Memory production, vandalism, violence: Civil society and lessons from a short life of a monument to Stalin
Journal: Constellations
Year: 2020

On September 15th 2016, the leaders of youth group the “Russian Spirit,”2 unveiled a monument to Stalin in the Siberian city Surgut, located in central Russia. The bust was erected a few meters away from a display board, which states, “In some time at this place there will be a monument to the victims of Soviet Repressions.”3 Someone poured red paint over Stalin's bust twice and wrote “henchman” on the side. The first time vandalism occurred was the day after the installation. The local municipa