Why didnt Stalin allow free elections in eastern Europe after world war 2?

Stalin did not allow free elections in Eastern Europe after World War II because he aimed to establish a buffer zone of communist-aligned countries to protect the Soviet Union from potential Western aggression. He believed that free elections could lead to the rise of non-communist governments, which would threaten Soviet influence in the region. Instead, Stalin supported the establishment of authoritarian communist regimes that were loyal to Moscow, effectively consolidating Soviet control over Eastern Europe. This strategy contributed to the onset of the Cold War as it deepened the divide between the East and West.