More than half of Russians believethe Soviet dictator Stalin was a wise leader, a new poll bylevada independent polling centre showed on Friday.
levada found 57 per cent of Russians said they entirelyor generally agreed that Stalin was a “wise leader who madethe USSR powerful and prosperous.”levada said the figure was at a “maximum level” for itspolls, up 10 per cent on four years ago.
The pollsters also found that 71 per cent of Russiansagreed that “whatever mistakes or sins are attributed toStalin, the most important thing is that he led our people tovictory in World War II.”That figure was up 11 per cent on 2012, with levadalinking increased levels of positive feeling about Stalin’srole in World War II to Russia’s current involvement in armedconflict.
In our view, negativity towards (Stalin) falls inperiods of armed conflicts with Russia’s involvement whenhistorical memory about ‘enemies’, victory and defence becomesmore vivid,” levada researchers said in the analysis of thepoll.
It cited 2008-2009 when Russia was in conflict withGeorgia and “the events in eastern Ukraine,” despite Russia’sofficial denial that it is fighting with separatists inUkraine.
Asked whether they agreed with the view that Stalin was a”brutal tyrant” who killed millions, 62 per cent said yes,while 23 per cent disagreed. The figures had changed slightlysince 2008, from 68 and 19 per cent, respectively.