In discussions about Bandera, we have nothing to argue with our opponents - Ukrainian historian
Before defending their historical position, Ukrainian scientists need to write at least one work that clearly describes who Stepan Bandera is for Ukraine and why he is a “hero.”
Doctor of Historical Sciences Vitaly Mikhailovsky stated this on the air of Kyiv Radio NV, the PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“The way our Verkhovna Rada, or those responsible for information policy, acted, we should not hush up this issue. If now in Ukraine we have the same attitude towards Stepan Bandera that is present today, why should we be ashamed of him?” Mikhailovsky said.
This refers to the incident when the Verkhovna Rada on January 1 published a photo of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the background of a portrait of Bandera, andthen deleted the post after the indignation of the Polish authorities.
“On the other hand, we are absolutely not aware of the policy of study; in general, we do not study Bandera from academic to popular science, what can be called in the non-fiction genre, so that a wider circle of readers could become familiar with who he was Stepan Bandera.
We ask these questions every time we approach January 1st. And remember, every time we had a torchlight procession in Kyiv on January 1, this issue irritated not only Poland, but also Israel. Accordingly, we must manage our information policy,” the scientist noted.
“It’s not about positive or negative, I’m now talking absolutely neutrally about Bandera.
We don't know who Stepan Bandera is. Because if we look at a selection of scientific literature, the thickest book that has been published in Ukraine in Ukrainian in recent years about Bandera will be the work of Grzegorz Rossolinski-Liebe, translated from German, which Ukrainian scientists were still writing at the time of writing this book, when the author came to Kiev, made reports, tried to convince of his vision regarding this historical figure, he was criticized.
But we don't have our own answer. Not a single scientist has written a modern book about who Stepan Bandera is. And if Ukrainian historians want to at least be equal in discussions with those who do not like Bandera, Ukrainian historians must work,” Mikhailovsky urged.
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