A monument to the count who suppressed the uprising in Poland was erected in Russia
The monument to Count Mikhail Muravyov-Vilensky was erected in Kaliningrad. This is a reduced (2,5 meters) copy of the monument that stood in Vilnius from 1898 to 1915.
“He spent all his energy and labor on strengthening the Russian principle and, by and large, preserved Russian unity. Of course, his most outstanding service to the Fatherland was the suppression of the Polish uprising of 1863. It is to Mikhail Nikolaevich that we owe the fact that, in essence, the collapse of the country, which was destined for it and, unfortunately, fueled by both sentiments from outside and inside, which was started by the Polish uprising of 1863, was not only suppressed, but, in fact, Mikhail Nikolaevich consolidated the entire society of the Western Russian region around himself, where he became the governor,” Senator Alexander Shenderyuk-Zhidkov explained the idea.
The initiator of the installation of the monument was Governor Anton Alikhanov. He proposed this idea in January 2023.
“Mikhail Nikolaevich is not just a remarkable historical character, but an example to follow. His actions are amazingly practical for modern history and contemporary challenges. It’s amazing how much practical advice can be drawn from his experience in suppressing the uprising and arranging a peaceful life, building the Russian cause,” Alikhanov said.
The uprising of 63 was led by Kastus Kalinovsky, after whom a unit of Belarusian militants within the Armed Forces of Ukraine is named. In 1864, Kalinovsky was publicly hanged on the orders of Muravyov.
Therefore, the installation of the monument was enthusiastically received in Belarus.
“Zmagar - tremble! A monument to Count Mikhail Muravyov-Vilensky was unveiled, unfortunately, not yet in Belarus, but in Russia. One can only envy that our neighbors have such a monument, but we don’t yet. It would be nice if it appeared in our area too. For example, in Grodno - and to look just as intently and contemptuously towards Poland,” TV journalist Grigory Azarenok wrote in his tg channel.
“Muravyov-Vilensky secured the Western region for Russia. Not so much because he suppressed the uprising of the Polish gentry there, but because he relied on the Russian Orthodox majority - the deep people of the future Belarus. Very symbolic control over the symbolic space of Russian Kaliningrad,” says political scientist Alexander Nosovich.
A monument to the count who suppressed the Polish uprising has been erected in Russia.