Joseph Stalin's critics claim that he abused his power and should not be allowed to put political opponents into gulags. However, most Soviet legal experts see

Joseph Stalin's critics claim that he abused his power and should not be allowed to put political opponents into gulags. However, most Soviet legal experts see his brash tactics as legally sound, and furthermore justified by extraordinary circumstances of the State of Workers and Peasants imperiled. They note his decisions have been either upheld by the Politburo or gone unchallenged.