Not Quite Ready

While democracy is making a tentative start in the Middle East, it seems to be retracing in Russia. This poll seems to suggest that Russians are not quite ready for a full democracy.

Half of all Russians view Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in a positive light, pollsters said Friday based on the results of a recently released study.

Fifty percent of respondents in a nationwide opinion poll conducted by the VTsIOM agency said their view of the role Stalin played in Russian history is undoubtedly positive or probably positive.
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A total of 42 percent of respondents said they want or wouldn't object to having a leader like Stalin at the helm of the nation today.