Is Putin waving the Stalingrad comeback through?
Soviet dictator Josef Stalin renamed the city of Tsaritsyn Stalingrad in 1925. In 1961, the town is given the name Volgograd, but the current governor of the region plans to roll it back. Without Vladimir Putin, however, it won't work. How realistic is a Stalingrad comeback?
When Vladimir Putin visits Volgograd, a city of millions, at the beginning of the year, the Kremlin leader travels back in time. Putin is greeted by street signs reading Stalingrad. This was the name given to the city in honor of Josef Stalin from 1925 to 1961, when the Soviet dictator had Tsaritsyn, the original name of the city, renamed almost 100 years ago. Eight years after Stalin's death, the city was renamed Volgograd after Stalin's successor Nikita Khrushchev initiated the de-Stalinization of the Soviet Union.
However, on the 80th anniversary of the Red Army's victory over Nazi Germany in the Battle of Stalingrad, the old city name returned to the street signs for one day in February. And the name may soon be back on the map permanently.
After the re-election of President Vladimir Putin next March, things could happen quickly. At least that is what Andrei Botsharov, governor of Volgograd, has in mind. In an interview with the Russian exile medium Meduza, a person close to him describes the top politician of the oblast in south-western Russia as a "sincere and non-opportunistic fighter" for the renaming back to Stalingrad. "He is a real man, not an armchair officer, albeit from the past," the portal quotes another unnamed source.
Two thirds of residents against renaming
Bisharov became governor of Volgograd in 2014. Since then, he has dreamed of renaming the city after the brutal dictator from the last century. It is the result of a "personal attachment to the Russian military and his love of Soviet heritage", analyzes Meduza.
Vladimir Putin has obviously tolerated the temporary renaming, even though he is not a big Stalin fan. "This is being used to show: We are fighting against the Nazis, just like our ancestors did back then," ntv Russia reporter Rainer Munz reported on the day of the renaming in February.
Volgograd would probably have been permanently renamed long ago if Vladimir Putin were in favor of it. But according to reports, there are reservations in the Kremlin about Botsharov and his plan - at least for now. The presidential administration is against it for several reasons. Firstly, it does not want to do the Communist Party any favors. After all, renaming the street would be a political gift for them - out of loyalty to Stalin.
Secondly, most of the city's residents are also against the renaming. This was the result of a survey conducted by the state opinion research institute. 67 percent of people in Volgograd were against the renaming.
Governor has a good relationship with Putin
However, Bisharov does not seem to care about public opinion: he has introduced a law in the regional parliament that will facilitate a referendum on the renaming. According to the new rules, not only the inhabitants of the city, but also the inhabitants of the entire Volgograd oblast should take part in the vote. The Botsharov camp apparently believes that the people there are more likely to vote in favor of renaming the city. In addition, possible electoral fraud is easier in the countryside than in the city, writes Meduza.
Despite the skepticism in the Kremlin, Volgograd's governor could still implement his plan in this way. Especially as he himself has a good relationship with Putin. A source close to the Kremlin sees the possibility of being able to convince Putin of the idea one day after all.
However, Meduza quotes a source close to Governor Botsharov as saying that Putin will not be too quick to give his approval for the renaming of Stalingrad. According to the source, the president does not want to risk playing the inhabitants of the city of Volgograd off against the population of the region. They are to vote for him again in the presidential elections in March. A renaming will therefore not be on the agenda until then at the earliest. Then Putin will have another six years of peace.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year
- Numerous oil, gas and coal lobbyists at climate conference
Despite the opposition of majority of Volgograd residents and reservations within the Kremlin, the governor's plan to rename Volgograd back to Stalingrad might still be feasible due to his close relationship with President Vladimir Putin. Many believe that Putin could be persuaded to support the renaming in the future, although he might want to avoid causing division among the citizens of Volgodgard and those from the region during the upcoming presidential elections.
If Putin approves the renaming, the current governor, Andrei Botsharov, might be able to implement it quickly, as he has already introduced a law in the regional parliament that allows for a referendum involving the entire Volgograd oblast, which arguably increases the chances of approval through electoral manipulation in the countryside.
This situation showcases a complex political dynamic in Russia, where historical symbols and the attachment to Soviet heritage are often weighed against popular opinion and the political agenda set by powerful leaders like Putin.
Source: www.ntv.de
