In 1924, when Lenin died, the Communist Party leadership decided not to bury its leader, but embalm his body and put it on public display.
Lori/Legion-MediaIn 1924, when Lenin died, the Communist Party leadership decided not to bury its leader, but embalm his body and put it on public display, despite the fact that Lenin himself had expressed a wish to be buried alongside his mother in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg).
The building of the mausoleum was designed by the renowned architect Alexei Shchusev, the man responsible for Russia's pavilion in the Giardini park in Venice. It was opened to the public in 1930. It is interesting that the top tier has a stand, from which Soviet leaders right up to Mikhail Gorbachev welcomed the parades in Red Square.
The mausoleum also became a symbol of loyalty to the ideals of Leninism. A visit to this place in Moscow was a kind of pilgrimage – for both Soviet citizens and delegations from friendly countries. The tomb was visited by up to 2.5 million people annually.
But there are those who are not ready to bury the famous Bolshevik – first of all, the communists. According to them, Lenin is already buried (the sarcophagus with the body is at a depth of three meters below ground), while the mausoleum is a unique historic monument, which cannot be deprived of its substance by removing the body.
The government is neutral. Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the possibility of burial, said that this issue should be approached carefully, so as "not to divide society." According to the most recent opinion poll, a majority of Russians (60 percent) are generally supportive of the idea of burial.
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