I took my camera to Europe’s poorest country and found 27 Lenins, a golden statue and a military parade – before they disappear forever
Peter Dench travels across Moldova in search of Soviet relics, photographing 27 Lenins, a golden statue, a military parade and a train that still carries the Soviet Union beneath its wheels. The post I took my camera to Europe’s poorest country and found 27 Lenins, a golden statue and a military parade – before they disappear forever appeared first on Amateur Photographer .
Peter Dench ventured across Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, seeking remnants of Soviet influence. He captured 27 Lenins, a golden statue, a military parade, and a train that still bore the Soviet Union's name. This trip marked his exploration of Soviet influence and national identity in Europe since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Moldova, wedged between Romania and Ukraine, is one of the least prosperous nations in Europe, celebrating 35 years of independence from the Soviet Union. The country has a strong Soviet past, often visible in city squares and brutalist designs, and hidden within the minds of its people. Gagauzia, an autonomous territorial region in southern Moldova, held particular interest for Dench due to its historical and cultural ties to the Russian world.
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