Should we destroy our Soviet heritage? Exploring the case of Soviet-era sculptures on the Green Bridge, Vilnius, through an analysis of media debates

ENThis article explores the issues surrounding the removal of Soviet-era sculptures on the Green Bridge in Vilnius, Lithuania. We present the historical circumstances of both the Green Bridge and its sculptures, examine the decision to reverse their destruction, compare the case with similar cases in the Baltic states, and consider whether the Soviet heritage should and could be protected from the politically motivated destruction of art. We also critically examine the opinions, pro et contra, as well as the political circumstances surrounding the removal of the sculptures. Along with other scholars, the authors discuss the Soviet heritage and post-Soviet memory. [From the publication]

• Baltic postcolonialism / edited by Violeta Kelertas. Amsterdam ; Rodopi, 2006. vii, 464 p.
• Disturbing values: historic thematic framework as a tool to deal with the soviet architectural legacy / Vaidas Petrulis, Huriye Armağan Doğan, Raimondas Bliūdžius. Buildings (Basel). 2023, 13, 424, p. 1-15.
• Formalizmo estetika šiuolaikinio meno požiūriu / Edvardas Rimkus. Filosofija. Sociologija 2022, t. 33, Nr. 3, p. 285-294.
• From sacrum to profanum: reinterpretation of communist places of power in Baltic cities / Mariusz Czepczyński, Helen Sooväli-Sepping. Journal of Baltic studies. 2016, vol. 47, no. 2, p. 239-255.
• The Dissonant heritage: the case of the Soviet memorial in Antakalnis cemetery, Vilnius / Tomas Kačerauskas. International journal of heritage studies. 2023, vol. 29, iss. 7, p. 728-741.
• The Problem of Soviet colonialism in the Baltics / Epp Annus. Journal of Baltic studies. 2012, vol. 43, no. 1, p. 21-45.