THE OPEN LETTER OF MOSCOW PUBLIC TO THE RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES

April 13th 2004

To the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin
To the Government of the Russian Federation
To the State Duma of the Russian Federation
To the Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation
To the Government of Moscow
To the Committee of Culture of the Government of Moscow
To the Committee of Architecture and Urban Planning of the Government of Moscow
To the Union of Russian Architects

We apply to the authorities of all levels with a request to take immediate action for salvation of the architectural heritage of our country - especially that of Moscow - a great city of historical significance. Thus we employ theses of the Russian Constitution that guarantees the right of citizens to "have access to cultural values" and their duty to "take care of the preservation of the historical and cultural heritage, guard monuments of history and culture" (Article 44).

During the last decade the historical image of the Russian capital was damaged irrevocably. Many buildings - important monuments of architecture - were lost. The intensive development of the city goes along with unpunished trespassing on the Russian "Law of objects of cultural heritage". This process becomes avalanche-like.

The centre of the city including the Kremlin district (which is a monument of the World Heritage guarded by UNESCO) underwent a catastrophic deformation. Important blocks dating back to XVII-XIX c. that form foundations of the historical Moscow had perished in the vortex of the building "boom". Hundreds of living Moscow monuments were destroyed in the process of clearing away the city centre for new construction; their place has been taken by "fake monuments" and new buildings that disrupt the city ensemble. "Reconstruction" and "restoration" in Moscow usually means the complete demolition of monuments and construction of fake so-called "newly-mades" without any artistic and historical value. This takes place disregarding all norms and methods of scientific restoration, international charters and conventions of preservation of cultural heritage that have become standard in the civilized countries.

Outstanding buildings of Moscow classicism and neoclassicism (those by Bazhenov, Zholtovskiy etc.) are near destruction, and this happens against the background of immense investments into new construction. The cause of loss of many monuments is fire that usually arose under unclear circumstances. Among them is the unique building of Manege, the masterpiece of the European architecture. Apparently, all complex of buildings built during the epoch of the Soviet avant-guarde of 1920ies comes to the end of its existence - i. e. the main Russian contribution to the development of world architecture of XX c. All buildings by Melnikov are deformed, the demolition of one of his best works - the Club of the "Kauchuk" plant - has been already scheduled. The degradation of the world-famous metro stations from 1930ies - 1950ies is taking place slowly but surely. The station "Mayakovskaya" is perishing because of unsolved technical problems. Iconic Moscow buildings - "Voentorg", hotel "Moskva" - had been demolished, department store "Detskiy Mir" and hotel "Pekin" are endangered.

Whole neighborhoods are being destroyed today in Moscow, the city's urban structure that took centuries to shape is vanishing. The district of Ostozhenka street has gone, the image of Moscow quays - the Sophiyskaya Quay, Kadashevskaya Quay, Sadovnicheskaya Quay - is disfeatured, Arbat street, Polyanka street and other historical streets are being re-build drastically.

Economic profit and redistribution of property could not excuse planned destruction of our own history, culture and national identity. The construction policy pursued in Moscow now is antisocial in point of fact. It divests next generations of Russian citizens of their historical memory.

The disruption of architectural past in Moscow influences destructively at other Russian cities which have begun to lose quickly their historical image. The total erasure of the material evidence of Russian splendour had been started.

The cultural catastrophe is approaching, and the state and the society have not to bear with it. All branches of governance should launch a fast and efficient preservation program for monuments of Russian architecture on the entire territory of our country. Damage that had been done to Russian culture in Moscow and in province must not be left unpunished. Russian legislation, especially - "Law of objects of cultural heritage" - should be applied fully and with all severity. Preservation of the cultural heritage has to become a basis of the national revival of Russia. Reality of today demands that policy in field of architecture and urban planning obtains a status of Federal priority.

Russian version