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Photo: Sputnik/ Peter Bernstein
On May 9, the participants of the International video conference “USSR: VICTORIOUS TOGETHER – for Peace and Creation”, representatives the majority of post-Soviet countries, discussed complex issues of history falsification.
Participants of the conference shared their positive experience, and at the end they joined the online Song Marathon “Music of Victory”.
The conference was organized by the Foundation “Eurasians – New Wave”, the International Union of Non-Governmental Organizations the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, Club of Regional Experts of Kyrgyzstan “Pikir” and a number of other public organizations from countries of the former USSR. Scientists, public figures, politicians and diplomats met in an online format.
“People, despite different conditions in different countries, celebrate Victory Day today. This is a global event,” - said Mikhail Fedorov, Deputy Secretary General of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly. - In Russia, 2020 was declared the Year of Memory and Glory, a commemorative medal was established, and a parade was held. But in other countries there are attempts to falsify and rewrite the history.”
“Now it is necessary to teach people to draw conclusions about what is fake and what is real,” - said Alexander Hrebtov, a representative of Belarus, Deputy Director of the Eurasian Economic Integration and Development Center of the State University of Management.
Fakes about the past terrible war are now becoming the state policy of many States.
“Look at the media and social networks company deployed to discredit our Victory over fascism,” - said Yuri Anufriev, President of the “Eurasians - New Wave” Foundation. - Some politicians and pseudo-political scientists accuse the USSR of colluding with Hitler's Germany.
I would like to recall Churchill's words: “No government could have resisted such terrible, cruel wounds inflicted by Hitler on Russia, but the Soviets not only survived and recovered from these wounds, but also dealt Hitler a blow of such power that no other army in the world could have inflicted.”
Yuri Anufriev recalled yesterday's statement made by the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas that Germany alone unleashed the Second World War by attacking Poland and Germany alone is responsible for crimes against humanity.
Although the Great Patriotic war ended 75 years ago, it still concerns too many people and too many do not like its results enshrined in international agreements.
“They try to drag us to our national apartments,”- said Nikolay Udovichenko, the Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kyrgyzstan. - These attempts become a challenge that must be considered and fought. We must not allow ourselves to be dispersed. The lesson of collectivism is something to remember. Only our collective beginning allowed us to avoid spreading the ideas of fascism.”
The diplomat believes that now more than ever there is a problem of falsification of history, there are many trying to rehabilitate Nazism.
In a number of post-Soviet countries, the rewriting of historical facts takes place at the level of the country's leadership.
“It seems that the war did not end in Riga,” - said Miroslav Mitrofanov, co - Chairman of the “Latvian Russian Union” political party. - I would like someone from the country's ruling parties to be in my place at this video conference. But these people have never celebrated the Victory Day, at least in the last 30 years.”
The Latvian politician is particularly concerned about the Sejm resolution adopted last autumn, which actually equalizes the Nazis and the USSR.
“Two representatives of Russian parties voted for this resolution. Only the Head of our party, Tatyana Zhdanok was against, - Miroslav Mitrofanov reported. Then we were comforted: “Nothing will happen.” In fact, this resolution had a continuation. A few days ago, the Sejm approved a law on equating the Soviet uniform ban with the Nazi uniform. The President sent the law back, but not to repeal it, but to tighten it, so as to prevent the use of the uniform at commemorative events on May 9.”
“On May 9, 150 thousand people gathered at the monument to the Soviet soldiers-liberators in Riga, and on official holidays – at most 1500. This awakens anger, a desire for revenge. Flowers were laid this morning. Tens and hundreds of people came to the monument.”
Representative of Lithuania, Chairman of the Institute of Military Heritage Yurijus Traksjalis expressed concern about the safety of military graves of the Soviet Army soldiers on the Republic territory.
“In Moldova the celebration also takes place in difficult conditions,” - said Sergey Nazarenko, Chairman of the public Association the “Cadet Brotherhood” in Kishinev. - Not only the coronavirus interferes, but also the socio-political situation. Many people find it hard to pronounce the words Victory Day, they celebrate Europe Day. Nevertheless, there are more sane and progressive forces.”
This thesis was confirmed by the Director of the company “Russian Television of Moldova” Irina Melnik.
“Despite the virus, at this moment there are retro cars and flags in the National Assembly Square. This morning in Moldova, the President and the Speaker of the Parliament laid flowers, - said Irina Melnik. - People cannot be divided. Many Moldovans treat the holiday with trepidation. The restoration of monuments continues throughout Moldova. Nine large memorial complexes will be restored. Many of the monuments are restored with the help of Russian regions. The Moldovans remember, honor and will never betray their ancestors who died liberating our land from the brown plague.”
Of course, not all countries ' leaders seek to rewrite history in favor of the current political situation. In the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, the celebration of the Great Victory is held at a decent level, veterans receive assistance and government grants, and monuments are maintained at a decent level.
The participants of the conference noted that the anniversary of the Victory is not only a holiday of peace, but also a starting point for the formation of a new paradigm of human relations based on good-neighborliness, mutual understanding and interaction.
At the end of the conference, its participants joined the Song Marathon “Music of Victory”. They performed the song “Victory Day” at 2 p.m. This performance claims to be an all-Russian record.
Lev Ryzhkov