Russian radio station being sued by Stalin’s grandson for allegedly dishonoring the dictator

Stalin’s grandson sues Russian radio station

MOSCOW — A Moscow radio station says it is being sued by Josef Stalin’s grandson who claims the station wrongfully dishonored the dictator.

The lawsuit is the second of its kind filed by Yevgeny Dzhugashvili.

Ekho Moskvy radio said Saturday the suit was filed against program host Matvei Ganapolsky who read a phrase from a book saying Stalin had approved the shooting of children as young as 12.

Ganapolsky then added: “What kind of bastard would say even one word in his defense.”

Stalin’s legacy has been a subject of fierce debate in Russia. He ordered the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Soviet citizens during the purges, but he is revered by many for turning a struggling nation into a superpower.

Dzhugashvili lost a similar libel case in October.