The Moscow Metro has installed a replica of a monument to Soviet leader Josef Stalin that had been removed long ago, further intensifying discussions about the ongoing effort to rehabilitate his image in Russia under President Vladimir Putin.

This life-sized bas-relief was originally revealed in 1950 at Taganskaya Station, but it was taken down in the 1960s as part of the Soviet Union’s campaign to de-Stalinize. The dismantling cleared the way for a new transfer corridor, and it is believed that the original sculpture was destroyed.

“Experts are currently reconstructing the composition based on archival photographs and documents. We anticipate finishing the project soon,” stated the Moscow Metro in a press release on Saturday.

The newly unveiled monument was presented to the public on Thursday, following last week’s Victory Day festivities and coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the Moscow Metro, which opened during Stalin’s reign.

Architectural historian Alexander Zinoviyev noted that several important aspects of the original relief were not retained in the new version, including the ceramic panel, specific colors, and decorative elements around the edges.

“This has resulted in more of an ideological statement rather than a true effort to restore the historical architectural integrity,” Zinoviyev expressed on Telegram.

In recent years, Stalin’s image has increasingly reappeared in public spaces throughout Russia, despite the history of his oppressive purges and the estimated millions who died during his leadership. Independent media sources estimate that 105 of the 120 Stalin statues in Russia were established during Putin’s 25-year presidency.

Just last week, Putin mentioned that he would contemplate changing the name of Volgograd back to Stalingrad, a suggestion long supported by leaders of the Russian Communist Party.

The name “Stalingrad” is already used temporarily during significant national holidays and anniversaries tied to wartime events.