Stalin-themed cafe in Moscow closed after public outcry
Stalin-themed cafe closed
A shawarma shop in Moscow was forced to close a day after it opened following an outcry over its provocative Josef Stalin-themed branding.
The Stalin Doner shop featured a portrait of the controversial Communist leader above its front door. Inside, a man dressed in the Stalin-era security service uniform served customers meat wraps named after Soviet leaders.
The shop was fully opened the day before yesterday and served around 200 customers. Shop owner Stanislav Voltman later said police had forced him to remove the Stalin sign and then “colossal pressure” from local authorities forced him to shut completely.
“I had expected some social media hype,” Voltman said. “But I had not expected that all TV stations, all the reporters and bloggers would flock here and queue up like they do in front of the Lenin mausoleum.”
The branding was hotly debated on social media with some commenters condemning it as distasteful.
Stalin’s rule was marked by mass repression, labour camps and famine. Nearly 700,000 people were executed during the Great Terror of 1936-38, according to conservative official estimates.
)
American blogger Perez Hilton, covered in blood, cuts himself during livestream, hospitalized after distressing incident
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Influencer killed on livestream: Mexican cartel boss' son asked dad to kill woman who broke up with him
)
‘Pakistan called for ceasefire, we kept them waiting’: Ex-CDS Anil Chauhan recalls Operation Sindoor
)
Sajeeb Wazed raises Indian security concerns, calls Bangladesh a 'failed state'
)
Ceaser Gastelum killed during TikTok livestream: What was his last recording?
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Who is Tewolde Gebremariam? Air India appoints former Ethiopian Airlines chief as CEO
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Pradeep Rawat died at 74: Revisit the unforgettable roles that defined his career
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian tanks are much lighter compared to US tanks
)
The genetic roots of Tamils: 75,000 DNA markers decoded in latest study of Sangam-era settlement
)
Munir-protege Mohsin Naqvi’s claim of unearthing huge scam triggers tremors in Pakistan’s power corridors
)
Ghajini villain Pradeep Rawat passes away at 74 after battle with cancer
)
Mark Zuckerberg apologises to Indian government over harmful content, platform errors amid PM video row
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Who is Shreya Kalra? Meet the social media star who lifted the Lock Upp 2 trophy
)
What’s happening in Nepal? How did a local clash turn into communal violence? WION Decodes
)
Venezuela’s oil exports to India surge, restoring its role as a key energy supplier
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Lock Upp season 2: Most dramatic and viral moments that kept fans hooked
)
'Dhoni Made Fleming Great': Panesar says ECB made the wrong choice for England Test coach
)
Donald Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed a 'communist loser', seeks FBI probe into Michigan primary
)
Scientists find descendants of ancient sea creatures trapped under Antarctica's Blood Falls
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (August 3-9, 2026): Main Vaapas Aaunga, Uyir, Operation Safed Sagar- 6 titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Childhood home of Neil Armstrong up for sale | Gravitas
)
Strait of Hormuz deal with Oman being ‘finalised’: Iran’s foreign ministry
)
CJP's Saurav Das alleges YouTubers broke into his house, seeks Delhi Police action
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Pentagon draws up new nuclear strategy in the event of war with Russia and China
)
Nvidia just put $5 billion into a company that has never shipped a product
)
'I was almost trafficked in Paris,' says Australian woman, shares terrifying ordeal - 'I am on the black market'
)
$1.3 trillion vanished from chip stocks in days and demand never fell
)
'Crass, cheap and deeply derogatory:' Internet slams Udhayanidhi Stalin over his 'double-meaning' remark on Trisha
)
Ex top Pakistan official blames economic woes on China: Here's how CPEC became a failure
)
‘Disputes could help ousted forces make comeback’: Bangladesh PM warns ahead of Sheikh Hasina’s Delhi PC
)
Did military GPS jamming cause a plane to crash in New Mexico? Here's what a report says
However, many in the former Soviet Union still regard him primarily as the leader who defeated Nazi Germany in the Second World War, ensuring the country’s very existence.