The Friendship of Nations Monument in Gyumri

Across the Soviet republics, monuments, fountains, mosaics, and other massive art pieces dedicated to the “friendship of nations” were everywhere. They promoted the idea of unity among peoples, and many shared a standard, copy-paste design across different republics. One such monument stands in Gyumri — and its story is far more complicated than it seems at first glance.

As you enter Gyumri from the eastern road, you’ll notice an old concrete monument on the right side, just opposite the former Glass Factory. At first glance, it might look like a typical piece of Soviet-era public art. In reality, it’s part of a larger family of nearly identical monuments called “Friendship of Nations” found in other Soviet republics like Belarus or Ukraine.

The origins of this design are surprisingly difficult to trace. Even in the countries where the replicas stand, reliable documentation is scarce. Based on the research available so far, the earliest known example appeared in Vitebsk, Belarus. It has stood on Maxim Gorky Street since 1952, in front of what was known as the “5th Communal House.”

Friendship of Nations Monument on Maxim Gorky Street — originally from Vitebsk, Belarus

A closer look shows three figures — a girl and two men — each representing a different region of the world: Asian, Slavic, and African heritage. This theme reflected the geopolitical vision of the time. Several African nations were, at various points in the 20th century, aligned with the Marxist–Leninist bloc during the Cold War, which explains their symbolic presence in Soviet monumental art.

Interestingly, the replicas aren’t perfectly identical. Their proportions differ slightly, and even the gestures change from one version to another. For example, the figure representing Africa is shown with a raised fist in some monuments, while in others — such as the one in Armenia — the hand is raised with an open palm.

The Ukrainian Replicas Ukraine, for reasons still unclear, had the largest concentration of these monuments. Here is a list of some of their locations.

Nikolaevskaya Road in front of the “Young Guard” (Николаевская дорога перед «Молодой Гвардией»)
“Friendship of Nations” sculpture in Shevchenko Park («Дружба народов», скульптура в парке им. Шевченко)
Chkalov Sanatorium (санаторий им. Чкалова)
Factory named after the January Uprising (Завод им. Январского восстания)
Night Sanatorium of the Jute Factory (Ночной санаторий Джутовой фабрики)
Children’s Sanatorium Prykarpatskiy, Ivano-Frankivsk Region (Детский санаторий "Прикарпатский" Ивано-Франковская область)

Historical photographs confirm that these monuments were already standing by the early 1950s.

The Gyumri Monument Today

Unfortunately, the Gyumri replica is in poor condition. When I visited the monument on November 17, one of the figures was already broken off. Just a month earlier, the monument had still been fully intact. At first, I assumed it was vandalism — until a traveler from abroad messaged me, saying her friends were present when it fell on its own. She even claimed to have photos, though none were ever sent.

Regardless of the cause, the current situation is sad. This piece of Soviet-era public art, replicated at least across three republics and tied to an entire era’s ideology, is deteriorating quietly on the edge of Gyumri. Whether it will be restored, preserved, or left to crumble remains an open question — but its story deserves to be remembered.