A portrait of former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin is seen at a flee market in Moscow, Russia, October 25, 2016. (SIPA Photo)

MOSCOW, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin is gaining a positive image among Russians, a poll conducted by the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Center showed Thursday.

About 62 percent of the respondents agree with the opinion that plaques, busts, pictures telling about Stalin's successes should be placed in public places, the center said in a statement.

"On the other hand, 65 percent of the polled are against setting signs that report his failures and crimes," it said.

The results showed that young people like the controversial leader better than the elderly.

The pollster surveyed 1,200 people aged 18 and above in various Russian regions on July 7-8 via telephone interviews.

Mikhail Mamonov, head of the center's political analysis and consulting department, believes that the negative attitude toward Stalin has been steadily weakening in Russia in recent years.