Russia Blames Stalin for Polish Massacre

A rarity out of Russia today: Official condemnation of Josef Stalin. The lower house of parliament censured Stalin and blamed him for ordering the massacre of 22,000 Polish officers during World War II, Reuters reports. It's not exactly news that Stalin did so, though for decades the Soviet propaganda machine had pinned the blame for the Katyn massacre on the Nazis.

"Material, kept for many years in secret archives...bears witness to the fact that the Katyn crime was carried out under Stalin's direct orders," said the resolution. "The State Duma deputies extend a hand of friendship to the Polish people and hope this will mark a new era of relations between our countries." The move is also notable because the Putin government had been embellishing Stalin's image and downplaying his atrocities. (More Russia stories.)