Background
Afanas'ev, Iurii was born in 1932.
Afanas'ev, Iurii was born in 1932.
Supporter of Gorbachev. In 1985 appointed Rector of the Institute of Historic Archives in Moscow. His team has faced opposition in carrying out the monumental task of removing some of the Stalinist distortions in Soviet history.
Gave a speech on this subject at the Institute to a professional audience (published by the weekly, Moscow News). Has been viciously attacked by four old-guard historians accusing him of being influenced by Western scholars. The extracts of the speech published pointed at the selectivity of history under Stalin’s rule and blank pages in important chapters.
Suggested a detailed study of the biographies of many leaders whose activities were far from being glorious. Quoted as saying: ‘Stalin did not need historians since he destroyed history as a science in our country.’.
Religion is bad because it makes people base the way they run their lives on a falsehood.
Strong communist party can create a new and better society with neither rich nor poor.