Moscow's Stalin billboards could mar WWII commemorations

Feb 18, 2010, 12:36 GMT

Moscow - The speaker of the Russian Parliament Thursday condemned Moscow's plans to put up giant billboards featuring Joseph Stalin as part of commemorations for the 65th anniversary of the end of World War Two, reported news agency Interfax.

The Russian population should take credit for the defeat of fascism, not Stalin, he said.

Human rights activists have also protested against Moscow's plans to honour the 'mass murderer' as part of Russia's celebrations on May 9.

Russian society is split in its opinion of Stalin. Historians and civil rights activists point out that millions of people were killed during Stalin's reign of terror. But communists still honour him as a hero and credit him with the defeat of fascism in Europe.

Western diplomats are worried that the pictures of Stalin could cause international heads of state and government invited to the celebrations to pull out. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is amongst those set to attend.