Stated Letters and Public Debate on Stalin’s Legacy
An artist, Selim Bensaad, who is a descendant of Joseph Stalin, has drawn attention with an open letter directed to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. The piece also notes plans to deliver a written message to the Kremlin. This summary comes from News.ru sources.
Bensaad marks the birthday of his great-grandfather, born December 21, 1878, as the date for this action. He speaks of rehabilitating Stalin after his death, seeks to legally prohibit referring to the Soviet leader as a dictator or a bloody tyrant, and asks for permission to exhume the body of the former USSR president.
The great-grandson observes that March 5, 2023, marked the 70th anniversary of Stalin’s death. He explains that, to counter a violent interpretation of Stalin’s life, he has requested Putin to authorize exhumation. A prior request to the Moscow Kremlin Command Service was reportedly rejected.
The author of the appeal asserts a thorough documentary investigation into the causes of Stalin’s death and claims to have found elements of criminality. He argues that Stalin was poisoned by trusted associates who betrayed him.
Among his aims is to inter Stalin’s body in the Novodevichy Cemetery next to his wife, Nadezhda Alliluyeva, with military honors, in accordance with what he believes to be Stalin’s last wishes.
Alexander Yushchenko, the press secretary for the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, commented on this initiative in an interview with socialbites.ca and described it as reasonable. He noted the importance of paying tribute to the founders of the country, but cautioned against exhuming Stalin’s remains.
Yushchenko emphasized that digging up graves would challenge spiritual and moral norms. He urged respect for graves, particularly in Red Square, and urged the return of the historical name for the city of Volgograd, to which he referred. He argued that Stalin played a role in developing a nuclear shield and shaping international security, and he acknowledged that the public and relatives may feel a strong entitlement to speak on such matters.
How do Russians view Stalin’s role today?
Public opinion in Russia suggests that Stalin’s part in the Great Patriotic War is largely seen as accurate and fair by many. In recent surveys, roughly half of respondents expressed a positive view of Stalin’s wartime leadership, about 7% held a negative view, and around one third had a mixed stance. There is broad recognition of his role in victory and discipline, alongside accusations of oppression and despotism.
When asked whether fewer civilian or military losses could have been achieved, opinions were split: about 35% believed victory could come with fewer sacrifices, while roughly 37% thought victory would require significant losses. These findings come from a Public Opinion Foundation study.
Repression, executions, and military missteps are commonly cited as enduring elements of Stalin’s legacy, though many Russians are not prepared to fully deny these facts. The balance between positive and negative judgments may shift over time, according to sociologists.
In recent years, some negative traits associated with Stalin have receded as arguments highlighting his wartime triumph, organizational control, and postwar reconstruction have gained prominence. A 2021 poll noted these shifts, and data from VTsIOM in 2022 showed Stalin ranking among the top three elite historical figures, with 17% of respondents labeling him so. He trailed behind Alexander Pushkin at 21% and Peter the Great at 20%.
Overall, the discussion reflects a nuanced and evolving public portrait of Stalin, balancing memories of leadership and victory with critical views on repression and autocratic rule. This ongoing debate continues to shape how a broad audience in Russia and abroad understands the impact of Stalin’s era on national and world history, including its implications for historical memory and national identity.