Solzhenitsyn Statue Temporarily Returned to Original Vladivostok Site After Relocation Mishap

Oct. 21, 2026 Novosti VL / vl.ru/news Authorities in the Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok have temporarily returned a controversial monument to Nobel Prize-winning Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn to its original location after a failed attempt to relocate it. The statue was dismantled from the waterfront promenade in central Vladivostok on Tuesday, with plans to place it in a nearby, smaller square. However, on Wednesday, the Vladivostok city hall’s press service told Interfax that workers realized the statue was too large for the smaller square when attempting to install it there. “The monument visually overloads the small recreational zone,” a press spokesperson was quoted as saying. Officials confirmed that the Solzhenitsyn monument will remain at the original Ship Embankment until architects finish modifying the Faith and Hope Square, where it was intended to be moved. They did not provide a timeframe. Solzhenitsyn, the Soviet Union’s most famous literary dissident who spent years in prison camps before being exiled to the United States, passed through Vladivostok when he returned back to Russia by plane in May 1994. Some local activists have criticized the statue, which was installed in 2015, for depicting Solzhenitsyn stepping off a ship gangway. Vladivostok’s city hall had agreed in March to move the Solzhenitsyn monument following complaints from the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet, which argued that a statue dedicated to a Soviet dissident was out of place on a waterfront reserved for World War II memorials and warships. Read more about: Vladivostok , Far East Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Far East Regions Move to Tighten Restrictions on Alcohol Sales Amur, Kamchatka, Magadan and Sakha are set to join a growing number of regions where authorities are undertaking restrictive steps to curb the consumption... 2 Min read Russia’s State Shipbuilding Giant to Slash 70% of Workforce at Key Far East Shipyard Tthe Khabarovsk Shipbuilding Plant, one of the largest shipyards in the country’s Far East, has grappled with a lack of production orders. 1 Min read Japan Accuses Russia of Restricting Sea Navigation Around Kuril Islands Tokyo said Russia introduced restrictions on sea navigation for foreign military and civilian ships around the southern Kuril Islands from April 16 to... 1 Min read Typhoon Maysak Kills 3, Unmoors Floating Dock in Russia High winds hit the Primorye region in the country’s Far East.