An unidentified individual wielding a sledgehammer was responsible for decapitating a statue commemorating Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in a town near Moscow, according to Russian state media reports.
The incident, captured on video in Zvenigorod, depicted the perpetrator toppling the statue’s head with a single blow before departing the scene.
A law enforcement source informed the state-run RIA news agency, “On Saturday, a man in an unstable condition used a sledgehammer to knock off the bust of Joseph Stalin in one of Zvenigorod’s parks.”
The same individual also vandalized a bust of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin before fleeing the location, as reported by local media outlets.
The suspect is currently being sought by the authorities, as stated by state-run news agencies.
Despite facing potential demolition due to unauthorized installation by pro-veteran activists in 2023, the Stalin statue in Zvenigorod was preserved following a social media backlash against local officials.
The controversial legacy of Stalin, who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953, continues to provoke mixed opinions in Russia, with some praising his role in World War II victory while others condemn his repressive regime.
While most monuments dedicated to Stalin have been removed in the former Soviet Union, there has been a recent trend of officials expressing positive views on the leader since Vladimir Putin assumed power.