Soviet Chronicles
Armenia Soviet Socialist Republic lasted from 2 December 1920 until 21 September 1991. These 71 years of Soviet rule made Armenia one of the most prosperous regions in the entire URSS, not only because it became an important industrial production center but also due to the brave men and women who served in the Second World War. Many happened to have received the highest rank of Hero of the Soviet Union.
On December 7,1988 a strong earthquake shook the northwest region of Shirak. Gyumri and Spitak were devastated, many buildings collapsed and thousands of people lost their lives. Many of the collapsed structures were built during the Soviet Era, mostly during the Leonid Brezhnev rule. The Soviet government promised to rebuild the region in a record time, but due to the Armenian Independence in 1991 many projects stopped in time.
This project aims at capturing the legacy of the Soviet Era in today's Armenia. From ruined and unfinished buildings, the abandoned industries, the old soviet cars, the people and the memories that last.
Pieces of a soviet newspaper on a wall. Gyumri, Armenia
Soviet era sculpture above a boy sitting down at Gyumri Central Park. Armenia
Soviet era Lada car near a pond in Gyumri. Armenia
Soviet memorial of the period 1941 to 1945 in Gyumri. Armenia
Military vehicle in a Russian base in Gyumri. Armenia
White Lada car below gas pipes in Gyumri. Armenia
An old modified soviet jeep lies in a garage in Gyumri. Armenia
Soviet era buildings in a neighnorhood of Gyumri. Armenia
Abandoned Lada chassis in a field of Gyumri. Armenia
Old soviet bus used as an haystack warehouse. Gyumri, Armenia
Old soviet car chassis against a wall in Gyumri. Armenia
Old soviet era tank from Second World War in the outskirts of Gyumri. Armenia
Soviet country houses in the outskirts of Gyumri. Armenia
Warehouse at Zovasar school from a broken mirror. Armenia
View of a classroom at Zovasar school from a broken mirror. Armenia
A man at Zovasar entering his Lada car in the rain. Armenia
Old soviet car doors installation on a hill near Mastara. Armenia
Cracked windshield of an abandoned Volga in the streets of Gyumri. Armenia
Abandoned red bumper car in Gyumri park at night. Armenia
Hasmik in her home, where she lives with her brother Artush. Gyumri, Armenia
Artush talking about memories from the Soviet times in Gyumri. Armenia
A neighborhood of Gyumri seen from one of its houses' windows. Armenia
Statue in honor of factory workers in Gyumri. Armenia
Soviet era car driving past a dark street of Gyumri by night. Armenia
Reflections of gas pipes on a pond. Gyumri, Armenia
Taxi driver checks on his mobile phone while parked in a square. Gyumri, Armenia
Butcher passing by pieces of meat at Gyumri's market. Armenia
Machines and an abandoned carriage track in an old soviet era glass factory. Gyumri, Armenia
Abandoned bus in a field. Shirak, Armenia
Abandoned industry equipment in a field. Shirak, Armenia
Andre and Vardanush sharing stories from World War II at their home. Gyumri, Armenia
