Built by the Soviet Union for the 100th anniversary of Kyrgystan's incorporation into the Russian empire. According to an internet forum poster, the thirteen figures at the base, represent Russian and Kyrygz people. Two mothers hold hands, one Russian and one Kyrygz. As with many Soviet mounuments in the Eastern Bloc, it has become controversial in recent years, with opponents seeing it as a promotion of imperialism and totalitarianism. However, Kyrgyzstan has taken a less active approach to this issue, keep almost all of its monuments, while moving the most controversial to less prominent places.