Solovetsky Stone has been vandalized several times. Despite this, it remains a powerful symbol. It stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It reminds us of the importance of freedom and human dignity. The Solovetsky Stone encourages us to never forget the past.