More than half of Russians want to see Lenin's body removed from his mausoleum on Red Square, according to a new survey.
Some 32 percent of people want to see the Soviet leader's body buried “as soon as possible,” according to data by state-backed pollster VTsIOM.
Thirty-one percent said any burial should wait until “the generation which reveres Lenin has passed away,” while 31 percent said that Lenin's preserved body should remain in state.
Public opinion has remained almost unchanged for the past decade, with 62 percent of Russians telling researchers in 2005 that Lenin's body should be buried. Despite this, Lenin remains on display in his mausoleum.
Although the majority of the public would like to see Lenin interred, he still enjoys some popularity in Russian society.
According to VTsIOM data from January 2016, just under one in three Russians (31 percent) believes that Lenin's work benefited the country. Another 35 percent said that he "brought good and bad in equal measure," and just under a quarter of Russians (23 percent) saw Lenin's influence as negative.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
