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Stalin's grandson sues newspaper | Stalin's grandson sues newspaper |
(9 minutes later) | |
Joseph Stalin's grandson has launched a court action claiming a liberal Russian newspaper has defamed the former Soviet dictator. | Joseph Stalin's grandson has launched a court action claiming a liberal Russian newspaper has defamed the former Soviet dictator. |
Yevgeny Dzhugashvili says an article claiming Stalin personally ordered the deaths of Soviet citizens is a lie. | Yevgeny Dzhugashvili says an article claiming Stalin personally ordered the deaths of Soviet citizens is a lie. |
A Moscow court has agreed to hear the case against the opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta. | A Moscow court has agreed to hear the case against the opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta. |
The paper published a piece referring to declassified death warrants which it says bore Stalin's personal signature. | The paper published a piece referring to declassified death warrants which it says bore Stalin's personal signature. |
Mr Dzhugashvili - who was not at the court as the case was brought on Thursday - says that is a lie, and that Stalin never directly ordered the deaths of anyone. | |
It is the latest bizarre twist in what many see as a Kremlin-backed campaign to rehabilitate Stalin's reputation, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow. | It is the latest bizarre twist in what many see as a Kremlin-backed campaign to rehabilitate Stalin's reputation, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow. |
Respected and feared | Respected and feared |
A small crowd of Stalin supporters gathered outside Moscow's Basmmani courthouse, where lawyers for Mr Dzhugashvili presented the case. | A small crowd of Stalin supporters gathered outside Moscow's Basmmani courthouse, where lawyers for Mr Dzhugashvili presented the case. |
AT THE SCENE Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC News, Moscow | AT THE SCENE Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC News, Moscow |
Outside the courthouse today a group of kindly old ladies told me they honestly believe Stalin was a great man, that under his rule Russia had been peaceful, safe and, most importantly, strong. | Outside the courthouse today a group of kindly old ladies told me they honestly believe Stalin was a great man, that under his rule Russia had been peaceful, safe and, most importantly, strong. |
The nostalgia for the age when Russia was a superpower is perhaps understandable, but Russia has still not taken an honest look at the horrors of the Soviet era. | The nostalgia for the age when Russia was a superpower is perhaps understandable, but Russia has still not taken an honest look at the horrors of the Soviet era. |
In the 1990s some attempt was made to unveil the past. The Soviet archives where opened. People could finally learn of the gulags and the great political purges. | In the 1990s some attempt was made to unveil the past. The Soviet archives where opened. People could finally learn of the gulags and the great political purges. |
But in the last few years the Russian government has once again begun to draw a veil across the past. | But in the last few years the Russian government has once again begun to draw a veil across the past. |
"Under Stalin our country was respected," said one elderly supporter. | "Under Stalin our country was respected," said one elderly supporter. |
"Now we are beggars. In those days we were respected and feared by others." | "Now we are beggars. In those days we were respected and feared by others." |
Yury Mukhin, a lawyer representing Yevgeny Dzhugashvili, disagreed, saying: "Stalin for many people is the symbol of an honest and fair leader." | Yury Mukhin, a lawyer representing Yevgeny Dzhugashvili, disagreed, saying: "Stalin for many people is the symbol of an honest and fair leader." |
A victory in the libel case would vindicate that version of history, he said. | A victory in the libel case would vindicate that version of history, he said. |
Such views are far from unusual in Russia, which is why this case is so important, says our correspondent. | Such views are far from unusual in Russia, which is why this case is so important, says our correspondent. |
Genry Reznik, for the defence, said: "If the court finds for plaintiff, it will be a massive bomb. We should put an end to these discussions about the murderous dictator - he should be condemned. | Genry Reznik, for the defence, said: "If the court finds for plaintiff, it will be a massive bomb. We should put an end to these discussions about the murderous dictator - he should be condemned. |
"We should have our own Nuremberg, and not only for Stalin - for his whole regime." | "We should have our own Nuremberg, and not only for Stalin - for his whole regime." |
The Kremlin has professed no opinion about the case. But in other ways Russia's leadership has been quietly moving to rehabilitate the great dictator, adds our correspondent. | The Kremlin has professed no opinion about the case. But in other ways Russia's leadership has been quietly moving to rehabilitate the great dictator, adds our correspondent. |
Last month a brass plaque praising Stalin suddenly reappeared in a Moscow metro station. | Last month a brass plaque praising Stalin suddenly reappeared in a Moscow metro station. |
FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from The World At One | FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from The World At One |
And last year a history textbook for Russian schoolchildren was published which referred to Stalin as an "effective manager" who led Russia to victory in World War II - not, as has been widely claimed, a brutal dictator responsible for sending millions to their deaths. | And last year a history textbook for Russian schoolchildren was published which referred to Stalin as an "effective manager" who led Russia to victory in World War II - not, as has been widely claimed, a brutal dictator responsible for sending millions to their deaths. |
Last year in an online competition to find the greatest Russian ever, Stalin came third - even though he was not actually Russian, but Georgian. | Last year in an online competition to find the greatest Russian ever, Stalin came third - even though he was not actually Russian, but Georgian. |
Stalin was born Joseph Dzhugashvili in the Georgian town of Gori in 1878 or 1879. He adopted his nickname - which in Russian means "steel" - after joining the Bolsheviks. | Stalin was born Joseph Dzhugashvili in the Georgian town of Gori in 1878 or 1879. He adopted his nickname - which in Russian means "steel" - after joining the Bolsheviks. |