The Independence Monument of Kazakhstan is located on the central square of Almaty.
The author of the project is the honored architect of the republic Shota Valikhanov. The group of sculptors who worked on the monument included Adilet Zhumabaev, Nurlan Dalbaev and Kazybek Zharylgapov.
The grand opening of the Independence Monument took place in the winter of 1996. The idea of the Independence Monument came to the first president of Kazakhstan Nazarbayev during his trip with Shota Valikhanov to Egypt, where they visited the monument erected in honor of the independence of Egypt.
The monumental complex in Almaty stretched for 180 meters. The center is a vertical stele of 28 meters high. At its top there is the Golden Man, the ruler who controls the winged leopard and symbolizes the solid state power in the country.
An inscription in Kazakh and Russian is carved on the stele: “On December 25, 1990, the state sovereignty of Kazakhstan was proclaimed.” At the foot of the stele there is a sculptural composition of 4 figures: “Father – Heaven”, “Mother – Earth” and two children-riders.
Children personify a symbol of youth and a bright future for the republic. A part of the monuments are also 10 bas reliefs that tell the history of Kazakhstan from ancient times to the present day.
