The Death of Stalin is the second film about a historical figure to stir up controversy in Russia in recent months.
Pavel Pozhigailo said The Death of Stalin, directed by Armando Iannucci – the man behind the political satires Veep and The Thick Of It – was a “planned provocation” aimed at angering Russia’s communists.
He speculated that the British-French production could be part of a western plot to destabilise Russia by causing rifts in society.
Russia’s Communist party, the second largest party in parliament, has previously called the film “revolting”.