Soviet Caucasus

Lately, thousands of you have wandered into these digital mountains. Now that there are so many of you looking, it is worth doing what should have been done at the beginning, when there was no reason to build this archive.

Soviet Caucasus documents the architecture, people, and daily life of a region shaped by radical historical shifts. Spanning from the late Imperial era to the post-Soviet present, this archive captures the physical and cultural layers of a landscape in transition. But at the same time, stick to a few simple and easy-to-remember rules regarding the images you see here.

This site is a completely voluntary endeavor. It is not monetized. Not a single cent, ruble, or euro is generated from these pages. Because of this, I have not sought permission from publishers, state agencies, or corporate right-holders to display these photographs, nor do I intend to.

The project preserves the endangered art and architecture of a world that is disappearing. Monumental memorials, timeless art, and fading mosaics stand as evidence of a distinct cultural era. Once dismissed as mere relics, these works reveal a unique artistic ambition that defined the region. As redevelopment and neglect accelerate, these sites risk being lost, erasing not just the physical structures, but the lived history of the communities that surround them.

Drawing on archival records, field research, and local knowledge, this project preserves these endangered works. Through photographic essays and historical analysis, Soviet Caucasus reclaims these sites from obscurity and connects the scattered pieces of a shared past to fill the void left by historical rupture.

Under the legal doctrine of fair use—and the older, much deeper doctrine of preserving human memory—these materials are presented strictly for educational, historical, and critical purposes. Every photographer, author, and creator is cited, credited, and fiercely respected. Their names remain attached to their genius. I do not claim their art as my own.