Doesn’t the chilling air carry echoes of a sorrowful past to this very spot? Here, we stand before the Memorial to the Victims of Political Repression. This memorial is a stark reminder of a dark chapter in Russian history. It stands as a tribute to the millions who suffered under Soviet state terror.
The Memorial to the Victims of Political Repression was opened on April 28, 1995. It was created through the initiative of sculptor Mihail Chemiakin and city authorities. The monument’s architectural design is by Vyacheslav Bukhayev and Anatoly Vasiliev.
The central element of the Memorial to the Victims of Political Repression is a pair of bronze sculptures. These are called the Metaphysical Sphinxes and were created by Mikhail Shemyakin. These sphinxes are mirror-symmetrical. They depict deformed figures with the body of a lion and the head of a woman.
Facing the embankment, the sphinxes show youthful female faces. However facing the Neva and Kresty Prison, they reveal bare skulls. This symbolizes the tragic division of the people during the Soviet years.
Mikhail Shemyakin described the sphinxes as embodying a cruel regime. He said one half of the country lived in ignorance. The other half perished, unclear for what.
The monument is located on Voskresenskaya Embankment. This location is symbolically significant. Across the Neva, one can see the Kresty Prison. This prison held many political prisoners during Soviet times. It became legendary and is described in Anna Akhmatova’s poem “Requiem”.
Between the sphinxes is a structure made of granite blocks. It forms an early Christian cross with a prison window. A crown of thorns made of barbed wire is attached. The inscription “To the Victims of Political Repression” is carved on the upper block.
Around the sphinxes’ pedestals are plaques. These plaques feature texts by writers and dissidents who suffered from Soviet repression. These include Varlam Shalamov, Anna Akhmatova, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn. They form an anthology on the theme of political repression.
Critics have called the Memorial to the Victims of Political Repression one of Russia’s most significant memorials. It stands alongside the Solovetsky Stones in Moscow and the Mask of Sorrow in Magadan.
The creation of the Memorial to the Victims of Political Repression sparked controversy. Some criticized it as hastily created. Others found the image ambiguous. Despite criticism, the monument serves as a place for remembrance. Traditionally, on the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions, flowers are laid here. The Memorial to the Victims of Political Repression stands as a testament to a painful past. It urges reflection on the importance of freedom and human rights.