Ethnic Minorities in the U.S.S.R. The Soviet Union inherited the vast and diverse territories of the former Russian Empire. In this propaganda poster, titled “The Great Stalin Is the Banner of Friendship Between the Peoples of the U.S.S.R.!” the Soviet dictator receives flowers from a diverse group of Soviet citizens, including ethnic Russians and East and Central Asians. This idealized testament to peaceful coexistence within the Soviet empire masked the tensions aroused by Russian domination. How does this poster represent the relationship between Stalin and the Soviet people?