Statement by YABLOKO Bureau, 09.11.2015

Placing monuments to Joseph Stalin in the regions of Russia is part of the Communist party (CPRF) election campaign. Every day we receive messages about the erection or preparation to install busts to the the executioner in the regions of Russia. The busts were placed in Penza, Stavropol, Liptesk, Shelanger village in the Republic of Mari El, the city of Belorechenskoye in the Krasnodar Territory. Ceremonies dedicated to the bust erection took place in the city of Svetlogorsk, the Stavropol Territory, and deputies of of the Stavropol Territory Duma participated in them.

Mordovia, the Altai Territory, Ekatherinburg and the Irkutsk region are next in turn for installation of the monuments.

According to different researchers, from 3,6 to 3,8 million people were arrested in Russia on political grounds within the period of 1930-1953, from 748 to 786 thousands of the were executed. Both intellectuals and ordinary workers and peasants, both residents of cities and villages, educated and illetrate people, the old and the young, believers and atheists. The age limit was lowered and children over 12 were repressed as well. Not to forget about the deported peoples and despossesed peasants. It is hard to find a person in Russia whose ancestros were not touched by the horrors of Stalinism.

The citizens of Russia, whose relatives were killed by the executioner and those who remember about the mass brutality of Stalinism, cannot find protection on behalf of officials or law inforcement from insulting of their feelings. Accroding to the law, the erection of monuments must be agreed with local administrations, but those who violate this law are not being charged.

All these things are the consequences of unclear and controversial stance of the Russian authorites on the crimes of the soviet state in the XX century. The YABLOKO party has more than once proposed to judge these crimes at the state level via accepting the following law.

In the absence of a clear position of the state the Stalin supporters raise their heads braver and braver. The CPRF glorify one of the most bloody dictators in histroy despite the enormous number of the communists executed by Stalin and consider themselves the successers of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union despite the decision of its XX congress.

But at the same time officials, state and municipal personnel, public figures openly praise Stalin’s name and his actions. They go to street actions with the portrait of the tyrant in the their arms. Million copies of books and newspapers praising Stalin and Stalinism are being published, video clips and movies are being made.

The authorities actually sow social discord by contributing to the revival of Stalin’s cult. We support the public initiative to conduct the tribunal over Stalinism and Bolshevism.

We demand that the authorities should immediately demolish the new monuments to Stalin and stop further attempts to place them.
Sergei Mitrokhin
YABLOKO Chairman