As Medvedev has said, it is important that our youth get a correct picture of what went on in history under Stalin's purges and repression in general. The only way to own the truth is for us to safeguard it ourselves, with the correct numbers and correct circumstances surrounding them. Without this, the external political actors will always lie with inflated numbers and try to turn Stalin into a tool for their own ends, just as memorial do, as an arm of the west. Russia has always been moving forward in this regard after Stalin's death, we will anchor this move forward under the directorship of Medvedev. We do have a history of success and tragedy, just like practically any other country. The good thing today is that we are confident enough to deal with it and spot the log in others eyes as they point to the spec in ours. So this is all good stuff for us, the only caveat is that we must prevent western groups hijacking the process for political ends. Russia needs to own the process and keep things factual and balanced. The same way as we are doing with others who are trying to rewrite history around us. Stalin did touch every household, but don't be misguided into believing that deaths and the Gulags touched every household, this is false. The regime touched every household, making them compliant through fear, and the two must not be confused in numerical numbers. Many came through Stalin's time, my parents included, who were professional and 'breaking' the odd rule or so, living in fear of a prison sentence. Worrying if someone in the same block would inform on them. But they came through, like all of their relatives, friends and colleagues. Indeed sometimes there was almost a smile from them, that they appreciated everything was kept in order, everyone was kept in their place, but they managed to do something extra and got away with it. I used to think it was like them playing Russian roulette for kicks, but it wasn't it was them trying to make a better home for us

(1) The article’s mention of “political repression” isn’t particularly candid. Those who were killed, enslaved, tortured and abused were victims not just of an abstraction called “political repression”, but of criminal people, most of whom were other Russians. Just like Nazi victims weren’t victims just of a political abstraction, but of criminal people. If Russia is serious about cleansing itself internally and seeking reconciliation externally, it needs, for the first time ever, to begin investigating such Soviet-era criminals and require them to answer for their deeds before a court of law. Just like Germany has done. Soviet crimes continued until 1991. (2) Soviet-era crimes were not committed only against Russians, but also against a whole arc of neighboring foreign countries, amongst the most severely abused of which were the Baltics. Russia has so far not achieved the national maturity to acknowledge this, to express its condolences to those countries, nor to seek genuine reconciliation with them. Mostly it only snarls at them when the subject of Soviet history arises. (3) Russia’s apologists (like CountCash) should resist seeing an evil Western plot behind every effort to expose Soviet-era criminality. Rather, they should see the real pain of real people, and the real hindrances to trust and partnership which Moscow’s continued prevarications regarding its Soviet-era criminality cause. (4) The obscenity of excusing ten million Soviet murdered by claiming that the real figure is “only” one million or “only” a hundred thousand or “only” ten should be clearly recognized. One should not count lives as flippantly as one might count cash. (5) The odiousness of “posthumous rehabilitation” should be recognized, and self-congratulations should be avoided on account of “posthumous rehabilitation”. Every one of the “posthumously rehabilitated” remain exactly as dead as they were when Russians, under the Soviet State’s direction, killed them.

At least George W. Bush and his ilk were only able to take Stalin's work and continue it on ... for how many years now and counting? Do we actually delude our minds into thinking this atrocity has been an isolated case in Russia? And then what about all of China's Opium Wars? Oh my gosh, it appears history is incestuous and the key players always have the same agendas - hidden and open: WAR. and the booty from this most incredible idea. RAW is a ways and means of taking the material of flesh and turning it into counting cash, it is true, and the numbers do matter because trillions of humans turning into owning the whole planet earth is to many (Stalin, GWB I, II, etc, Napoleon, AlexTheGreat, Hitler, et al.) an evil god-lust (clearly, obviously) that can only be satiated by doing opposite of what the great leaders MEDVEDEV and PUTIN have embarked upon: body-mind-spirit genius and not the eye-for-an-eye until the very last one mantra of those who have been insane since the beginning of time finding the zombies (Stalin, et al.) who can do evil without a conscience, to our own species. In a word, whew. HOPE is appearing to spring eternal since the leaders in Russia have begun to hold accountable those who took the great Bear and made it into a crippled bear. Thus, the Eagle dive bombing into the idea of it being somehow more powerful than the Bears and Dragons, cannot escape the fate of past corrupted and present too - "leaders" that have made a deal with the same demon who possessed the past empires of bio-engineered off the first conveyor belt of central nervous system "humans" to appease the "evildoers." HOORAY FOR RUSSIA who may be the mirror mirror in the universe to reflect what America must also do to the lineages straight from the gulags of Stalin, here at home in the "Republic" owned by Israel, and UK/GB/EU. Enough for US, too -- transparency comes late though since the 2020 date has much time in front of this horror show.

