Monument to Joseph Stalin provokes debate in KBR

Participants of the "roundtable" held at the Kabardino-Balkarian Institute of Humanitarian Studies (known as KBIGI) did not come to a consensus regarding the monument to Joseph Stalin erected in the village of Ozrek.

Today, the "roundtable" has been organized by the Association of Victims of Political Repression. Its Chairman Marx Shakhmurzov treats Joseph Stalin as a "blood-thirsty dictator", since he was guilty of mass repression and deportation of peoples.

Historian Oleg Opryshko has noted that it is impossible to treat the personality of Joseph Stalin in a simplified way, since he was an ambiguous person. According to Oleg Opryshko, people should also remember the personal contribution of Joseph Stalin as a chief commander in the victory over Nazi Germany.

The historian has also emphasized that Joseph Stalin took part in the Tehran and Yalta conferences, where the fate of Europe was considered, and thus his name cannot be erased from the history.

Oleg Opryshko also believes that the greater criticism is voiced against Joseph Stalin, the more attention is drawn to him. The historian has noted that there is no guarantee that a similar monument will not appear in any other village.

Ismail Khadjiev, a member of the Council of Elders, was among those who personally suffered during the deportation of the Balkar people. However, he has said that he respected Joseph Stalin. Ismail Khadjiev has emphasized that Joseph Stalin needs neither approval nor criticism from modern people.

In turn, Madina Khakuasheva, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Senior Researcher of the KBIGI, has stated that she believes the danger lies in the fact that Stalinism is returning.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.