In praise of Josef Stalin
President Vladimir Putin is massively popular among Russians — and, increasingly, so is Josef Stalin. The percentage of Russians who like the notorious Soviet-era dictator has reached its highest level in 16 years, according to a new poll.
46%
Russians who expressed some kind of positive view of Stalin, according to the polling firm Levada SOURCE: The Washington Post
12%
Russians who view Stalin — believed responsible for the deaths of millions — with “distaste”
8%
Total positive views for the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev
84%
Russians with a popular view of Putin; his negative rating is less than 5%