The general mantra among most of the world is that Stalin was "responsible" for the deaths of tens of millions. However, many of these people he did not kill intentionally but rather through incompetence. For example, in his stupidity in letting the German betrayal take him completely by surprise, and in his dysfunctional agricultural policies that starved millions. Then there are the more gray lines of his brutality during the war: scorched Earth tactics that starved Russians, shooting deserters, delayed or denied evacuations of certain civilian centers, mass charges that suggested an utter disregard for the lives of his own troops, etc. Of course, at least some of this was necessary to win the war. If Stalin hadn't been so harsh as to make his people more afraid of him than of the enemy, if he had not drained his people of every ounce of effort, Russia would've disintegrated and then have been conquered. Earlier... It is the opinion of the vast majority of historians outside of Russia, Stalin purposely starved millions of Ukrainians to take revenge against the Kulaks and to sell food produced by starving citizens to capitalist countries in order to buy industrial equipment from them. It can neither be effectively denied that much of the food was sold abroad or that many Ukrainians, as many as 5 million starved to death as a consequence of its removal. Of course, the imported equipment fueled the industrialization that was also essential for Soviet victory in WW2. We can't say for sure this particular equipment was essential for victory but...I suppose what I am getting at is that Russians tend to see Stalin as a savior, Westerners tend to see him as a communist Hitler, and, well, he was sort of both but not quite either. He was an in part incompetent leader, who was a mass murderer but not as prolific a one as Hitler. However, many people, preferring simplicity and self-flattery, like to see him in more black and white terms.

Young people should be taught by examples: they have the option to accept Marzipan6’s view of generation of feeling guilty or father’s Kirill traditional Orthodox experience on the same issue. The first is reflecting Nurnberg Trial’s unceasingly pretending rationale, second is reflecting human nature experience of Orthodoxy. The vectors are two directly opposing intelligences! Young people should ask – why our sorrow is not enough when all trials remove exactly this most valuable component of the life and generate revenge only. Courtrooms steal all tragedy from our souls and destroy the ennobling substance of people coexistence.

To make M6 happy Russian government would need to ask Estonian government to help with grave digging experts who would remove Stalinist's remnants from Kremlin and move them somewhere else.

How profound William of USA: Stalin was incompetent and Hitler "took him completely by surprise". Could you remind me of any European politician who was more competent at that time in handling the whole situation that led to the WW2? Was a US government competent? Do you consider Ford's cooperation with Nazi as an example of such competency or probably you think that US was not taken by surprise when Pearl Harbor was bombed by Hitler's allies?

Overlooking Grizzlybear’s attempt at humour on the subject of mass murder, Estonia would probably be pleased to share with Russia its experience of recovering from Soviet abuse, just as it is sharing its experience with some other former Soviet lands. It would also appreciate Russia’s help and partnership to assist with the healing of its remaining Soviet-era scars, both physical and psychological. But for as long as Russia still chooses to live in profound denial, it can neither be helped by, nor provide help to, others. And everyone is the poorer for it.

To Rikard Baric: it may come as a surprise to you to know that Estonia holds absolutely no one guilty of anything at all apart from those who personally committed individual crimes. Which is why, to date, 150,000 people have been granted citizenship by naturalization, most of them Russians. Approximately 100,000 more people, mostly Russians, who have not chosen to apply for either Estonian or Russian citizenship since the fall of the Soviet Union, have been granted permanent residency rights in Estonia, as have also approximately 95,000 citizens of the Russian Federation. Before you impute attitudes to Estonians which they simply do not have, please do check the facts to see whether they are consistent with your allegations. Any (including Russians) who were citizens of Estonia in 1939, and their descendants, were granted automatic citizenship of the restored Republic of Estonia when the Soviet occupation ended in 1991. People who were illegally brought into the country during the Soviet occupation were not admitted by the legitimate authority of Estonia, and they do not have citizenship as of right. But they, like all non-citizens, are free to apply for citizenship by the standard process of naturalization. What riles Moscow is not that anyone’s human rights are in any way being violated, but that Estonia and its Baltic neighbours do not recognize the Soviet regime in their country as having been legitimate. This contradicts Stalin’s cynical assertion which Moscow amazingly continues to embrace to the present day, namely, that the Baltics committed synchronized national suicide by freely and legally joining Stalin’s Soviet house of horrors.

