*Removal of Stalin's statue draws criticism, praise *Monument to victims of Stalin and 2008 war planned (Updates with quotes, colour, developments) By Margarita Antidze GORI, Georgia, June 25 ...

General Secretary Joseph Stalin, right, seated beside his mentor in the Bolshevik Party, V.I. Lenin. Photo by Matthew Stevenson, of a photo in the Stalin Museum in Gori, Republic of Georgia.

Soviet leader Josef Stalin's legacy includes mass purges and executions. Statues of him in Russia came down decades ago, but in recent years new statues have cropped up, including one this week.

Soviet leader Josef Stalin's legacy includes mass purges and executions. Statues of him in Russia came down decades ago, but in recent years new statues have cropped up, including one this week.

Soviet leader Josef Stalin's legacy includes mass purges and executions. Statues of him in Russia came down decades ago, but in recent years new statues have cropped up, including one this week.

Soviet leader Josef Stalin's legacy includes mass purges and executions. Statues of him in Russia came down decades ago, but in recent years new statues have cropped up, including one this week.

Soviet leader Josef Stalin's legacy includes mass purges and executions. Statues of him in Russia came down decades ago, but in recent years new statues have cropped up, including one this week.

Soviet leader Josef Stalin's legacy includes mass purges and executions. Statues of him in Russia came down decades ago, but in recent years new statues have cropped up, including one this week.

Soviet leader Josef Stalin's legacy includes mass purges and executions. Statues of him in Russia came down decades ago, but in recent years new statues have cropped up, including one this week.