Putin sparks Russians' anger with 'disrespectful' move

 

A newly unveiled monument in Moscow has ignited outrage and stirred widespread debate, prompting rare public criticism of Russian authorities. The life-sized statue of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin now stands at the central Taganskaya metro station—an installation that has sharply divided public opinion.

Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953, oversaw an era marked by brutal repression, forced labor camps, famines, and mass executions. Millions perished under his regime. Yet, the new monument omits any reference to this dark legacy.

Instead, the sculpture portrays Stalin as a beloved leader, surrounded by admiring workers and children. Described as a "gift" to passengers by Moscow’s metro system, the statue was unveiled to commemorate the subway network’s 90th anniversary.

Reactions have been mixed. Supporters see it as an acknowledgment of Russian history. Red carnations have been laid at the statue’s base in tribute. “It’s excellent—art, culture, significance, beauty,” said one woman, Olga, speaking to Sky News.

But others have been appalled. “What were they thinking?!” exclaimed Svetlana. “How many died under his leadership? And now they place him here, this bloodsucker. How is this possible?”

Oleg offered a more measured take: “Some of his achievements deserve to be remembered, but portraying him like this is wrong. He caused immense suffering to the Soviet people.”

The monument is a replica of a sculpture first installed in 1950, shortly before Stalin’s death, in recognition of his role in the Soviet victory in World War II. It was dismantled in the 1960s during the wave of "de-Stalinisation" that followed.

Under President Vladimir Putin, references to Stalin have gradually reemerged, though mostly in remote regions. This is the first time a statue of Stalin has appeared so prominently in the capital.

While Putin has criticized Stalin’s brutal methods, he has also argued that Russia should not be made to feel ashamed of its past.

“For the current government, the state is sacred—above all else and beyond reproach,” said Yan Rachinsky, a human rights activist with Memorial, a group dedicated to documenting Stalin’s crimes. “That’s why criticism of Stalin keeps fading.”

Memorial, once internationally recognized, was forced to shut down in 2021 by order of Russia’s Supreme Court. Today, it continues its work at a local level—quietly preserving the memory of those who suffered under Stalin's rule.