Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 28.07.2015

Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Soviet district of Lipetsk demanded to dismantle a sculpture bust of Joseph Stalin installed in Kuznechnaya street [in Lipetsk] issuing a note of admonition to Anna Shamayeva, Deputy City Mayor. The Prosecutor’s Office pointed out that the sculpture bust was installed unlawfully, thus, had to be removed.

In spring it was decided to perpetuate the memory of Joseph Stalin in bronze: the initiative belonged to the regional branch of the Communist Party. Then, the permits were issued for the installation of the bust in the party office in Lipetsk, but a little later the bust appeared in the street by the office.

Pink paint was poured over the sculpture bust of Joseph Stalin on the threashold of its official opening. [Communists] had to quickly scrub off the paint to perform the ceremony, which was attended by not only activists of the Communist Party, but also ordinary residents of Lipetsk. Anyway, the residents of the city did not stay indifferent. Some supported the initiative, the other, on the contrary, began collecting signatures against the bust.

Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the Russian United Party YABLOKO, was among the latter. Public Prosecutor explained responding to Mitrokhin’s inquiry that the bust had been installed in violation of the existing regulations, so the city authorities had to dismantle it.