Russian Human Rights Ombudsman's Statement on Stalin Monuments, WWII Victory
Rossiyskaya Gazeta
May 4, 2005
Text of "Statement by Russian Federation Human Rights Commissioner," signed by VLADIMIR LUKIN

Over the last few days I have received requests from citizens and public organizations to voice my opinion of the proposals to erect monuments to I.V. Dzhugashvili (Stalin) in various areas of our country. I must confess that I am doing this not without some hesitation. Not at all because I have not formed a clear and definite opinion on this statesman's activity. But because I realize that any serious discussion of this subject on the eve of the great Victory celebration will lead to division and schism in our society, exacerbate old emotional wounds, and cause feelings of bitterness and resentment to come to the surface.

The Victory holiday is already indeed a holiday of tears. I definitely do not want unwittingly to offend the feelings of Great Patriotic War veterans, for whom I have profound respect, to offend their memory, their pride, their notions of the fundamental symbols of the Victory. But it would be unfair and inhuman to insult the memory, feelings, and ideas on the main symbols of life and tragedy of many thousands and millions of Russian citizens who fell victim to the enormous bloody repressions that preceded the war and left their terrible imprint on its course (but not its outcome, thank God). After all, during the first few months of the war when the fate of the country hung by a thread, the repressions and executions (of experienced talented military commanders among others) continued.

Did the tragedy -- to put it bluntly -- the genocide of the Russian peasantry, the Russian intelligentsia (including the military intelligentsia), and the Russian clergy really not affect the course of the war. All this is the truth after all. It was true in all places. And in all places there was a single commander in chief. I believe that people should know the truth. The whole truth, not just part of it. At the same time I consider attempts to use the anniversary of the Victory, a day of great national unity, to galvanize and bring to life the spirit and symbols of civil war, mutual annihilation, division, and the most flagrant violation of the rights of our country's citizens to be wrong and even provocative.

I urge Russian authorities at all levels not to give in to these attempts. Let us celebrate 9 May altogether, remembering the war heroes who have perished and left us, congratulating and thanking with all our heart today's thriving veterans, bowing before our country's principal monuments -- the Eternal Flame monuments, the monuments to the Soviet Soldier who saved Russia and Europe come what may, despite everything. It was he -- the Soviet Soldier -- who preserved our right to live and argue freely about our ancient and recent history. Our shared Victory and our shared future alone are indisputable!

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