MOSCOW. Dec 8 (Interfax) - A quarter of Joseph Stalin-era archives remain classified, although it is quite possible to declassify them, State Archives Director General Sergei Mironenko told a Monday press conference in response to an Interfax question. The press conference was dedicated to Stalinism.

"I cannot say for certain, but I presume that three-fourths of such documents have been declassified. A quarter remains classified," he said.

"According to our laws, any document must be declassified automatically after 30 years. Unfortunately, this law is not fulfilled," he said.

"Russia has a very awkward and costly declassification system. It takes 27 resolutions of experts to declassify any document," Mironenko noted.

It is difficult to get access to declassified documents, as well, he remarked.

"I am surprised at the absence of any Stalin biography written by an expert. Hundreds of fakes are on sale at book stores, and they do nothing but enhance the myth of Stalin," Mironenko said.