Lenin nostalgics gathered in Moscow today in front of his mausoleum to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of the leader of the Bolshevik revolution and Soviet Union.

Despite the bitter cold, as the temperature had dropped to around -15°C, dozens of people waited in line, at Red Squareto place a few flowers on his body.

The mausoleum, a building of black and red stone, houses Lenin’s embalmed body, in its shadow Kremlinsince 1930 and remains a tourist attraction to this day, despite the collapse of the USSR more than 30 years ago.

Iulia, a 47-year-old councilor, told AFP she went to Red Square “to commemorate Vladimir Leninof our leader, the founder of the Soviet state” who fought “for justice”.

“He played a role not only for her Russia but also for the whole world”, added the 73-year-old Nikolai. The same argument was put forward by his peer pensioner Olga, who stated that Lenin “did a lot” and “created the state”.

Some of those gathered held portraits of the revolutionary leader who died in 1924 at the age of 53. Others held his flags Communist partywhich is represented in the Duma and is among the parties allowed to participate in the elections.

Lenin “represents an ideal, which should not only be respected but also followed,” said 78-year-old Valentina Alexandrovna, who held a small bouquet in her hands. The Russian pensioner added that “only” Lenin’s doctrine can allow Russia to “get out of the current situation”.

“Our country is on the brink,” he concluded.