In recent months, memorials to victims of Stalinist repression in Russia have been vanishing or facing vandalism, raising concerns about the rehabilitation of the Soviet dictator. According to the plaque project Posledniy Adres (last address), more than 700 plaques commemorating the final residences of individuals who died in Stalin’s purges have disappeared since May, mainly in Russian cities. Oksana Matievskaya, a member of the project, believes that the removal of these memorials is not a coincidence and attributes it to the discomfort the Russian authorities feel toward the memory of the Soviet terror. The disappearance of these memorials challenges the notion of the state always being right and is particularly inconvenient for the Russian government following the invasion of Ukraine.
Stalin’s Great Terror in the 1930s resulted in the deportation of millions of people to Soviet labor camps, known as the Gulag, and the summary execution of 750,000 individuals. In addition to the disappearance of plaques, other memorials, including monuments to victims of repression and foreign soldiers who fought in World War Two, have been stolen or vandalized since February 2022. Several of these monuments were dedicated to Polish nationals. The destruction of a brick memorial to a prominent Polish priest in Vladimir and a concrete cross in Komi republic erected in memory of Polish prisoners are examples of such acts. Despite claims by the police that the destruction of the cross was due to bad weather, civil rights group Memorial suggests that the damage was ordered or carried out by authorities, as it serves their interest in presenting the Soviet Union as a powerhouse rather than an oppressive state.
The erosion of memorials to victims of Soviet repression is occurring amidst a resurgence in Stalin’s popularity in Russia. According to a survey by the Levada Centre, an independent pollster, 63% of Russians had a favorable attitude towards Stalin, marking his highest approval rating in 13 years. The reasons behind this rise in popularity are not definitively known, but it can be attributed to Russian propaganda that glorifies the country’s Soviet past and justifies its actions in the war with Ukraine. Unlike memorials to Stalin’s victims, monuments to the Soviet leader have been increasing in number. Social media channel “We can explain” reports that there are currently 110 Stalin statues in Russia, with 95 erected during President Vladimir Putin’s tenure and at least four during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Some Russians are even advocating for more Stalin statues, as evidenced by the inauguration of an 8-meter-high statue in Velikiye Luki in August.
The Russkiy Vityaz Foundation, rumored to be associated with the Russian Special Forces Veterans Association, is behind the campaign to erect more Stalin statues and claims that these monuments are essential given Russia’s ongoing “Patriotic war.” The foundation’s website argues that the statues are significant in light of the “Great Patriotic War,” which refers to the conflict between the USSR and Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945. The Kremlin frequently draws comparisons between Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and World War Two. However, the foundation has declined to comment on the reasons for its campaign.
The disappearance and vandalism of memorials exposing Soviet repression raise concerns about attempts to erase the memory of Soviet crimes and rehabilitate Stalin as a popular figure. Critics argue that the Russian government is keen on covering up or justifying the crimes committed by the current regime by downplaying the atrocities of the past. The removal of these memorials also undermines efforts to remember and honor the millions of victims who were subjected to state-sponsored terror. It is crucial to acknowledge and preserve historical memory, as it plays a significant role in understanding the past and preventing its repetition in the future.
