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Russia's first monument to Ivan the Terrible inaugurated Russia's first monument to Ivan the Terrible inaugurated
(35 minutes later)
The Russian city of Oryol has inaugurated the country’s first ever monument to Ivan the Terrible, a 16th-century tyrant whose rehabilitation has been lobbied for by officials despite protests from historians and locals.The Russian city of Oryol has inaugurated the country’s first ever monument to Ivan the Terrible, a 16th-century tyrant whose rehabilitation has been lobbied for by officials despite protests from historians and locals.
Tsar Ivan IV ruled Russia from 1547 to 1584 and earned the moniker “Terrible” due to his brutal policy of oprichnina, which included the creation of a secret police that spread mass terror and executed thousands of people.Tsar Ivan IV ruled Russia from 1547 to 1584 and earned the moniker “Terrible” due to his brutal policy of oprichnina, which included the creation of a secret police that spread mass terror and executed thousands of people.
The governor of Russia’s Oryol region, about 335km (200 miles) south of Moscow, has nonetheless backed the monument, saying during its inauguration on Friday that Ivan the Terrible “was a defender of our land, a tsar who expanded its frontiers”.The governor of Russia’s Oryol region, about 335km (200 miles) south of Moscow, has nonetheless backed the monument, saying during its inauguration on Friday that Ivan the Terrible “was a defender of our land, a tsar who expanded its frontiers”.
Standing before a crowd brandishing black and yellow imperial flags favoured by Russia’s nationalists, the governor, Vadim Potomsky, said Ivan the Terrible protected Russia and the Orthodox faith from its enemies.Standing before a crowd brandishing black and yellow imperial flags favoured by Russia’s nationalists, the governor, Vadim Potomsky, said Ivan the Terrible protected Russia and the Orthodox faith from its enemies.
The bronze monument, of a figure clad in royal robes sitting on a horse and holding up an Orthodox cross, was erected in the city of Oryol because authorities there say he founded the regional centre. Historians, however, deny he ever visited the area.The bronze monument, of a figure clad in royal robes sitting on a horse and holding up an Orthodox cross, was erected in the city of Oryol because authorities there say he founded the regional centre. Historians, however, deny he ever visited the area.
The monument was also backed by Russia’s culture minister, who has argued that Ivan the Terrible’s brutal rule is a myth and that his name was tarnished by western travellers who slandered him in their writings.The monument was also backed by Russia’s culture minister, who has argued that Ivan the Terrible’s brutal rule is a myth and that his name was tarnished by western travellers who slandered him in their writings.
Historian Vladislav Nazarov, who specialises in that period, said Ivan the Terrible’s rule precipitated a socioeconomic and political crisis that two decades later led to Russia’s first civil war.Historian Vladislav Nazarov, who specialises in that period, said Ivan the Terrible’s rule precipitated a socioeconomic and political crisis that two decades later led to Russia’s first civil war.
Historians have calculated that in Novgorod alone, 10% of the population – about 3,000 people – were executed on Ivan’s orders. He also killed his own son, most likely by accident during a violent rage. Historians have calculated that in Novgorod alone, 10% of the population – about 3,000 people – were executed on Ivan’s orders. He also killed his own son, most probably by accident during a violent rage.
On the foreign policy front, “Russia’s international standing was weakened along the entire frontier” under his rule, Nazarov said. On the foreign policy front, “Russia’s international standing was weakened along the entire frontier” under his rule, Nazarov said. “As a historian and a citizen, I am against this monument,” he told Agence France-Presse.
“As a historian and a citizen, I am against this monument,” he told Agence France-Presse. The statue appears as yet another symbol dividing Russian society into those favouring Joseph Stalin-like ”strongman” rule and others decrying repression and authoritarianism.
The statue appears as yet another symbol dividing Russian society into those favouring Stalin-like heavy-handed rule and others decrying repression and authoritarianism.
Some Oryol activists staged protests against the monument over several months and even filed lawsuits against the city hall’s decision to erect it. But they merely succeeded in getting its location moved from a central square facing a theatre to a park on the bank of a local river.Some Oryol activists staged protests against the monument over several months and even filed lawsuits against the city hall’s decision to erect it. But they merely succeeded in getting its location moved from a central square facing a theatre to a park on the bank of a local river.
More than 500 people signed a local petition that said: “We don’t need a monument to a tyrant in the city.”More than 500 people signed a local petition that said: “We don’t need a monument to a tyrant in the city.”
Dmitry Krayukhin, an activist, said it showed Russian society’s demand for “a heavy hand, for putting state needs several rungs above those of the individual”.Dmitry Krayukhin, an activist, said it showed Russian society’s demand for “a heavy hand, for putting state needs several rungs above those of the individual”.
He added that the monument went ahead despite an ongoing court case and a court decision to put off its placement until the end of the trial. He added that the monument went ahead despite an ongoing court case and a court decision to put off its placement until the end of the trial. “I’m in shock,” Krayukhin said.
“I’m in shock,” Krayukhin said. Sociologist Karina Pipiya from the Moscow-based Levada Centre said Ivan the Terrible’s rehabilitation echoes that of Stalin. “Attention is focused on the good they have done, while the legacy of the atrocities committed is erased,” she told AFP, calling debates about their legacy “memory wars”.
Sociologist Karina Pipiya from the Moscow-based Levada Centre said Ivan the Terrible’s rehabilitation echoes that of Joseph Stalin. “There is a search for national identity symbols. Perhaps Ivan the Terrible is now being put forth as a candidate for this role.”
“Attention is focused on the good they have done, while the legacy of the atrocities committed is erased,” she told AFP, calling debates about their legacy “memory wars”.
“There is a search for national identity symbols. Perhaps Ivan the Terrible is now being put forth as a candidate in this role.”