Heated debate flared up around the Shatunov monument in Orenburg: the communists were against

In the homeland of “Tender May” in Orenburg, they decided to erect a monument to Yuri Shatunov and Sergey Kuznetsov. Fans of the group offered a place in the city center instead of the bronze Lenin. Moreover, Ilyich was sent for restoration two years ago, and never returned.

The communists stood like a mountain behind the empty pedestal of the leader. After all, the place is assigned by law to Lenin.

We talked with supporters and opponents of such a decision.

The topic of Lenin’s castling for Shatunov / Kuznetsov was raised on the Web by a resident of Orenburg. “The monument to the leader of the world proletariat was erected in the center of Orenburg, on Sovetskaya pedestrian street in 1925,” says Roman. – He stood like until 2000. And then Ilyich was removed from the pedestal and taken away in an unknown direction, allegedly for restoration. The place was fenced off with a corrugated board fence. The townspeople already doubt that Lenin will be returned. So wouldn’t it be better to put Kuznetsov and Shatunov on that pedestal. Moreover, there is already one huge monument to Lenin in the city.”

Not all residents of Orenburg approved the countryman’s proposal. The townspeople explained why they were against it.

Alexander: “Shatunov is exclusively an exploitation of the nostalgia that people experience for the times when they were happy. As a singer, he is no. As an artist, even more so. No better than Dani Milokhin.”

Lyudmila: “What will we tell our grandchildren in 15 years, when they ask who these guys are – Kuznetsov and Shatunov? Shall we sing “White Roses” to them? Orenburgers who donate to the monument do it for the sake of personal memory and their youth, and not for history.”

Ruslan: “If such a monument is erected, they will create a precedent. And then we will see the monuments to Milokhin and Buzova. The fact that someone grew up on the songs of “Tender May” is not an indicator of culture. For me, this is how the soloist of the group performed monotonous and meaningless songs. Musicians don’t deserve that kind of attention.”

Ex-producer of Sergey Kuznetsov’s studio Yakov Moksoyan with both hands “for” the monument in Orenburg. But he understands that the prospects for installing a sculpture in the city center are vague.

– The city does not take any part in the organization of the monument. We plan to make the sculpture at the expense of the people,” says Yakov. – When Sergei Kuznetsov died, the fans collected one and a half million rubles in half a day. People transferred 100-200-1000 rubles. Imagine how strong people’s love is. At first they wanted to bury Kuzya in a prestigious cemetery, but we did not receive permission. As a result, his grave is in an ordinary city cemetery. True, the place was allocated on the alley, where there are honorable burials. There are local honored artists, medical workers who became famous in covid, heroes of Russia who died while performing combat missions.

Many people gathered at Kuznetsov’s funeral. His mother was brought in in a wheelchair. Shatunov’s director Arkady Kudryashov arrived. Andrei Malakhov and Igor Krutoy sent wreaths. I also invited Andrei Razin to say goodbye. Sent him a message on social media. He wrote that he wished he had found time to come to the funeral. Razin read the message and blacklisted me. Kuznetsov’s son was also not at the funeral. I don’t know if he was informed of his father’s death. He lives in Tashkent.

Of course, we would like to erect a monument to Kuza and Shatunov in the city center. But it’s unlikely to work. Most likely, they will allocate a place somewhere on the outskirts. Lenin is not touched. The monument to Ilyich is an object of cultural heritage. It was installed with the money of workers and peasants. The monument itself is small, life-size of Lenin – 164 cm. Apparently, there was not enough money for a lot of money. True, no one knows where that Ilyich went.

The head of the Orenburg branch of the Communists of Russia party, Nurlan Munzhasarov, commented on the situation with the disappearance of the monument to Lenin.

– Not only the communists will not allow to change Lenin for Shatunov, but the townspeople will not allow it either. We treat Tender May with respect, but Lenin is a monument of federal significance, which is now, let’s say, planned to be restored. There are no problems with the monument itself, it is made of bronze. There is a problem with the pedestal. At the moment, the monument is stored at the base of the Federal Property Management Agency, we periodically look after it. Now we have raised the question before the government of the Russian Federation that we need to allocate funds from the federal budget for the restoration of the monument.

– Is there really no money for this?

– There is money. But there is no clear understanding of how much is needed. The amounts are constantly changing. Now it is required from 9 million rubles and more. It is necessary not only to erect a monument, but also to improve the square. Lay tiles, break flower beds, renew benches. Rosimushchestvo has such plans.

– It’s cheaper to replace Lenin with Shatunov and Kuznetsov. And money from the budget will not be required, the fans themselves will organize everything.

“That will never happen. Lenin cannot be removed from that place, according to the law it is not allowed. And the monument itself is unique. This is the second monument on the territory of the USSR, which was installed by the workers. In more than two years, he will be 100 years old.

– If Lenin is not restored for another year, two, three, then they will completely forget about him. So, the pedestal will remain empty?

– With regards to the time of restoration, I do not exclude that this can happen. But the status of federal significance will never be removed from the monument.

– That is, this place was forever staked out for Ilyich?

– It looks like this.

— Orenburg is full of Lenin monuments. One more, one less, what’s the difference.

– Only two monuments to Lenin in the city have a serious status and are protected by the state. The rest of the less significant ones are located on the territories of schools and enterprises.

– In general, do you mind that a monument to the creator and soloist of “Tender May” appears in the city?

– Do not mind. But there are plenty of places in Orenburg where you can erect a monument to them. For example, near the orphanage where Shatunov was brought up. There is a large area and a symbolic place for the group.