Stalin's legacy in modern Russia

Russia celebrates the 65th anniversary of the end of the second World War on May 9th. However, the Moscow Advertising Committee's decision to mark the event with billboards featuring Josef Stalin has caused considerable rancour.

Russian journalist Grigory Revzin, speaking in a video message on snob.ru, is not happy. He has harsh words for Russia's older generation who may be sympathetic to Stalin's rule:

In the same way as Mr. Dolgikh (President of the Moscow Veterans Committee) was offended by the name of the kebab shop "Anti-Sovietskaya", I am personally offended by the Stalin portait and I will sue Mr Dolgikh. We know he is the initiator . . . Many people have relatives who suffered from Stalin's opression.

Точно так же, как господина Долгих лично оскорбляет шашлычная «Антисоветская», меня лично оскорбляет портрет Сталина, вывешенный по его инициативе, и иск будет лично к нему. Ведь мы знаем, что это его инициатива. У всех есть родственники, которые пострадали от репрессий.

Stalin's position in Russian history is not a new debate. This news article from 2009 describes how the authorities in the city of Voronezh ordered the Communist KPRF party to remove 10 of the pictured signs. The writing on poster reads: "130 Years since Stalin's birthday 1870 -- 2000. Victory will be ours"

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