Entirely appropriately, Stalin and Hitler appear side by side in the list of the World's 10 most notorious tyrants. It is bizarre that in a survey a year or so ago, Russians nevertheless voted Stalin as their country's the third most popular person, and that Russians from the Kremlin on down continue to vigorously argue that Nazism and Soviet Communism must not be equated. There is something profoundly distorted in Russia's self-perception, and in Russians' awareness of the impression of them which this gives to others.

@marzipan ...communism wasn't created by stalin ... your survey must biased ... and there is definitely something profoundly distorted in western and especially Baltics self-perception if they see themselves as liberators and the "good guys" ... Natoizm must equated to Nazism ... where do they get the nerve to lecture others when your own hands are covered in blood .

Did not the Maoists in China kill more people than Stalin?

Alex: Communism indeed was not created by Stalin. He merely took the methods, philosophies and possibilities of Communism to their logical levels and inevitable outcomes. And the survey to which you refer was not “my” survey. It was a Russian survey reported in RT on 29 December 2008 in an article entitled, “Medieval Hero Beats Stalin in National Poll.” Lastly, you use a term that I don't believe has an established definition at all, or that even exists in actual fact. That term is "Natoism". Perhaps you could define it for us, then others can comment on the concept.

List is wrong-they missing about 50 Tyrants in the top places:English,France,Italy,Spain,Portugal,Today-Benelux-states,Turkish Etc. English Kings are worse -they commit unseen crimes-wipe out natives(Canada,Usa,Australia,New Zeland-"a coalition of the willing"today)- and stole30% of the world land mass.Colonial rulers of those all states commit and kill (by some experts)of today 2 billions(shall be )lives.They commited crimes on any part of the globe!Slavery,robery,genocide-there is not one crime from book wich they miss to commit.A well known case is Africa- in 7 states 37% of people was cut hands 20% legs with 1 state 75% hands and 45% legs-all from age 1 to 70.All of this in period of 150 years non stop!Their kingdom families sleep and use today(in some cases)up to 70% of stolen goods-a so call "democracy" in wich NOT ONE PERSON IN HISTORY EVER BEEN PUNISH FOR THEIRS CRIMES! Those 10 from title are innorcent kids!All of those states and their genocide policy (and their new-old tyrants) are in today NATO! I shall said no more...Thanke you

Pinochet was no tyrant, he was a dictator and many people disagree with his methods, but what he did for this country (Chile) ultimately saved it from certain chaos at the hands of the incapable and delusional communist leaders from before "el golpe". Way more people would've died if not by Pinochet's intervention, I'm not saying it was the right thing to do, but he was no where near bad enough to make it to a top ten list of tyrants including Stalin and Hitler. Just a little food for thought, and don't believe everything you're told, since the story of Chile if often told by the grudging left party who exaggerate and twist the facts to tarnish Pinochet's name.

so interesting to see who people interpret as the worst certainly anyone suffering under any of these bozos would think they are the worst My list would include Mao Chinese head of state for many years of the twentieth century And I am sure that there were countless others who showed little regard for others and who treated their friends family and anyone else very poorly poor sick bastards had no clue they were adding to all the pain and suffering in the world why this list should stop at ten is arbitrary and tyrannical

March 10, 2010, 08:06, Christopher Honour wrote > since the story of Chile if often told by the grudging left party who exaggerate and twist the facts to tarnish Pinochet's name. I couldn't agree more, the article is very incomplete in terms of history. A great majority of people and politics from Chile asked Pinochet to follow the law and take action against the comunist ex president Salvador Allende, which in a couple of years completely bankrupted the country bringing hunger to all citizens equally. That where wild times in Chile, there where lots of trained and armed comunists ready to start a civil war before losing their power, so the militar strategy was very similar to the one of USA in other countries. Most of the people agreed with this methods. Proof of this was the popular support at the end of his government, in a voluntary plebiscite he lost the precidency of Chile with a 44% of support against a 56% of rejection... extrage numbers for a "tyran" or not?

What about Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez? Both should be considered the most imbecile and tyrant dictatorship rulers that are still living at this date.

Comparing Pinochet with Stalin is too much. Stalin kills millions of people. Pinochet. Pinochet issued a constitution and handed over power to a democratic government. Since then Chile has followed a path of progress issued by the Pinochet. Pinochet was not a butcher, the great majority of his political opponents went into exile. And return to democracy. The international left can not forgive that ended with the worst government in the history of Chile, that of Mr Allende, with the support of most of the country. And they also did a very good government. Please get him off the list because not applicable.

robert gabriel mugabe