STUPINO COMMEMORATES ITS ARMENIAN FOUNDER

[MosJan]

STUPINO COMMEMORATES ITS ARMENIAN FOUNDER

 

The town of Stupino, located near the Russian capital Moscow is known as having one of the leading enterprises of brass works, but few people know that both the industry and the town are indebted to an Armenian.

 

In 1932 the USSR heavy industry ministry decided to build a brass works near Moscow. An Armenian Gurgen Vezirian, who had graduated from the Moscow heavy industry institute after Bauman, was appointed head of construction works. In a very short period of time the works were built and Vezirian was appointed head of the plant. He had been heading the plant until 1940, which had turned into the biggest brass works in Europe.

 

July 19, 2002 residents of Stupino gathered in front of the plant to see the plant’s director opening a bust to Gurgen Vezirian. Vezirian’s close relatives, local Armenians, who worked under Vezirian, former and present directors were all present at the ceremony. Current director Vladimir Prokofyev stressed that Vezirian put the foundations of traditions that have been kept up to now.

 

Alla Vezirian, the daughter of the first director, expressed her gratitude saying she was happy to see a town founded by her father. I had an opportunity to speak with several local residents, all Russians, who said they assessed highly the contribution of local Armenians to their town’s development. I mention this because after events in another town of Krasnoarmeysk, where a clash took place between local Slavs and Armenians, the event in Stupino should have been elucidated more vigorously, but only the daily Azg correspondent and a correspondent of a local TV channel were present.

 

By Voskan Mamikonian

 

 

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