According to a May 16 report by the Russian news website The Insider, a sculpture depicting Soviet leader Stalin was officially unveiled on May 15 at the "Taganskaya" metro station in Moscow. The report stated that this reflects a "nostalgia wave" for the Soviet era and its leaders in recent years in Russia. However, on the other hand, from public opinion polls and social reactions, Russian society has a complex attitude towards Stalin and the Soviet Union, and this sculpture also sparked significant controversy domestically in Russia.

The newly installed Stalin sculpture at the "Taganskaya" metro station - SOTAvision

According to the Moscow Transport Department, reinstalling this sculpture is part of the "90th Anniversary of the Moscow Metro" commemorative activities. In the sculpture, children, workers, and citizens gather around a military-uniformed Stalin,争相 sending him bouquets. Behind Stalin are a red flag and Lenin's portrait.

Agence France-Presse reported that the sculpture was remade based on archival photos and design drawings, and its original name was "The Gratitude of the People to the Leader and Commander," which was destroyed during Khrushchev's "De-Stalinization" movement in the 1960s.

The original sculpture destroyed in the 1960s - iStories

Moscow authorities first announced the news of reinstalling this sculpture on May 10, promising that the "new sculpture will completely replicate the original." In recent years, some sculptures and monuments related to Stalin have been re-established across various regions of Russia, but most were placed in private locations and small towns. Agence France-Presse reported that this is the first time in recent years that a large-scale Stalin-themed sculpture has been installed in the central area of Moscow.

Soviet architectural scholar Alexander Zinoviev pointed out that the new sculpture actually has slight differences from the original in terms of material, color, and decorative details. Zinoviev said: "What we ultimately did is more of an ideological gesture than a restoration of the historical architectural appearance."

In response to such "gestures," the Communist Party of the Russian Federation expressed support, calling it a "historical justice." The party hopes that more sculptures and monuments commemorating Stalin will appear in various parts of Moscow in the future. The liberal "Yabloko" Party called for the removal of this replica, describing it as "disrespect for history" and "shameful."

Meanwhile, among the general public in Russia, opinions remain divided. According to "RT," some Moscow residents conducted an informal survey on people's attitudes towards this sculpture, attracting over 200,000 participants. The results showed: 52% of respondents supported restoring the Stalin sculpture, 43% opposed it, and another 5% found it difficult to answer. The organizers commented: "This topic unexpectedly became a socially sensitive issue."

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7504837502847500815/

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