Authorities in the Tomsk region dismantled the “Stone of Sorrow” and several memorial plaques dedicated to victims of Stalinist repressions on the night of April 19. The dismantling of Stalinist repression memorials in Tomsk included the removal of markers honoring repressed Latvians, Lithuanians, Estonians, Poles, and Kalmyks.
- The “Stone of Sorrow” and plaques for multiple national groups were removed from the Tomsk Memorial Park.
- Foreign ministries of the Baltic states condemned the action as an attempt to justify Soviet totalitarian crimes.
- At least 23 monuments dedicated to repressed national groups have been destroyed or damaged in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.
Erasure of Memorial Sites
Among the removed items was a memorial stone delivered to Siberia in 2011. Prepared by residents of Sigulda and created by artist Guntis Panders, the stone featured inscriptions in Latvian and Russian stating, “Let the stone speak and mourn for the Latvians — victims of political repressions.”
Sandra Kalniete, a politician born in exile in Tomsk, stated that the motive behind the removal is to preserve a “cleansed” history of the Russian people. She argued that elements not conforming to current ideological views are being erased to avoid acknowledging historical mistakes.
Historical Context of Tomsk
Since the era of Tsarist Russia, the Tomsk region has served as a site of imprisonment and exile for hundreds of thousands, particularly during Stalin’s terror. In 1989, during landscaping near a former prison, workers discovered human bones and signs of mass graves.
The memorial square and the “Stone of Sorrow” were subsequently established in 1992 on the grounds of the former detention center to commemorate these victims.
International Condemnation
Representatives of the Baltic states’ foreign ministries have condemned the removals. Diana Eglite, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that these actions demonstrate a position in modern Russia that justifies the crimes of the Soviet totalitarian regime, including mass human rights violations and illegal occupations.
Kalniete added that Russia continues to disregard international law, describing the trend as a “contagious disease” spreading to other dictatorships.
Broadening Trend of Monument Destruction
The removal of the Tomsk memorials is part of a wider trend. Since the invasion of Ukraine, at least 23 sites dedicated to repressed Poles, Latvians, Estonians, Lithuanians, and other groups have been damaged or destroyed across Russia.
In 2024, the Gulag History Museum in Moscow was closed officially for “fire safety” reasons. Plans are reportedly underway to replace it with an exhibition regarding Nazi crimes against the USSR, while new monuments to Stalin are being erected in other regions.
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