INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Two-thirds of residents in the Russian city of Volgograd oppose permanently renaming their city to Stalingrad, according to state
Soviet dictator Josef Stalin starting in 1925
The site of the Battle of Stalingrad, where the Soviet army beat back Nazi soldiers on Feb
1 million back the idea of reverting to Stalingrad, according to state pollster VTsIOM.Respondents who back the name change argued that
Stalingrad holds historical value (14% of all respondents) and carries the memory of what Russians call the Great Patriotic War
(12%).Three-quarters of those who supported the return to Stalingrad were unable to provide reasons behind their thinking.The 67% of
residents who oppose the name change said it would be expensive (21% of all respondents), pointless (12%) and too focused on the past
this week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad.Signs marking entrances and exits to the city have been switched
to signs reading "Stalingrad" ahead of the anniversary, a regular practice on major military holidays.Russian media reported recently that
the survey among 600 Volgograd residents by phone on Jan
