A heated discussion on Joseph Stalin and his role in Russian history between two distinguished journalists turned into a trading of insults and then a fistfight, which was broadcast during a live radio show. <\/p>\n
The incident took place in a studio of Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda around midnight on Tuesday. 51-year-old Maksim Shevchenko and 62-year-old Nikolai Svanidze were discussing whether Stalinism could be considered an illness. At one point, Svanidze, who is known for his liberal views, stated that before WWII, Stalin had already put the Soviet Union in a disastrous state, and called his interlocutor \u201ca scoundrel<\/em>.\u201d Shevchenko, whose political sentiments are more in line with communism, replied by calling Svanidze \u201can incorrigible demagogue<\/em>\u201d and accused him of insulting the memory of the Soviet soldiers who died in the war with the Nazis.<\/p>\n After this, Svanidze approached Shevchenko and hit him in the face. A brawl ensued, which was soon broken up by the staff.<\/p>\n