The Complex Story of Stalin Centers and Putin's Balancing Act

The Rise of Stalin Centers

Recently, a wave of new 'Stalin Centers' has emerged in Russia, with the opening of a center in Barnaul, Siberia, marking a significant development in the glorification of the Communist dictator.

Jade McGlynn

In addition to the increase in Stalin statues across Russia, the establishment of Stalin centers seems to present a straightforward narrative of the Kremlin's rehabilitation of the 'Vozhd,' or great leader.

Students of a military-sponsored school attend the opening of a series of busts of Russian leaders, including Josef Stalin (center), in Moscow, on September 22, 2017.

However, a closer examination reveals a more complex reality. The first Stalin cultural center opened in 2016 in Penza, with the support of local Communists rather than Putin's United Russia party. Similarly, the second center in Bor, also a non-state initiative, faced opposition from the local mayor.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) at a ceremony unveiling the country's first national memorial to victims of Soviet-era political repressions called: "The Wall of Grief" in Moscow, October 30, 2017.

The most recent center in Barnaul was established by the Communists of Russia, a separate Stalinist party, indicating a diverse range of initiatives beyond Kremlin influence.

Gulag forced laborers of the White Sea-Baltic Canal, are pictured in their living quarters in the 1930s. Thousands of laborers died during the construction of the canal.

Putin's Approach to Stalin

The issue of Stalin's legacy in Russia is not without controversy, with contrasting views from organizations such as Memorial and journalist Yury Dud, who shed light on the horrors of Stalinist Gulag forced labor camps.

Vladimir Putin's stance on Stalin reflects a delicate balance, aiming to appease both pro- and anti-Stalin constituencies within Russian society. While acknowledging Stalin's crimes, Putin emphasizes the achievements of Stalinism and seeks to avoid excessive 'demonization' of the former dictator.

The unveiling of Russia's first monument to the victims of Stalin's repressions, the 'Wall of Grief,' in Moscow, underscores Putin's acknowledgment of the historical atrocities while cautioning against societal division.

Silencing Stalin's Victims and Kremlin's Myth-making

In addition to Putin's nuanced approach, his government has taken systematic measures to silence the memory of Gulag's victims, as evident in the takeover of the 'Perm-36' memorial complex and the removal of 'last address' plaques marking victims of the Gulag.

These actions not only erase reminders of Stalin's legacy but also serve to eliminate evidence of the security services' crimes, which are deeply intertwined with Putin's career and power base.

The erasure of personalized reminders of the Gulag and Terror aligns with the Kremlin's use of history and myth to legitimize the Putinist regime and Russia's great power status, seeking to ignore the dark spots of history.