New Stalin bust proposal sparks debate in Russian city council

After last year’s protests, another Stalin tribute emerges—this time at city hall. Will officials approve it, or will activists finally halt the trend?

, and Administrator

2025 November 14 . 9:09 AM

1 min read

In this image, we can see people on the road and in the background, there are trees, buildings,... — In this image, we can see people on the road and in the background, there are trees, buildings, poles and there is a monument.

New Stalin bust proposal sparks debate in Russian city council

A controversial proposal has surfaced in an unnamed city: a bust of Joseph Stalin for the city administration building. Activists previously opposed a Stalin monument, but their appeal was dismissed due to insufficient documentation. Now, the city council's Toponymy Commission will review the latest proposal.

Last year, a bas-relief of Stalin was installed on the central tower of the Officers’ House, sparking public protest. This year, Russia has seen a record number of Stalin monuments erected, often on private property to bypass local approval. In this city, the Georgian society Sakartvelo, the Stalin Center, and the regional branch of the International Union of Diasporas have submitted a proposal to install a Stalin bust at the city hall. The initiative's authors suggest two potential locations: a boulevard along Kultury Street (Uralmash) and the square in front of the Officers’ House.

The city council's Toponymy Commission will now consider the proposal. If approved, it would be another public monument to Stalin in Russia, following a trend of increased Stalin-era symbolism.