Sergei Stepashin
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Fund of assistance to reforming housing and communal services, former Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin said that in 1998, President Boris Yeltsin instructed him to demolish the mausoleum of Vladimir Lenin. About it reports “Interfax” with reference to article in the journal “the Historian” on Wednesday, April 26.
“Come, go to him, and in the Cabinet Yeltsin says: “Sergei Vadimovich, I decided to demolish the mausoleum of Lenin.” I said, “Well, MIA got to do with anything?” He said that the interior Ministry should provide the order,” — says Sergei Stepashin, head of the Department in 1998-1999, before the appointment of the head of government.
According to him, he warned Yeltsin about the possible consequences of the burial of Lenin. “I am a Minister and must comply with the orders of the Supreme commander. The only thing Boris, don’t guarantee that after this act I will remain a Minister, and you, President,” — said Stepashin, adding that the President of his arguments are heard.
April 20 of this year to the Duma deputies from fractions of LDPR and “United Russia” introduced a document on the legal mechanism of reburial of the remains. In particular, the MPs propose mandatory to create the interdepartmental Commission of the decision on the reburial of the remains of historical figures. Later United Russia withdrew its signature under the bill.
Co-author of the document, MP Volodymyr Sysoev (LDPR) insists that the Soviet leader was a baptized man, so his remains must be brought to the earth according to Christian tradition.
The embalmed body of Lenin is kept in the mausoleum since 1924.