Official unveiling of the monument to Major General Ivan Panfilov
The private equity fund Central Asia Capital served as the primary executor of the restoration project
Maria Karnakova
On May 20, a significant event took place in the village of Panfilovskoye: the official unveiling of the restored monument to the legendary military commander and World War II hero, Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov.
The memorial's restoration was a collaborative effort by the private equity fund Central Asia Capital, the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, and the Dubrovin Foundry, with support from the Russian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan and the Panfilov District Administration.
The event's guest of honor was the commander’s granddaughter, Alua Baikadamova, Deputy Head of the National Military-Patriotic Center of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan.
The ceremony was also attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Kyrgyzstan Sergey Vakunov, Advisor to the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Chuy Region Samat Kozhobergenov, KRSU Rector Sergey Volkov, Chairman of the Panfilov District Veterans Council Kurmankaly Orozov, the Central Asia Capital team, as well as local veterans, youth, and district residents.
In his address, Russian Ambassador Sergey Vakunov highlighted that the monument's unveiling is a vital symbol of the shared historical memory between the peoples of Russia and Kyrgyzstan. "In the harsh days of 1941, when the enemy stood at the gates of Moscow, it was exactly here, on Kyrgyz soil, that the 316th Rifle Division was formed under the command of Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov. Its core consisted of representatives of various nationalities, united by a single goal—to defend the Motherland," he noted.
During the official ceremony, Sergey Vakunov presented a letter of commendation to Anton Sobin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Central Asia Capital, recognizing his active civic engagement and significant personal contribution to preserving and enhancing the shared historical heritage of Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
The ceremony included a wreath-laying and a moment of silence. A special exhibition titled "Kyrgyzstan During the Great Patriotic War" and the multimedia project "The Panfilovtsy" were organized for the guests. Following the official proceedings, attendees visited the I.V. Panfilov Historical Museum, which was originally established in 1964.
