August 13, 2023

Kremlin Rewrites History


Kremlin Rewrites History
A stack of books. Alexander Grey, Unsplash.

Russia's latest history textbook for 16- to 18-year-olds includes a thorough rewriting of Russia’s history from the 1970s to the 2000s. Vladimir Medinsky, the Former Minister of Culture and one of the textbook’s co-authors, presented it at a press conference in Moscow. The book is scheduled for release in September.

“The sections for the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s have been completely revised and rewritten. A section has been added from 2014 to the present that includes the special military operation,” Medinsky said. With a mix of Soviet accomplishments, resentment over the USSR's downfall, and commendations for Russia’s revival since the late 90s, the book aligns with Putin’s lie-filled historical perspective.

According to another co-author, rector of Moscow's State Institute of International Relations Anatoly Torkunov, the textbook’s events are contextualized through “today’s understanding of what happened and what is happening at the moment.”

The textbook characterizes Ukraine as an "ultra-nationalist state" with a record of suppressing any kind of dissent. It contends that the invasion aims to safeguard Donbas and proactively secure Russia. The text also suggests that the United States is a "chief beneficiary" and accuses the West of financing Ukraine, imposing "illegal sanctions" on Russia, and appropriating over $300 billion in Russian assets.

Reuters obtained a copy of the textbook. On page 393, it says: "The West became fixated with destabilizing the situation inside Russia. The aim was not even hidden: to dismember Russia and to get control over its resources."

The textbook authors advised high school students to exercise caution when consuming online war-related information, warning of a persistent stream of fabricated content, staged videos, and misleading images flooding the digital sphere. The book's narrative emphasizes that Russia's younger generation should grasp the significance of the Soviet Union's demise, be wary of perceived Western ideals, and be prepared to contribute to their motherland through self-sacrifice.

You Might Also Like

What are They Teaching Our Kids?
  • May 01, 2004

What are They Teaching Our Kids?

Profound changes are afoot that will alter how future generations of Russians see the world. In schools across Russia, new curricula are being introduced, history is being rewritten, and the role of religion in education is being hotly debated.
What Lies Beneath
  • May 01, 2021

What Lies Beneath

On the architectural heritage of Moscow that is being lost, bit by bit, though not without some resistance by dedicated scientists and activists.
Taken from Home to Belarus
  • July 24, 2023

Taken from Home to Belarus

Children from Russian-annexed Ukraine are being sent to camps in Belarus. Many don't return.
Medieval Musings
  • June 13, 2023

Medieval Musings

A medieval guide to life and ethics may be integrated into the Russian education system.
Standing the Test of Time
  • January 31, 2023

Standing the Test of Time

A conservative State Duma deputy called for the removal of The Gulag Archipelago from the Russian school curriculum.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Marooned in Moscow
May 01, 2011

Marooned in Moscow

This gripping autobiography plays out against the backdrop of Russia's bloody Civil War, and was one of the first Western eyewitness accounts of life in post-revolutionary Russia. Marooned in Moscow provides a fascinating account of one woman's entry into war-torn Russia in early 1920, first-person impressions of many in the top Soviet leadership, and accounts of the author's increasingly dangerous work as a journalist and spy, to say nothing of her work on behalf of prisoners, her two arrests, and her eventual ten-month-long imprisonment, including in the infamous Lubyanka prison. It is a veritable encyclopedia of life in Russia in the early 1920s.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955