Truth is truth, after all
There are things you just don't debate in some countries. What's out of bounds (and maybe illegal) in political debates in the countries your students are studying?Outlawed Disagreement
Governments and ideologies change, but the battles and victories of the Great Patriotic War remain dear to the Russian heart—so dear that debating the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Adolf Hitler or condemning the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe may soon be considered a crime. A new law proposed by Emergency Minister Sergei Shoigu will equate such statements to rehabilitating Nazism, which will in turn further complicate Russia’s relations with its pro-Western neighbors and interfere with the work of World War II researchers in Russia...
Three days before Victory Day, United Russia deputies proposed anti-denial legislation, with Shoigu acting as the lead architect. This time, the crime was defined as rehabilitating Nazism. Those found guilty would face heavy fines and up to three years in jail (up to five years should they employ media outlets to spread their soon-to-be-illegal ideas). The bill could be adopted as a new article in the Penal Code as soon as late June.
But one doesn’t have to literally try to rehabilitate Nazism to be punished. Should the proposed bill be passed into law, punishable offenses will include approving Nazi Germany's actions during the Second World War, labeling the actions of the allies against the Nazi aggressors as “criminal,” and “belittling the role of the Soviet Union in the anti-Hitler coalition.” “Those trying to turn everything upside down and portray the Nazi liberator states as invaders have to suffer punishment,” RIA Novosti quoted Valery Ryazansky, a United Russia deputy and one of the law’s sponsors, as saying, "This law will not only apply to Russian citizens on Russian territory, but to foreign citizens as well, who will be declared personae non grata if found in violation of the law. Even former Soviet republics could suffer the consequences if they challenge Russia's interpretation of Second World War history—their ambassadors will be banished and all diplomatic relations will be severed."
The well-publicized bill enjoys widespread support among Russians. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) reported that 60 percent of those polled were in favor of outlawing the denial of Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War...
Labels: political culture, Russia
posted by Ken Wedding @ 5:38 AM
1 Comments:
Russia and its image: Put in more flags"President Dmitry Medvedev affirmed in his address that the lessons of the war against the Nazis were 'relevant today, given the outsiders who are interested in embarking on military adventures.'...
"There was no room in the celebrations to mention Russia’s wartime allies or to re-examine Stalin’s destructive war strategy...
"Anyone who questions the official version of Russia’s victory or talks of Soviet occupation may soon face criminal charges in Russia. The Kremlin has massively rewritten history, approving textbooks that rehabilitate Stalin as an 'effective manager.' And it often turns a blind eye to the fascist talk of ultra-nationalists...
"[All this] reinforced expectations that he will return as president (for two six-year terms) when Mr Medvedev’s term expires in 2012. As for Mr Medvedev, the Moscow rumour mill says he may fancy becoming boss of the constitutional court, a job that also falls vacant in 2012. Mr Medvedev recently suggested that the next head of the court should be chosen by the president. As a top lawyer, he would be in a position to ensure that none of Russia’s recent history was falsified."
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