The Federation Council has discussed important aspects of fostering an objective view of Russia’s history abroad.
Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev convened a meeting on that topic.
The foreign policy environment has markedly deteriorated recently, Konstantin Kosachev noted. The emergence of Russophobic historical narratives, including at the legislative level, has intensified in many foreign countries (especially in Europe and some neighbouring countries), Ukraine and Poland being the most glaring examples, the senator explained. Earlier, the Baltic countries had led the way in elevating anti-Russia historical interpretations to the rank of law. “History is becoming increasingly politicised and used to reinforce information attacks on Russia and its foreign policy,” Konstantin Kosachev said.
The senator believes that in the current situation, Russia needs a long-term strategy and mechanisms for dealing with the history agenda in each particular country. “We should not only repel attacks, dispel myths and disprove distortions that are broadcast by the authorities of the focus countries, but promote our own proactive historical agenda.”
For example, 2018 marked the 80th anniversary of the Munich Agreement, an important event that led directly to World War II. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Historical Society and other agencies undertook major efforts, such as organising exhibitions and conferences. “This means we should not ignore this topic until the next anniversary, but we need to continue what we have already begun, attract new partners, plan appropriate activities and research, and work with civil society abroad.”
Among other important topics, Konstantin Kosachev spoke about systematising our own knowledge of the history of neighbouring states. “We see how Ukraine is rewriting history at the state level, creating a new mythologised, Russophobic historical narrative that in the foreseeable future can completely obscure academic historical knowledge and form among young people a perception of our country completely unacceptable from the perspective of Russia's national security.”
The senator believes specialists need to be trained in this field, in particular, professionals from neighbouring countries.
Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of History and Records Mikhail Yakovlev spoke in detail about the department’s work. He believes that along with keeping track of anniversaries and memorable dates, it is necessary to work on the most relevant topics.
The participants discussed the feasibility of creating inter-agency mechanisms to deal with falsifications of Russian history and foster an objective view of Russia in foreign public opinion; proposals for the development of international calendars of Russian historical events and anniversaries; issues related to grant support for academic and research work in history, as well as contacts between Russian and foreign historians.
The event was attended by First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Sergei Kislyak, members of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Oleg Morozov and Olga Timofeeva, representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Civic Chamber, the expert community, and heads of relevant think tanks and public associations.