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Russia: Former Soviet Leader Warns Against Exaggerating Stalin's Role in WWII Victory
INTERFAX

Moscow, 8 May: Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev said that the role of (former Soviet leader) Iosif Stalin in the victory over Nazi Germany must not be exaggerated and that mass political purges in Stalin's era must not be forgotten.

"Of course, Stalin's name will be mentioned during the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the victory in World War II. However, one should not go as far as to say that we owe the victory to Stalin, or that the victory would have never been won without him. This event must not be used to glorify Stalin," Gorbachev told Interfax.

In his view, "while assessing Stalin's role, one should remember that he was responsible for mass repressions, that he would have stopped at nothing and made use of every tool to achieve his goals," Gorbachev said.

"I had an opportunity to thoroughly study his archives. The slaughter machine was operating not without his knowledge. He personally signed death verdicts in great numbers, thus sending both outstanding public figures and ordinary people to death," he said.

In Gorbachev's view, "this must not be forgiven or forgotten."