Stalin's political makeover divides Russia

[emad]

06, 2005
Times
From evil tyrant to wartime saviour, Stalin's political makeover divides Russia
From Jeremy Page in Moscow



IN A secluded courtyard behind a Moscow art gallery, the twice-lifesize bronze figure of Josef Stalin stares into the distance with an icy, arrogant glare. Beside him sit Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, looking his way, as if hanging on his words.

Russia has not seen such a flattering portrayal of the “iron leader” since 1956, when Nikita Khrushchev denounced Stalin.

But as the country prepares for the 60th anniversary of Hitler’s defeat on Monday, this monument to the Yalta conference in 1945 is the most tangible sign of a growing movement to rehabilitate Stalin.

“History and facts cannot be changed — these people saved us from the fascists,” Zurab Tsereteli, the president of the Russian Academy of Arts, who sculpted the 4m-high statue, said. “Some people like Stalin, some people don’t. I simply depicted historical facts.” Mr Tsereteli says that local authorities in Yalta — now in Ukraine — commissioned the work and wanted to unveil it on Monday. But that plan was abandoned as debate rages over Stalin’s role in history and relevance to modern Russia.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1599804,00.html

SUBSTITUTE 'Stalin' and 'Russia' for 'Bush' and 'USA' and it ain't that different.

[carnie_sf]

1. Makes sense

the RW in America is trying to give McCarthy a makeover...