Support for erecting a monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin has nearly doubled in the past decade, a survey by the independent Levada Center polling agency said Wednesday.
According to the results, 48% of Russians said they support a Stalin statue and 20% are against the idea.
This marks a turnaround from 2010, when 25% of Russians expressed support for a Stalin monument compared with 36% who opposed it.
Experts attribute the shift in public opinion to the “Stalinization of mass consciousness” for several years under President Vladimir Putin. Putin has referred to Stalin as a “complex figure” and has been gradually rehabilitating his image, in contrast with the Soviet Union’s repudiation of him after his death in 1953.
Divisions over Stalin’s legacy play out regularly on Russian social media, with supporters citing his role in the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and opponents pointing to mass repressions.
Levada said support for a Stalin monument has increased across all social and demographic groups in the past decade.
“But it was especially pronounced among the youngest and wealthiest respondents,” Levada said.
Support for a Stalin monument grew fivefold among respondents aged 18-24 between 2005 and present, and threefold among wealthier respondents.
Indifference has also prevailed throughout the decades, with 28-29% of Levada’s respondents giving that response in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2021.
The polling agency conducted the Stalin survey among 1,620 adults in 137 Russian towns and cities from May 20-26.
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.
