Russia’s Iconoclasms

Two iconoclasms took place in twentieth-century Russian history: the iconoclasm after October revolution, and breakdown of Soviet Union. These two (ideologically opposite) phases iconoclastic actions (dismantling, destruction) were incited by programmes concerning abolition tsarist monuments 1918 met controversial reactions to removal statues former politicians 1990s. The revolutionary demolition symbols imperial past was executed accordance with a clear-cut plan included erection new for outstanding communist activists. official aim post-soviet these monuments, delete traces problematic past, confronted revitalized ideology on one hand reaction Human Rights Organization Memorial other, which criticized insufficient soviet symbols. This multifaceted situation is complicated reconstruction destroyed pre-revolutionary (predominantly religious) history.