Monuments are the history. It is impossible to destroy history!

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia gives such definition of the concept "vandalism": “it is senseless destruction of cultural and material values. The word has come from the name of Old German tribes of the vandals who plundered Rome in 455 and have destroyed many monuments of ancient culture”. It seemed to many people that this term concerns the immemorial time and can interest only the historians of an ancient society during our cultural epoch. It is impossible to name differently as a new vandalism the issue that happens with the monuments in honor of the Victory over fascist Germany in the Great Patriotic War in the CIS countries. The history of “Bronze soldier” has resounded throughout the whole world. But such cases are not one or two, it is a lot of them, so it is already possible to speak about the phenomenon.

Here are some examples. The government of “orange” took down a monument to the Soviet soldiers in the city of Komarno, Lvov region of Ukraine. It is natural that the explanation is the most plausible. The reconstruction supposedly goes. The Memorial of military glory was barbarously blown up in Kutaisi which was considered as the present work of art. It happens so unskillfully that people lose their lives. Russia declares that the monument will be restored in Moscow on Poklonnaya Hill.

But it isn’t enough for the regime of Saakashvili. Not so long ago one more monument to the soldiers who were lost during the Great Patriotic War disappears in village Dioknisi of Adzharia. The monument wasn’t blown up – it was taken apart and bashfully concealed in a cellar of a local kindergarten. The vandalism geography isn't settled by the Baltic States and Georgia. In 2008 a monument to the Shamakhmudov family was taken down in Uzbekistan which has adopted fifteen children of orphans during the war. This monument has been established near the Palace of people’s friendship that is very symbolic. Recently a four-meter monument to major general Sabir Rakhimov, the hero of the Great Patriotic War was taken down in Tashkent known to all inhabitants of capital of Uzbekistan…

Unfortunately, this list can be continued further. But the most important thing is to understand why it occurs. Where are the roots of new vandalism? Our correspondent had a talk about it with the known sculptor, the corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts, the vice-president of the creative union of artists of Russia in the Siberian Federal District Aram Grigoryan. The works of the master are in many cities, he won the prestigious international competitions not once. The name of Aram Grigoryan is well-known abroad: he has been invited in Republic of Sri Lanka for work on a bust of the president of the country. In 2007 he has got acquainted with the present US president Barack Obama when he was the senator.
But the conversation has begun not with foreign statesmen. One of the most significant works in the life Aram Grigoryan considers the busts to the Heroes of the Soviet Union Alexander Demakov and Nikolay Shornikov which are established in the territory of the Novosibirsk higher military command school already for a quarter of the century:

- The sculpture is a history. It is a history which lives near to us – in streets, avenues, squares. And each person who goes by the monument, see the live history before himself. Doesn't read about it in the book but feels! Here I was born in Yerevan and we lived near to a monument to David Sasunsky. And I wanted to resemble this hero since the childhood. I didn't need to tell much about him in order to understand what kind of person he was – it was enough to look at a remarkable monument.
And I am happy that becoming the sculptor could make the monuments to our remarkable compatriots, to real heroes with my own hands. I am speaking about the lieutenant Alexander Demakov and the senior lieutenant Nikolay Shornikov who heroically died in Afghanistan and have posthumously awarded to the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union. I got to know about their feat from magazine “Soviet soldier” and have decided at once that it is necessary to immortalize the memory of the lost soldiers. The workers of a military college, where the boys have studied, told me that they vote for this idea with two hands, but there is no money to pay for work … I have answered, that money is not necessary for me but photos and the truck of clay.

I remember how met with the mother of Alexander Demakov, I remember the words of this woman about my work, and they remain the highest award for me. And it is necessary to treat with history always carefully. The history is not the book with pictures. It should teach us to be better, to be similar to the best. Those students, the busts of whom I have once made, are the real heroes. And those students, who study today, want to be similar to them. Judge by yourself: the Novosibirsk higher military command school has brought up twenty three Heroes, sixteen of them have received this title posthumously.

- Here you put the monuments to heroes and in other countries the monuments take down …

- It is strange for me that people who do this, name themselves as democrats. What is the democracy if destroy the monuments?! I understand that the monument can be pleasant and unpleasant. But it is necessary to understand that there are different epochs and the monuments can be different too. But it doesn't mean that every time it is necessary to blow up everything that was created before you and to create new one which is probably considered as veritable and true. Let's argue on the acts of the person to whom the monument was put up and it is not important in which year it was put, let's discuss the art advantages of a work of art but let's understand that it is impossible to destroy the historical memory of the people.

The initiators of such actions can speak everything when the monuments to the heroes of Patriotic war are blown up in the CIS countries today. They compose fables, tell a pack of lies, namely do everything to justify their actions.

- But why the history disturbs them?

- The history disturbs that who thinks he makes a history and actually is engaged in a low-standard and immoral policy. The history with “Bronze soldier” is a policy of the first water. And this action had nothing general with the national interests of Estonia.

- The big resonance was caused by event with destruction of the Memorial of military glory in Kutaisi …

It is simply vandalism. How it was possible to make this! As the expert I can tell that in spite of different conjectures, it was very beautiful monument, which perfectly reflected the idea and created by the real master. Do you know how people say: there is nothing more painful than a word. And such act of Saakashvili’s regime has hurt many people and not only in Georgia. He has hurt our grandfathers and fathers, all who was at war and who has won. And Saakashvili has made it consciously because he has the aim to destroy the historical memory of the people and to create absolutely new generation. In Russia speak about such people as Ivan. Not remembering the relationship … Saakashvili's regime wants to cross out the general pages of our history. Want people to forget about a great Victory which was one for all.

- The nearest neighbor of Georgia is Armenia, but they even have no idea to break the monuments. Why?

- Armenia always has been closely connected with Russia. Any representative of our people deeply respects the Russian people thanks to the help of whom the thousands of people have been rescued during the genocide. The Armenian people will be always grateful to the Russian people. The policy can be different but one remains invariable, namely strong allied relations of our people and our countries.

- The people say that the Central Asia has kept the Soviet heritage to the greatest degree. But after all the monuments have been destroying here too!

- There is no difference: in the Baltic States or in the Central Asia. As I have already told the matter is in the politics. The power which promised to people much but has made nothing, will try to keep itself in any way. So, it should distract people from real problems, to create an image of the enemy. In this case own history becomes the enemy. Do you understand all meanness of a similar act: they steal even not the metal but own history of the people.

- But how it is possible to be opposed to it?

- Internationally, of course, it is necessary to react immediately, designating own position. It is very important not only for us but also for people who live in the CIS countries. I consider that it is the time to develop the legislative measures. Has approached to a monument, has spat – here is the punishment. Has destroyed a monument – go to a prison. And it is impossible in a different way!

I would like to tell about one more aspect of this problem. It is often possible to hear that supposedly all is not too badly but the quality of the destroyed monuments is no good at all. Allegedly, it is not the art but some sort of profanation. In my opinion, here all is put upside down. Many so-called monuments, by which our cities today are filled, are not the monuments but the models from nature. You see that not everyone who took the plasticine in hands can be the sculptor.

The real master should think of his country. A sculpture is an image, state of mind of the painter, his power and mind first of all. I always say about this to the pupils though they are not the sculptors but the painters: think, create, let through … And the well-brought- up person, the cultural person won't make the order to destroy the monuments in any country in spite of the post he occupies. And to destroy the monuments in honor of the Great Victory over fascism is a sacrilege. I am convinced that the dirty affairs of those who do it, will comment on.