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Russia’s Communist Party still remembers Joseph Stalin, and so it seems to many other Russians. The Soviet dictator, who was responsible for millions of deaths during his thirty-year rule, has just come third in a poll of great Russians. Around 50 million people, that’s almost one in three Russians, voted in the "Name of Russia" contest, organized by state TV. For the final, 12 people were short listed. Prince Alexandra Nevsky won the most votes for defeating German invaders in the 13th century, while Pyotr Stolypin, Prime Minster in the early 20th century came second. But it was Stalin’s third place which attracted the most attention.
"Stalin’s name should not be listed in this contest. I feel ashamed for the country, which’s killed one third of its population."
"I think Stalin doesn’t merit that place in the contest. There were positive things, but there were a lot more horrible things done. I like Suvorov. Nevsky is also good."
Stalin supporters like to talk about how he defeated Nazi Germany, industrialized the Soviet Union, and achieved total literacy in a largely-peasants nation. They often fail to mention the millions who died from famine during forced collectivization, and those who died in the Gulag hard labor camps. Things have changed since Stalin’s death in 1953, but many Russians say a whiff of (1) Stalinism remains. Earlier this month a human rights organization claims it had its archive of Stalin atrocities (2) taken away by police. He may be dead, but he is clearly not forgotten.
Sonia Legg, Reuters
Notes:
(1) A whiff of: If there is a whiff of a particular smell, you smell it only slightly or only for a brief period of time, for example as you walk past someone or something. Here is its figurative use.
(2) Atrocity: An atrocity is a very cruel, shocking action.