Sergeyenko: it’s our sacred duty to prevent distortion of historical memory and historical truth
The further the terrible years of the Great Patriotic War recede into the past, the greater the feat of the Soviet people – as stated by the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Igor Sergeyenko, before the start of the parliamentary readings From Brest Fortress to Berlin: Origins of Soviet Man's Courage and Heroism – organised by the House of Representatives as part of the preparations for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War – which started on February 13th at the National Art Museum of Belarus
Mr. Sergeyenko noted that the event is of patriotic and educational focuses, “Its purpose is to once again appeal to the memory of the Great Patriotic War, to adjust approaches to covering many facts of modern history, taking into account the importance of this topic, especially when building communication with our voters during socio-political events.”
May 9th is a sacred date for every Belarusian citizen, and Mr. Sergeyenko emphasised, “The further the terrible years of the Great Patriotic War recede into the past, the greater the feat of the Soviet people. With the passing years, the number of politicians of various ideologies who seek to desecrate and distort the historical truth in a way that is beneficial to themselves is growing. Many speak of the Great Patriotic War as a fragment of WWII – thus asserting that the war was started by the Soviet Union and won by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. The Nazi salute is actually legalised in many Western countries today, and it is our sacred duty to prevent the distortion of the historical truth and historical memory.”
The politician added that it was Soviet soldiers and Soviet people who bore the brunt of the war. “It was the Soviet soldier who, rising to his full height, protected the whole world from the brown plague, passed the roads of war with battles – retreating and advancing for four years,” he said. “It was the Soviet soldier who hoisted the Banner of Victory over the Reichstag, and it was the Soviet – not English or American – soldier who signed on the wall of the defeated Reichstag. It is very important to tell young people about that.”