To Marzipan6: I do appreciate your concern and true endeavors not to be ignorant. It is recognized as yours fine-tune. Thank you for informing me about Estonia. My knowledge about history is generally miserable. All I learned about was mainly from discussion you made with Blanca but didn’t agree with the way you quitted JohnX (on Peter’s blog). However if you want to further help me exploring some other political field – may I be forgotten for the indiscretion if asking: Do you consider yourself the Jew or the Estonian? What is the difference if any? For your information – my father was killed 1945. as political member of ustasha state of Croatia (NDH) and it might be repulsive (not only) to you. This is the reason I’m telling it to you though the fact is publicly known. Your Estonian or Jewish approach to Russia and the one from my side might be indicative.

Nobody has problems with Stalin or stalinism any more, but Hitler with his Nazi SS-troops and Goebels propaganda are again among us and there are no signs we will get rid of them so soon. That fine company now operate from the Baltics, mostly in Estonia, this time planning to stay for good in their minnie-Reich.

It was rather dark sarcasm M6, than humor. When veterans of the Waffen SS 20th Estonian Division celebrate something and Estonian government praises them as heroes, it's not a joke, it's a insult to the memory of millions of civilians killed or starved to death by Nazi (Stalin was not even close). I think, before giving advice to Russia what to do, you'll need to ask your own government to stop flirting with its Nazi past. Otherwise nobody will listen.

To GrizzlyBear and Scorpio, who faithfully repeat Moscow’s ceaseless propaganda about Estonia’s alleged Nazi-mindedness: visit Estonia. You will never see a Nazi parade or ceremony or Nazi symbolism or even goosestepping – you can see see some of the latter at Red Square, though, every May in front of the Russian President. Learn Estonian, listen to Estonian Radio, watch Estonian television, read the Estonian press, you will never see or hear Nazism praised or longed for or even excused. Read Estonian history, read and hear the Estonian President’s speeches of 1930s, and you will never hear even one syllable of praise for or of agreement with Nazism. You will instead find a country that was as opposed to Nazi totalitarianism as it was to Soviet totalitarianism, that enunciated time and again a policy of strict neutrality – but that was gang raped by each nonetheless, first by the Soviet occupation of 1940-41, then by the Nazi occupation of 1941-44, and then by the resumed Soviet occupation of 1944-41. During WW2, Estonians fought both within the German and Red Armies. They had no army of their own ot fight in, because Moscow had dismantled it in 1940. They fought neither for the war aims of Stalin or Hitler, but AGAINST one of Estonia’s implaccable enemies, which is why they did it at all. And that is why their sacrifice is remembered with gratitude to this day. They fought for their own homeland as best they could in an impossible situation. When Russia celebrates the Red Army’s victory against the German invader, no one accuses it of celebrating Stalinism. When Estonia honours the sacrifice of its men who battled their Russian invader Russia slanders it by claiming it is celebrating Nazism. This is because Russia is in such deep denial of its own Soviet-era crimes against its small Baltic neighbours that it apparently feel compelled to continue emotionally lashing out against them.

To Rikard Baric, who asks what ethnicity I consider myself to be. My ethnicity has absolutely no bearing on the correctness or otherwise of my posts. They stand or fall by their contents alone. As for what is the difference between Jews and Estonians, the answer is, very, very little. Each are human beings. As are Russians, Germans, Peruvians, Chinese and Polynesians and Hottentots. The differences between Estonians and any of them, and or amongst any of them, are negligible, and are overwhelmed by their common humanity.

To Marzipan6: the content failed and is not commonly human, ask around...

Ibarruri from Lagos, I have been reading M6 and Count Cash comments concerning Stalin for a long time. I have honestly endeavoured to make some clarifying contributions that should ordinarily have provided the opportunity of educating the readers more on the absolute irreconcilability of the position of communists like myself and the bourgeoise ideologues which the positions of the two men from a class interest basis, reflect . History is incomplete until seen in the context of the class forces in contention and the class interests the protagonists at any given time in history defend. Both count cash and M6 have only their nationalisms as the driving force of the anti- Stalin stance with M6 tinted with rabid conservativism of either Zionist or Outright Nazi leaning. I think I know the Oppressiveness and humiliation of colonialism as an African from Western rule of african countries. I also know the Soviet union well enough through my regular visits in that glorious country for 25 years and its role in the struggle against colonialism and slavery of the peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America. The role played by Stalin as the Worthy Successor of Lenin in Piloting tremendous sacrifices of that first Socialist State, for the inception of Human rights at the United Nations, the liberation of the peoples from colonial slavery and ultimately Nazi Hitler in WW2, are not propaganda but Historical facts. No one can develop a country technologically, socially and culturally as claimed by Stalin's Haters by coercion, it was only the ideological class enthusiasm of the awakened and empowered Soviet proletariat that wrought the miracles under Stalin. Who can ignore the gains made in the Baltic Countries by Soviet Rule ? The study of Soviet History is replete with honour and Dignity for J.V. Stalin no matter how much attempts are made to evoke a negative response from the readers through this medium.

