The Kyrgyz authorities have strongly condemned recent comments made by TV presenter and media manager Tina Kandelaki, who accused the country's leadership of "Russophobia" following the demolition of the Museum of Military Glory named after General Panfilov.
"The Kyrgyz Republic is a sovereign state. Decisions made by the authorities are based on the interests of the Kyrgyz people. Statements by public figures that could cause discord in relations between Kyrgyzstan and Russia are unacceptable and contradict the spirit of mutual understanding and respect that underlies our relations," stated Daiyrbek Orunbekov, head of the press service for the President of Kyrgyzstan.
The Kyrgyz administration explained that the decision to demolish the museum building was based on a technical report indicating non-compliance with seismic standards. The report highlighted fire damage, leaks, and structural cracks, deeming the building unsafe for further use and impossible to restore.
"Honoring the memory of the Panfilov Division is, first and foremost, a tribute to the memory of our ancestors. We will not allow anyone to exploit such a sensitive topic as the historical memory and heroic feats of the best representatives of the Kyrgyz, Russian, and other peoples born in Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian states, who fought side by side," Orunbekov added.
Orunbekov emphasized that Russian remains an official language in Kyrgyzstan and, together with Russian culture, forms "an integral part of the history and life" of the country. He warned that manipulating such information harms bilateral relations and benefits those seeking to undermine the strategic partnership and alliance between Kyrgyzstan and Russia. He called Kandelaki's accusations of Russophobia "not just groundless, but absurd."
Orunbekov invited Kandelaki to visit Kyrgyzstan and study its history, suggesting that this might change her opinion and prevent further inflammatory statements.
On July 17, Kandelaki wrote on her Telegram channel that the Kyrgyz authorities had taken away the "chance of salvation" from the dilapidated Panfilov Division Museum and "spit in the face of the defenders." She accused organizations like the Soros-Kyrgyzstan Foundation and the Open Government, funded by USAID, of fostering Russophobia in the country.
Kandelaki further claimed that a group of politicians within the Kyrgyz leadership, allegedly influenced by the West, have been working to erase Soviet history and replace it with anti-Russian sentiments.
Museum's Condition and Demolition
The Panfilov Division Museum in Bishkek, built in 1969, was listed as an architectural monument of national significance. It housed personal belongings, photographs, documents, trophies, and firearms of the division's soldiers. On July 15, the museum was demolished.
Activist Alexander Zykov highlighted the museum's poor condition on social media days before its demolition. He noted that the roof had been dismantled and criticized the authorities for not informing the public in advance.
"We have lost the Panfilov Division Museum. Today, I submitted a statement to the Ministry of Culture demanding action to restore the building," Zykov said.
Despite being excluded from the register of historical and architectural monuments, the museum remains on Bishkek's state list of historical and cultural monuments.
Earlier Tina Kandelaki caused controversy by comparing Kazakhs to Mankurts from Chinghiz Aitmatov's novel, criticizing the renaming of Russian-named railway stations in Kazakhstan. She argued that forgetting historical names is dangerous and illiterate.
Kandelaki has also been banned from entering Kazakhstan after criticizing the displacement of the Russian language, including renaming stations like "Uralsk" to "Oral" and "Uzen" to "Zhanaozen." She warned these changes could lead to broader cultural shifts. In response, Kazakh official Smadiyarov said Kandelaki would not be allowed entry into Kazakhstan.
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