Statue of Yakov Sverdlov, Yekaterinburg (must see)

The statue of Yakov Sverdlov is an early Soviet monument created after the 1917 Revolution, when public space was reshaped to reflect the new political system. Sverdlov was a key organizer of Bolshevik power and served as Chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, acting as head of state. After his death in 1919, monuments to him were used to embed revolutionary history in the urban landscape.

Plans for the monument were developed in the mid-1920s, during the period of monumental propaganda, when sculpture served political education. The statue was unveiled in 1927 for the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution. It was created by sculptor Matvey Kharlamov with architectural design by Sigismund Dombrovsky. The pedestal inscription, “To Yakov Mikhailovich Sverdlov (comrade Andrey) from Ural workers,” emphasizes the official link between revolutionary leaders and industrial workers.

The bronze figure stands on a rough granite boulder instead of a traditional pedestal. Sverdlov’s right arm is stretched forward in a firm, directing gesture, while his left hand holds a cap. The uneven stone base and the active pose create a sense of movement and urgency. This approach reflects the experimental style of early Soviet monuments and differs from the more rigid statues that became common later.

Today, the monument is often viewed with more mixed feelings. Alongside Sverdlov’s role as a revolutionary leader, historians point to his involvement in decisions linked to the execution of Nicholas II and the Romanov family in 1918. Because of this, the statue is no longer seen only as a tribute, but also as a reminder of the difficult and often violent realities of the revolutionary period.