Resolution of the XIX Congress of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation

Pravda, No. 71, July 8-9, 2025 —

On July 5, 2025, the XIX Regular Reporting and Electoral Congress of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) Convened in the Moscow Region.

The 19th Congress of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation took place on July 5, 2025, in the Moscow region. The Congress reviewed the results of the Party’s work over the past four years and outlined key objectives for the next stage of its political and organizational activity.

The Congress was attended by 208 elected delegates and more than 300 invited guests. Among them were prominent party and Komsomol activists, participants in the special military operation, deputies at all levels, long-time allies, and supporters of the CPRF. Also present were representatives of fraternal communist parties and foreign diplomatic missions, including ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary from China, Vietnam, Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Laos.

The session opened with the performance of the national anthems of the USSR and the Russian Federation. Delegates and guests observed a minute of silence in honor of the 154 party commissars who gave their lives in the special military operation.

A message of greeting from the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir V. Putin, was delivered to the Congress by Sergey V. Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of the Presidential Administration. The President’s message acknowledged the CPRF’s constructive role in national affairs and praised the Party’s active contribution to parliamentary work. It emphasized the CPRF’s commitment to raising critical social issues and offering concrete policy solutions.

The Congress adopted a resolution on the Political Report of the Central Committee and approved several amendments to the CPRF Charter.

Among the key resolutions passed were:

• “On the Restoration of Full Historical Justice for Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin”
• “Russophobia and Anti-Sovietism: Enemies of Progress, Justice, and Russia’s Future”
• “Democratic Renewal Through Elections: A Prerequisite for National Resilience in the Face of Threats”
• “A Decent Life for Russian Pensioners!”
• “The Youth of Russia: The Future of a Great Nation!”

…

Given the significance of the first resolution adopted—On the Restoration of Full Historical Justice for Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin—the full text of the resolution follows below.

On the Restoration of Full Historical Justice for Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin

Interest in Russia’s past and Soviet legacy continues to grow among the public. Our nation is still grappling with the long-term consequences of the Gorbachev-Yeltsin period—a time marked by disorientation and decline. One truth becomes increasingly evident: the era of V.I. Lenin and J.V. Stalin witnessed the defining events of the 20th century—namely, the Great October Socialist Revolution, the founding of the USSR, victory over German fascism and Japanese militarism, the harnessing of nuclear energy, and the first human steps into space. These achievements were the result of intense struggle against both internal and external enemies, as the country searched for a path forward.

Joseph Stalin holds a unique and enduring place in the collective memory of the people. He is remembered as one of the great architects of the nation’s power and glory, as a leader who defended the homeland from subjugation and annihilation. Stalin stands alongside revered figures in Russian history: Alexander Nevsky and Dmitry Donskoy, Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, Ivan III and Peter the Great, Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kutuzov. His legacy is indelibly linked with that of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet state. Millions of patriots fought and triumphed over fascism under the rallying cry: “For the Motherland! For Stalin!”

Today, as NATO escalates its aggression toward Russia, the names of Lenin and Stalin continue to inspire all who struggle for the freedom and independence of our homeland. From their example, we learn integrity, courage, and the ability to think and act decisively. Their legacy offers answers to the urgent challenges of our time. We draw strength and wisdom from these mentors, the true co-authors of our Victory Program.

The Soviet people never renounced Stalin. Among both party members and non-party citizens, the image of a firm but fair leader remained alive in people’s hearts. “Stalin is not someone you can smear!” the working people would say to corrupt officials, opportunists, and looters of socialist property. Yet in their personal struggle for power, some of Stalin’s former associates betrayed the teacher they once revered.

Soon after Stalin’s death, Soviet Premier G.M. Malenkov proposed to the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee that the “cult of personality” be brought to an end. L.P. Beria voiced support for this move, advocating intra-party criticism of the late leader. But in July 1953, at a plenary session of the Central Committee, these positions were firmly opposed by A.A. Andreyev, I.F. Tevosyan, and others. V.M. Molotov strongly and convincingly rejected the attacks on Stalin’s legacy.

Nevertheless, N.S. Khrushchev delivered his infamous “Secret Speech” On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences on February 25, 1956—after the 20th Congress had already concluded. This report was never submitted to the Central Committee for approval and was riddled with distortions and unfounded accusations. It violated the principles of party democracy that V.I. Lenin had fought to establish during the early years of Russian socialism.

