Russia Policy Monitor No. 2642

STILL MORE SOVIET NOSTALGIA
More and more, the image of Soviet strongman Joseph Stalin is being rehabilitated in Russia, as the country's political elites focus on his legacy as a leader rather than his role in mass repression. Citing opposition outlet New Tab, Meduza reports that Stalin's image is increasingly ubiquitous across Russia, from portraits hung in government offices to more than 100 monuments that have now been erected anew in his honor. Going even further, the Communists of Russia party has opened a "Stalin Center" in Barnaul, and is planning to establish similar facilities elsewhere in the country.

What is driving this nostalgia for the Soviet "man of steel"? Historians point to a "deliberate state policy aimed at shaping a positive image of Stalin as an 'effective manager,' an architect of victory, and a great statesman," New Tab reports. Others see it as a reflection of current adverse conditions. Stalin's popularity is because Russians crave a "strong and just leader against the backdrop of today's disorder and instability," says publicist Stanislav Shavushkin. "This desire aligns perfectly with the myth of the great leader, which is pushed by red propagandists. [...] Many people fall into binary thinking: if the bad liberals of the 1990s criticized Stalin, then Stalin must be good." (Meduza, August 6, 2024)

MOSCOW KEEPS FATHERS AT THE FRONT...
The Kremlin's ongoing struggles to amass the necessary manpower for its Ukraine fight are by now well known. But so far, at least, some segments of Russian society have been spared the rigors of conscription. Among them have been fathers in large families. The Russian military initially granted deferments to dads with three or more minor children, but the policy was rescinded in early 2023 amid personnel shortages on the Ukrainian front. Nevertheless, many had hoped that the reprieve might be reinstated over time by Russian authorities.

Those hopes were dashed late last month, when the Russian State Duma nixed a bill that would have provided draft deferments for men with three or more children. It did so despite calls from the families of deployed fathers for their return from Ukraine. "A man must protect his family, our society and our state, and then think and take care of providing for his family," parliamentarian Andrei Krasov, a member of the ruling United Russia party said, justifying the measure. (The Moscow Times, July 31, 2024)

...AND GOES AFTER DESERTERS
The Kremlin is trying to retain its military ranks by other means as well. As the Wall Street Journal notes, Russian authorities have "amped up a campaign to punish draft dodgers and hunt down those unwilling to fight, in an effort that now spans borders. When deserters are tracked down, the Russians calculate whether to imprison or redeploy them." Nevertheless, rates of desertion remain sky high – a testament to the low morale among Russia's armed forces, and grim prospects for what has become a grinding war of attrition. "Among conscripts and soldiers alike, there's a view that if you come back to base after vacation, you're an idiot," says one lawyer. "The possibility of criminal charges is seen as a much lesser evil than the likelihood of death." (Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2024)

A HAVEN FROM WESTERN "WOKENESS"
Since the start of its war on Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has found itself increasingly isolated from the world and shunned by much of the international community. Russian President Vladimir Putin is now seeking to improve that position – by making his country a sanctuary for foreigners who want to escape the "neoliberal" values that now predominate in much of the West. A new presidential decree issued by the Kremlin permits temporary residence without the typical requirements (such as knowledge of Russian history and the Russian language) for those who reject the social policies of their home countries that are "aimed at imposing destructive neoliberal ideals on people, which run counter to Russian spiritual and moral values." The three-month visa permits will start being issued by Russia's Foreign Ministry next month. (The Foreign Desk, August 20, 2024)