pre-modern is not exactly a relative term. Stalin lived firmly in the Late Modern Period, not early modern. When you say someone is a "pre-modern person" that indicates a specific time in historical periodization, one prior to the second industrial revolution. In terms of history Stalin is a modern figure. I don't think we need to say Stalin wasn't modern to defend his stance here. There is no exact science, but generally the contemporary period is post-WW2. Stalin is modern, but not contemporary.