April 21, 2005, 17:26
In Krasnoyarsk they are discussing the question of erecting a Stalin memorial
Krasnoyarsk, April 21. INTERFAX-SIBERIA – The public counsil and representatives of the Krasnoyarsk administrative authority are going to discuss the erection of a memorial to the honour of Josef Stalin next week. This was informed by the head of the department of social policy, V. Chernykh, to the news agency “Interfax Siberia”.
According to his words an initiative group of the Communist Party addressed itself to the authorities more than half a year ago, proposing to re-erect the Stalinmemorial that earlier used to be on Markovskiy Street, in the town center, and was later pulled down.
“We are going to discuss the question (of a re-erection) next week, an exact date has not been fixed yet”, said V. Chernykh.
He particularly pointed out that they will merely talk about the re-erection of the former memorial. “Some try to convince the people that there are intentions to construct an entirely new memorial. This is not the case”, said V. Chernykh.
However, he did not give any details about where the old monument is presently being kept.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the “Memorial” organization made an application to the mayor of the town, Petr Pimashkov, urging him not to permit the re-erection of the Stalin memorial – not on any account.
“If such a memorial will factually be erected, this might lead to a series of negative circumstances surrounding the case. There are hotheaded supporters of Stalinism in our town, as well ass irreconcilable opponents. The memorial must not be erected in our town, not a single person must be insulted by such a measure”, it is said in the statement.
“The memorial will become a source of permanent political tensions”. It was expressly pointed out that “we will never tolerate such a monument I our town”.