In July 1993, a bust of Lenin carved from wood was floating on the sea off the Ceneviz Kale beach in Akçakoca. Where it came from is still unknown. The bust was forgotten for years in a municipal storeroom, inspired a film and resurfaced in 2025, 32 years later. Today it is on display in Akçakoca.
| What | Wooden statue (bust) of Lenin, 85×70 cm |
|---|---|
| Where and when it was found | Off the Ceneviz Kale beach, 17 July 1993 |
| Where it is today | Bekir Özkök Culture House (Akçakoca Municipality), since June 2025 |
| Visiting | Ask Akçakoca Municipality for opening hours: 0380 611 41 10 |
| Related film | Sen Ben Lenin (2021), directed by Tufan Taştan |
See the culture house on the map
Photo: Visit Akçakoca · Used with permission
The Lenin who came from the sea
After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, many Lenin statues were taken down across the former Soviet territories; some are said to have been thrown into the Black Sea. According to the panel at the exhibition, this bust is also thought to have been thrown into the Black Sea after 1991. In July 1993 it was spotted floating off the Ceneviz Kale beach in Akçakoca. Which country or city it came from has never been established.
The people of Akçakoca who spotted the bust brought it ashore and repaired it. For a while it was the talk of the town; then it was entered in the municipality's inventory and put into storage. Attempts to put it on display came to nothing, and the bust waited in a damp storeroom for years.
A film: Sen Ben Lenin
The bust's story inspired first the documentary Hoş Geldin Lenin ("Welcome, Lenin"), then the film Sen Ben Lenin (2021), directed by Tufan Taştan, who co-wrote the script with Barış Bıçakçı. With dark humour, the film asks what might have happened in the town if the bust had not been put into storage. It had its world premiere at the 43rd Moscow International Film Festival and won Best Screenplay at the Ankara Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize at the Istanbul Film Festival.
Back again after 32 years
The bust was found again in storage in 2025. On 21 June 2025 Sen Ben Lenin was screened at the amphitheatre by the harbour and the bust was presented to the public again together with the film crew. Since then it has been on display at the Bekir Özkök Culture House, which belongs to Akçakoca Municipality. The culture house is a historic home donated to the municipality by its heirs in 2002; it also has rooms about boatbuilding and fishing life.
The Lenin bust of Akçakoca (English)
In July 1993 a carved wooden bust of Lenin (85 × 70 cm) was spotted floating off Ceneviz Kale Beach in Akçakoca, a small Turkish Black Sea town between Istanbul and Ankara, and brought ashore by local people. It is believed to be one of the Lenin monuments thrown into the Black Sea after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991; where exactly it came from has never been established. It was repaired and then spent decades in a municipal storeroom. The story inspired the documentary Hoş Geldin Lenin and the Turkish film Sen Ben Lenin (2021), which had its world premiere at the 43rd Moscow International Film Festival. The bust was rediscovered and shown to the public again in June 2025. It is now on display at the Bekir Özkök Culture House (Bekir Özkök Kültür Evi), run by Akçakoca Municipality. For opening hours call the municipality: +90 380 611 41 10.
Бюст Ленина в Акчакодже (по-русски)
В июле 1993 года у пляжа Дженевиз-Кале в Акчакодже, небольшом турецком городке на Чёрном море между Стамбулом и Анкарой, местные жители заметили на поверхности моря деревянный бюст Ленина (85 × 70 см) и вытащили его на берег. Считается, что это один из памятников Ленину, сброшенных в Чёрное море после распада Советского Союза в 1991 году; откуда именно он приплыл, так и не удалось установить. Бюст отреставрировали, после чего он десятилетиями хранился на складе муниципалитета. Эта история вдохновила документальный фильм «Hoş Geldin Lenin» и турецкий художественный фильм «Sen Ben Lenin» (2021), мировая премьера которого состоялась на 43-м Московском международном кинофестивале. В июне 2025 года бюст снова нашли и показали публике. Сейчас он выставлен в Доме культуры Бекира Озкёка (Bekir Özkök Kültür Evi), который принадлежит муниципалитету Акчакоджи. Часы работы уточняйте в муниципалитете: +90 380 611 41 10.
Погруддя Леніна в Акчакоджі (українською)
У липні 1993 року біля пляжу Дженевіз-Кале в Акчакоджі, невеликому турецькому містечку на Чорному морі між Стамбулом і Анкарою, місцеві жителі помітили на поверхні моря дерев'яне погруддя Леніна (85 × 70 см) і витягли його на берег. Вважається, що це один із пам'ятників Леніну, скинутих у Чорне море після розпаду Радянського Союзу в 1991 році; звідки саме воно припливло, встановити так і не вдалося. Погруддя відреставрували, після чого воно десятиліттями зберігалося на складі муніципалітету. Ця історія надихнула документальний фільм «Hoş Geldin Lenin» і турецький художній фільм «Sen Ben Lenin» (2021), світова прем'єра якого відбулася на 43-му Московському міжнародному кінофестивалі. У червні 2025 року погруддя знову знайшли й показали публіці. Зараз воно експонується в Будинку культури Бекіра Озкьока (Bekir Özkök Kültür Evi), що належить муніципалітету Акчакоджі. Години роботи уточнюйте в муніципалітеті: +90 380 611 41 10.
Nearby, while you're there
Akçakoca Harbour and Lighthouse
Akçakoca's sunset spot, with fishing boats, a marina and a lighthouse on the breakwater.
Historic houses of Yukarı Mahalle
A protected historic quarter in Akçakoca's oldest neighbourhood, lined with 150–200-year-old houses with bay windows.
Akçakoca Central Mosque
A mosque unlike any other in Turkey, with an octagonal roof inspired by a Seljuk imperial tent.
Sources: bianet (28 November 2021), Cumhuriyet and Agos (17 June 2025), BirGün/ANKA (22 June 2025), Vesaire (24 June 2025). Size and place of discovery are taken from the exhibition panel at the culture house. Last checked: 29 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Lenin statue in Akçakoca?
Since June 2025 the wooden Lenin bust has been on display at the Bekir Özkök Culture House, which belongs to Akçakoca Municipality. You can ask the municipality for visiting hours (+90 380 611 41 10).
How did the Lenin statue get to Akçakoca?
The 85×70 cm wooden bust was spotted floating off the Ceneviz Kale beach in July 1993 and brought ashore by local people. It is thought to be one of the Lenin statues thrown into the sea after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991; which country it came from has not been established.
What is the film Sen Ben Lenin about?
The 2021 film, directed by Tufan Taştan, who co-wrote the script with Barış Bıçakçı, is inspired by the story of the Lenin bust pulled from the sea off Akçakoca. It had its world premiere at the 43rd Moscow International Film Festival.