Well, back on point (Marzipan obsessively turns every question into a defense of Baltic fascism and I'm ignoring it this time). I think the purges were a huge mistake, Stalin and the CPSU let people down. Its a tragedy and a shame. I'm very impressed that the Russians have acknowledged this tragedy and honor the people who suffered. It was a poltiical struggle, and not necessary to kill people. Having said that, I think it is simply ahistoric to view this as peculiarly Russian, communist or Stalinist! Look what Henry VIII did in England, murdered a bunch of his wives not to mention his political opponents! Look what Bloody Mary did in England! Heck, look what Elizabeth I did. They both murdered and slaughtered and tortured and imprisoned thousands and thousands for their political beliefs (church and politics were one and the same thing back then). In France, the Heugenots were slaughetered (Paul Revere was a French Heugenot sent to America by his family to save his life). For that matter, look what happened in my country during a big historic change...John F. Kennedy was slaughtered; Malcolm X, Robert F. Kennedy,Martin Luther King and Fred Hampton were all slaughtered, not to mention thousands of people were killed, or put in prison and many still languish there who did nothing wrong. During the 1930s thousands and thousands of African Americans were lynched by gangs of vigilantes! This sort of thing continued into the 1950s and invariably, the jury let the perpetrators go when they KNEW who did it. Why do some people turn a blind eye to all this, and act as if it never happened! We have 2 MILLION people in jail in my country, that is ONE million more than the Soviet Union ever put in jail, and per capita, it is the most ever. China has ONE million in jail, but they have 1.3 billion people, and we only have 300 million. I guess Americans who suffer don't matter at all to some people, they'd rather livein their fantasy land.

GrizlyBear-r-r, No, Stalin was not the only ruler to act incompetently at the onset of WW2. But he was uncommonly naive. Stalin bought Hitler's lies that the 4 million soldier army mobilizing along the Soviet border was meant to invade Great Britain but needed to be kept out of sight which is why it was being put on the Soviet border; Stalin's own intelligence service, which was the best in the world, was telling him repeatedly that the Germans were planning to invade, but he thought the evidence they saw of such was being planted by the British lure him into the war; German soldiers defected across the mobilized lines to tell of the coming invasion but were then punished, under Stalin's orders, by the Soviets for "lying" (some of them were tortured, one was even shot); and hours after the Germans invaded Stalin told his own troops not to fight back because the invasion was likely just a result of certain German generals illegally acting upon their own volition. I suppose this was all wishful thinking on his part, but the consequence of it was the Soviets being taken by complete surprise; and as a consequence of that millions of Soviet lives were wasted relatively ineffectually in the early part of the war. It was, to state the obvious, really really stupid of him. As was the fact that he'd executed 30,000 Soviet officers just a few years earlier, which resulted in him entering the war with a completely incompetent officer core; this incompetency was made clear to, and encouraged, the Germans via the horribly botched invasion of Finland. Stalin's mistakes were more consequential than they would've been on the Western front because the Western front was always far less brutal. Stalin wasn't stupid, but his idiosyncrasies sometime worked to his and his country's extreme detriment.

Ibarruri You state "No one can develop a country technologically, socially and culturally as claimed by Stalin's Haters by coercion" I disagree There is no doubt that 'great' short term gains can be made with this approach, this is what we do every day in the management of crisis be they at national or business level. It is what we do in wartime, But you will only build a temporary landing zone by this approach, you will never build sustainability. A nation needs to be sustainable, by definition; you will never create this sustainability by oppressing your people. Because it is self defeating, your people are your country, so once you oppress enough people, low and behold you have oppressed your country. Now I think yo see the utility in a short term period of brutality to get to the temporary landing zone, it is the revolution. However, what you fail to see is that once you have created a rigid structure, then entropy will come to play, this will result in you requiring regular oppressive energy inputs to maintain order. Hence you have not created a temporary landing zone to move on from, but rather a prison to live in perpetually which is eroding your people and your country. There are issues with class, today we have both political classes and banker classes, but I say address the cure to the disease, the people are never the disease, for they are the mere cells and structure of your body. Hatred and death are never a foundation for life and enlightenment. Let's be able to see the difference not only in our own country but all around the world. For Stalin is not Russia, and he is not alone, and size does matter.