Our very own murderer

„Oh my God, what's this?“ a surprised visitor to Studenec in the Vysočina region exclaims now and then, stunned by the sight of a memorial to fallen soldiers on the village green, decorated by a bust of Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin. If we point out that the communist mayor has been heading the municipality nonstop since 1984, a small scandal is born.

Up to now, Studenec residents have dismissed the comments. They stand behind their mayor and they have already got used to the Generalissimo over the past 50 years he has been overseeing the village green. But the memorial has recently caused some uproar.

Studenec won the Vysočina region's Village of the Year 2007 prize, making an increasing number of people ask an uncomfortable question: Shouldn't one of the worst criminals of the 20th century be removed from the memorial? Regional Governor Miloš Vystrčil (ODS) even suggested to Studenec councillors that they take the Generalissimo away, but they decided to call a referendum on the issue first. The turnout narrowly exceeded the 50% level required for the vote to be valid. Those who showed up voted unanimously: Stalin will stay.

Thanks from the bunch

Of 450 registered voters, only slightly more than 200 came to the ballot, and only 50 of them voted to remove the bust. Mayor Josef Zahradníček hopes this means…