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On 23 January, the European Parliament voted in favour of a resolution aimed at countering Russia’s disinformation and falsification of history, which have become the main tools for manipulating public opinion and justifying the war against Ukraine. This was reported by Radio Liberty.
Historical falsification as a weapon
During the debate held in late 2024, MEPs highlighted the Kremlin’s systematic distortion of historical facts. Particular attention was paid to Russia’s attempts to deny the existence of the Ukrainian nation and statehood.
“Disinformation is a fundamental part of Russia’s military operations. The frontline of this hybrid war runs through our democracies, universities, parliaments, media and other institutions. Its aim is to sow distrust and foment internal divisions,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
The Kremlin is rewriting history
The resolution notes that Russian propaganda is trying to rewrite the history of not only Ukraine but also other European countries.
- The Baltic States: Russia denies the fact of their occupation in 1940, calling it a “voluntary accession” to the USSR.
- Poland: The Kremlin continues to deny responsibility for the Katyn massacre and presents the 1939 attack on Poland as “liberation”.
- Czech Republic and Slovakia: Russian narratives shift the blame for the deployment of Soviet troops in 1968 to Ukrainians in occupation units.
“Putin is using history as a military unit,” MEPs stressed.
The European Parliament called for strengthening the counteraction to Russian disinformation, supporting independent media and strengthening the information security of European institutions.
Meanwhile, Russia announced the creation of a Project Office to attract foreigners who share “Russian traditional values”. The initiative will be coordinated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.
The European Parliament’s resolution is another step in the fight against the Kremlin’s hybrid war against the democratic world.
