In this film, Dr Alexander Titov (Queen's University of Belfast), discusses how and why Khrushchev opened up discussions about Stalin and his legacy, the risk that people would blame the current leadership once the scale of repressions became known. Dr Titov examines the both the content of the secret speech (Stalin’s cult of personality, his role in the purges and persecutions, his role in the WWII, his relationship with Lenin) but also its impact and significance.

Dr Titov looks at how Khrushchev attempted to pin the blame on Stalin for the purges, and Khruschev’s attempt at rehabilitating the soviet system through the reintroduction of the cult of Lenin.

Later, Dr Titov, reflects on how Khruschev utilised de-Stalinization to consolidate his own power, limited the scope of de-Stalinization to protect the pillars of soviet authority and retained the fear of repression.