Monument to Victims of Political Repressions, Memorial monument on Voskresenskaya Embankment, Russia.
The Monument to Victims of Political Repressions consists of two bronze sphinxes on granite pedestals along the Neva River in Saint Petersburg. Each sphinx displays a young face on one side and skeletal features on the other, contrasting life and death.
The structure was inaugurated in 1995 and stands opposite Kresty Prison, where countless citizens were processed before their deportation to Soviet labor camps. It recalls the period when persecution was routine and families were torn apart.
The inscriptions on the pedestals contain texts from writers like Anna Akhmatova, Osip Mandelshtam, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn who experienced political persecution. These names recall people whose words survived decades of suppression and can now be read freely.
The site is accessible by taking the metro to Chernyshevskaya station and walking along Prospekt Chernyshevskogo toward the Neva River embankment. The riverside location allows quiet reflection without crowds or entry restrictions.
Between the sphinxes stands a narrow granite structure with a gap resembling a prison window, symbolizing the confinement endured during that period. This opening frames the sky and lets visitors sense the divide between captivity and freedom.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
Kresty Prison
430 m
Tauride Palace
726 m
Tauride Garden
690 m
Bolshoy Dom
811 m
Liteyny Bridge
831 m
Kelch House
588 m
Kirochnaya Street 24
692 m
Statue of Lenin at Finland Station
645 m
Liteyny Prospekt 20
1 km
The Universe of Water Museum complex (Saint Petersburg)
659 m
VR 293
750 m
Our Lady of the Joy of All Who Sorrow church
283 m
Tchaikovsky, 29
742 mZaharievskaya, 23
423 m
Annenschule
882 m
Spiridonov Mansion, Saint Petersburg
531 m
St. Ann's Church
861 m
Monument to the ship of the line Poltava
224 m
Monument to Young Pioneer Heroes in The Tauride Garden
841 m
Monument to Sergei Yesenin in St. Petersburg
681 m
Furshtatskaya Street, 52
519 m
Timenkov & Frolov Almshouse
580 m
Flowers (Exhibition Center in St. Petersburg)
322 m
Saints Cosmas and Damian church
618 m
Mannerheimin muistolaatta
233 m
Доходный дом Соболевых
428 m
Coffee museum
72 m
Sculptural composition Three Graces in Saint Petersburg
345 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes