Hitler and Stalin briefly squared off in an odd public art contest in western Ukraine, which ended when utilities workers tore down a billboard featuring the Nazi leader.
The Hitler billboard was put up in the city of Zaporozhye by local journalists to protest a monument to Josef Stalin, which was installed in the city last year by Communists, Interfax said Wednesday.
The poster depicted a disappointed-looking Hitler making a helpless gesture, and asking: "How am I worse than Stalin? Get me a monument too!"
The poster was put up Tuesday, but taken down within hours. Bogdan Vasilenko, editor-in-chief of the Segodnya Plyus weekly, which was behind the ideological prank, said its removal was illegal because the magazine paid 3,000 hryvnas ($375) to have it in place for a month.
The Stalin monument, installed on the premises of the city branch of the Communist Party, has been previously beheaded and blown up in separate attacks, but was restored last month.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.