02.12.2009 11:36  On Tuesday a presentation of the report “Coverage of general history of Russia and peoples of the post-Soviet states in school textbooks of new independent states history” took place in Moscow prepared subsequent to the results of large scale investigation, during which 187 school history textbooks and schoolbooks of 12 countries of the former Soviet Union were translated and studied.
Experts came to a conclusion that in textbooks of the CIS countries the key events of the general soviet history are absent or misrepresented. Moreover, textbooks’ authors interpret joining Russia as the loss of independence, and do not mention benefits these republics had gained. One cannot but say that with the exception of Byelorussia and Armenia, all other countries took the path of the falsification of history. According to authors of the report, in most CIS countries textbooks describe Russia as a sworn enemy. Take the interpretations alone actually equalizing Hitlerite Germany and the Soviet Union as perpetrators of the Second World War.
“It is not difficult to guess that events such as the February and October Revolutions, periods of socialism formation, the Second World War and post-war developments are misrepresented very much. But sometimes, it was striking how much the key events of more ancient periods are misrepresented,” said Professor in the Chair of National History of the History Department of Moscow State University Alexander Vdovin.
It is worthwhile noting that “new” history textbooks of the former republics of the USSR try to colour their history, often letting facts pass. Thus, the authors try to represent their people as ancient as possible, endowed with cultural mission.
Another feature of the CIS countries textbooks is an image of “a sworn enemy”, Russians and Russia are communicated as a source of all calamities. Thus, joining Russia is almost always appraised negatively.
As to the period of the USSR, the “heroic” struggle of peoples against occupiers is mainly described in textbooks.
Textbooks of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and the Baltic States connect the beginning of the Second World War with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and call the USSR aggressor.
For example, according to schoolbooks, the Letts who served in the SS struggled for freedom. The Ukrainian textbooks glorify UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army), and shift the blame for bloody punitive operations onto NKVD officials, who disguised themselves in rebels.
Experts noted that in 15-20 years the developments of the 20 century will be completely forgotten and in consciousness of the former USSR peoples an image of Russia will be formed as a sinister empire that has annihilated, suppressed and exploited them for ages. Thus, already now 39 percent of young people of Estonia and 46 percent of young citizens of Georgia say that theya have never heard of Marshal Georgy Zhukov. 
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