The Moscow metro has restored a bas-relief featuring Soviet leader Joseph Stalin nearly 60 years after its removal. A copy of the original sculpture, titled “Gratitude of the People to the Leader-Commander,” was installed at the Taganskaya station to mark the metro’s 90th anniversary.
The original bas-relief, created in the 1940s, was dismantled in 1965 during the Soviet campaign against the cult of personality surrounding Stalin. The new version is a simplified replica, lacking the detailed ceramics, blue background, and gold coloring that characterized the original.
On May 10, the Moscow Department of Transportation announced the restoration as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Soviet victory in World War II. The unexpected return of the Stalin sculpture surprised many commuters, some of whom stopped to take photos with the controversial piece.
In a related development, the Stalin Museum in Gori, Georgia, has launched a tender to restore Stalin’s birthplace. The renovation will include work on the roof, floors, and other parts of the building and must be completed within 11 days.