Communists of every generation must remember Lenin’s warning:

“We must place greater trust in the independent judgment of the mass of party workers. Only they can temper the excesses of divisive groups, instill respect for party discipline, and expose the triviality of disagreements exaggerated by those inclined to split the party.”

By disregarding this guidance, Khrushchev demonstrated the very “anarchic individualism” Lenin had condemned. In his pursuit of populist approval, he sought to discredit Stalin’s three decades of leadership. Khrushchev went so far as to claim Stalin orchestrated military operations using a globe and was complicit in the assassination of his close comrade, Sergei Kirov.

The propaganda campaign against Stalin deeply shocked many sincere communists. It was a gift to the enemies of the Soviet Union and caused confusion among its global allies. Khrushchev and his supporters, meanwhile, struggled to find genuine evidence to support their claims. It is now well-documented that official archives were manipulated—authentic records were removed, and forgeries inserted. The late V.I. Ilyukhin, a principled communist and patriot, convincingly demonstrated that these falsifications continued under Gorbachev and Yeltsin.

The second wave of “de-Stalinization,” initiated by the 22nd CPSU Congress, inflicted serious harm on socialism. The anti-Stalin campaign weakened the authority of the Party, sowed ideological confusion, and fractured the socialist community. It played a key role in the Soviet Union’s break with China and Albania, triggering a prolonged crisis in the international communist movement. Anti-Soviet forces, Western intelligence agencies, and dissidents all seized upon the campaign as a propaganda weapon in their information war.

Marxism-Leninism teaches that communists must adhere to historical truth. That truth must be uncovered, defended, and restored. Like all historical figures, Stalin’s life was marked by contradictions and errors. But many of these were addressed under his own leadership, paving the way for the strengthening of socialist legality.

Even considered as a whole, the hardships endured under Stalin are vastly outweighed by his role in upholding Leninist principles, preserving communist unity, developing Soviet industrial might, and leading the resistance against fascist Europe. His contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan was enormous. To place all shortcomings on a single individual—however powerful—is both unscientific and politically misguided.

Khrushchev’s policy has since been discredited. He was eventually removed from power. A more balanced view of Stalin never entirely disappeared within the Party. The Communist Party of China offers a valuable model with its nuanced assessment of Mao Zedong’s achievements and errors.

During the leadership of L.I. Brezhnev, the “cult of personality” ceased to dominate evaluations of Stalin’s historical role. In the lead-up to the 40th anniversary of Victory in 1985, General Secretary K.U. Chernenko prepared several important initiatives. But the full restoration of historical justice never took place. With the rise of M.S. Gorbachev, the Party entered a man-made crisis that eventually led to the criminal dismantling of the USSR.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) has consistently denounced Khrushchev’s “exposé” of Stalin as politically harmful and morally corrupt. As Marshal D.F. Ustinov, a legendary Stalin-era leader, once said:

“No enemy has harmed us more than Khrushchev with his attacks on our Party’s past and on Stalin.”

As the ideological heir of the RSDLP–RSDLP(b)–RCP(b)–VKP(b)–CPSU–CP RSFSR, the CPRF continues its fight against falsifications of Soviet history. The time has come to declare unequivocally: full historical justice must be restored to the name and legacy of Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin.

The 19th Congress of the CPRF therefore resolves:

• To declare the report delivered by N.S. Khrushchev at the 20th Congress of the CPSU—“On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences”—to be politically motivated, erroneous, and factually distorted. The report included false accusations and misrepresented Stalin’s role as a state and party leader.
• To consider the resolutions of the 22nd Congress of the CPSU regarding Stalin’s legacy to be destructive, harmful to the cause of socialism in the USSR, and damaging to the international communist movement.
• To appeal to President Vladimir Putin to restore the historic names of Stalingrad and the Stalingrad Region, which were changed without valid justification. Restoring these names would preserve historical memory and support Russia’s strategic goals: defeating neo-Nazism, safeguarding sovereignty, and ensuring national security.
• To instruct all levels of the CPRF and its media organs to utilize this resolution as part of the broader ideological struggle. Party-political education programs should incorporate these assessments accordingly.
• To continue promoting the memory of Joseph Stalin, advancing research on his theoretical and practical legacy, and applying it within the current work of the CPRF and the patriotic left.