Controversial Stalin Statue to be Erected in Vologda, Russia

The decision to commemorate the Soviet leader follows public appeals, despite his divisive legacy.

The statue will be installed near a museum in Vologda, where Stalin lived in exile from 1911 to 1912.
Governor Georgy Filimonov, appointed by President Putin, announced the statue's completion and anticipated public pushback.
Stalin is a contentious figure, known for both industrialization and victory in World War II, as well as political purges and famines.
Filimonov emphasized the importance of acknowledging both Stalin's achievements and the broader historical context.
Plans are also underway to erect a monument to Ivan the Terrible, another controversial historical figure.