brbrLeninakan

Leninakan was the former name of the city of Gyumri, the second-largest city in Armenia. It was renamed Leninakan in 1924 in honor of Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution. The city retained this name until 1992, when, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it was officially renamed Gyumri. The name change reflected a broader effort in Armenia and other former Soviet republics to revert to historical or national names. Gyumri has a rich history dating back to ancient times, and it has been an important cultural and economic center for centuries. The period when it was known as Leninakan saw significant industrial development and social changes under Soviet rule. The devastating 1988 Spitak earthquake heavily impacted the city, and reconstruction efforts have been ongoing. Despite the name change, some older residents may still refer to the city by its Soviet-era name.