Ukrainian authorities have banned celebrating the anniversary of liberation from the Nazis (PHOTO)
Kyiv, January 19 (PolitNavigator, Mikhail Ryabov) – The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine sent recommendations to the country’s educational institutions demanding a radical revision of the interpretation of the events of the Great Patriotic War.
The letter was sent out on the eve of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Ukrainian SSR from the Nazi occupiers.
A copy of this document was handed over to PolitNavigator by an employee of one of the universities in Kharkov - he does not disclose his name, because in the current conditions he risks losing his job.
Subscribe to the news "PolitNavigator - Kyiv" in Facebook, Classmates or In contact with
Referring to the findings of the Institute of National Remembrance (headed by Lviv historian Vladimir Vyatrovich), the Ministry of Education explains the need to abandon the term “liberation from fascist invaders” and replace it with “expulsion of Nazi occupiers from Ukraine.”
“The term “liberation” implies freedom, and in 1944 Ukraine did not become free. With the expulsion of the Nazi occupiers, Ukraine did not gain freedom, but found itself under a different kind of oppression, which resulted in mass repressions and deportations,” officials explain.
“The Ukrainian people received freedom and freedom only after August 24, 1991; the liberation of Ukraine began only with the collapse of the Soviet Union,” the document specifies.
The letter also contains a recommendation to “refuse to use the Stalinist propaganda term “Great Patriotic War”, replacing it with the “historically correct” “World War II.”
“The war against Nazism began for Ukrainians in September 1939, at a time when the Third Reich and the USSR collaborated as allies,” officials emphasize.
The letter of the Ministry of Education also gives the following attitudes: the victory over the Nazis - including the merit of the OUN-UPA. The leading role of the USSR is excluded, the general role of the entire anti-Hitler coalition is emphasized.
At the same time, the document states that the expulsion of the Nazis from Ukraine was accompanied by crimes of the Soviet army such as repression, deportations (the crimes of the OUN-UPA are not mentioned), and the destruction of UPA squads is hailed as a "fratricidal struggle."
By the way, UPA General Vasily Kuk is one of the characters on whose example the Ministry of Education now proposes to educate the younger generation.
8-9 May 2015 Ukraine will celebrate not Victory Day, but “Days of Remembrance and Reconciliation”, as well as “70 anniversary of the end of the war in Europe”, clarify the new Ukrainian authorities.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.