Putin denounces Soviet founder Lenin

philly.com ^ | 1/25/16 | VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

[ghost of stonewall jackson]

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday criticized Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin, accusing him of placing a "time bomb" under the state, and sharply denouncing brutal repressions by the Bolshevik government.

The harsh criticism of Lenin, who is still revered by communists and many others in Russia, is unusual for Putin, who in the past carefully weighed his comments about the nation's history to avoid alienating some voters.

At the same time, he signaled that the government has no intention of taking Lenin's body out of his Red Square tomb, warning against "any steps that would divide the society."

Putin's assessment of Lenin's role in Russian history during Monday's meeting with pro-Kremlin activists in the southern city of Stavropol was markedly more negative than in the past.

Putin denounced Lenin and his government for brutally executing Russia's last czar along with all his family and servants, killing thousands of priests and placing a "time bomb" under the Russian state by drawing administrative borders along ethnic lines.

As an example of Lenin's destructive legacy, Putin pointed at Donbass, the industrial region in eastern Ukraine where a pro-Russia separatist rebellion flared up weeks after Russia's March 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. More than 9,000 people have been killed in the conflict since April 2014, and clashes have continued despite a February 2015 peace deal.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Putin is more in favor Stalin.

[OttawaFreeper]

What was strange about Lenin’s tomb to begin with is that apparently he wished to be buried next to his mother, certainly a far cry from being turned into this elaborate mummy as part of how Stalin used the Cult of Lenin to justify his rule.

[BenLurkin]

Have you denounced Stalin yet, Vlad?

How about his bloody track record in the Ukraine?

[lurk]

Giving Lenin a thumbs-down is a good first step. But it was Uncle Joe Stalin who needs a fresh round of bad press. Russians are beginning to have romantic thoughts for the old days when Joe’s gulags were swallowing millions.

[Rebel_Ace]

Bernie Sanders is saddened...

[ghost of stonewall jackson]

or the tsars...

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

There was nothing more weird than a Soviet, state funeral.

What is the ceremony for burying a bunch of molecules in a meaningless universe?

As it turns out, it's a long procession of party members standing at attention while classical music plays. Who knew?

[ghost of stonewall jackson]

In the past, Putin has denounced Stalin for massive purges that killed millions, but noted his role in defeating the Nazis in WW II.

[GodGunsGuts]

See he denounces Lenin, but praises Stalin. Got it.

[WENDLE]

Putin is a great man and national leader. He is tough and operates in the the best interests of his people and he is a Christian and Christianity is now flourishing again in the Russian republic. They are kicking Isis butt and already have cleaned them out of 80% of Syria. Go Putin!!

[Texas Eagle]

Putin was particularly critical of Lenin's concept of a federative state with its entities having the right to secede, saying it heavily contributed to the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. "It was a time bomb under our state," he said, adding that Lenin's was wrong in a dispute with Josef Stalin who advocated a unitary state model.

Oh, my tsars.

[Honorary Serb]

You’re RIGHT!!!!

[ghost of stonewall jackson]

how is an economic catastrophe in Russia in “the best interests” of the Russian people?

[mkjessup]

Uh oh, now you've done it.

Before you know it, the infamous poster with the Excessive Text L(ots of it) will be along to post enough links and text to paper your driveway, call you a Communist sympathizer and that anyone supporting Trump is an idiot, and if you really piss them off, they'll say you're "dumb as a turd"(I've already received that honor, lol)

[VanDeKoik]

???

Not that’s something that only a Russian in a safe position would dare say, especially with so many Soviet WW2 vets still alive, and LOTS of people in Russia that lived under (and sadly are nostalgic for) the USSR.

But he learned his art in that system, so read between the lines.

[henkster]

Communism may have been "atheist" but in actual practice it was anything but. Communism replaced the religion of God with the false religion of man, complete with bibles:

Churches:

Holy relics of "saints:"

And icons:

[alloysteel]

Whatever the current Russian Federation is, it no longer subscribes to the theoretical form of Communism so beloved by Lenin. Stalin, however, was not an ideological or theoretical Communist, he was more on the order of Genghis Khan, sending his shock troops into towns and demanding their unwavering allegiance. Failure to do what was asked was grounds for executing the entire male population and razing all structures to the ground. The women were usually pretty compliant after that.

Considering the choices that were offered.

[crz]

Acually, you are correct. Putins father was a hard core communist, and I believe, was in the KGB. Vlads mother was a Russian Orthodox Christian.
Vlad took the path of his mother and actually fears a muslim takeover of mother Russia. Eerything he does is pointed to that effect. As far as the Ukrain goes, the eastern part is hardcore Russian Orthodox, the western, Roman Catholic. The East wants to remain with Russia, the Western part does not.
But, he is not a stupid man, he knows to control Syria and the mid east, means control of a large portion of the worlds oil. Devious and ruthless in his world views. I believe he thinks of himself as tsar.

[Socon-Econ]

Putin is moving away from Lenin. The Democrats are moving toward him.