The Great Patriotic War occupies a central place in the historical memory of Belarusians, Igor Valakhanovich, Сhief Adviser of the BISR Foreign Policy Department, said on the sidelines of the international forum of the Union State "Great Heritage - Common Future" in Volgograd, BelTA reports.
"The preservation of historical memory is one of the most important directions of the state's policy in the field of ideology, protection of historical and cultural heritage. It allows to form a mechanism of continuity in the public consciousness of significant historical events and personalities," Igor Valakhanovich said. "The main purpose of the state historical policy is to ensure the formation and development of objective approaches to assessing the historical past, creating conditions for its positive perception by society. At the same time, the policy of memory should prevent attempts to purposefully distort the interpretation of historical events, the activities of socio-political structures and individual personalities to the detriment of historical and national identity."
Historical policy for the Republic of Belarus is one of the ways to consolidate an objective image of the past, which ensures the consolidation of society, strengthens interethnic and interfaith harmony, and records the historical continuity of the development of the Belarusian statehood, the expert noted. "Such an understanding of the politics of memory strengthens the immunity of the mass consciousness against the imposed alien ideals and values, promotes the education of patriotism and civic responsibility," he stressed.
"Despite repeated attempts to revise the history of the country, the central place in the historical memory of Belarusians is occupied by the Great Patriotic War, the events of which are of the greatest interest, and Victory Day is significant for the vast majority of citizens," Igor Valakhanovich emphasized. "The most important events related to the Great Patriotic War in the historical memory of society are Victory, liberation and resistance (partisan and underground movements during the war). The war is perceived by contemporaries as a heroic feat and ordeals of the Soviet people. Traditionally, opinion polls record the Great Patriotic War as the most important historical event for the residents of the republic."
Opinions expressed by the forum participants will be reflected in the Statement of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia on the Protection of Historical Truth and the Preservation of Historical Memory of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. It is planned to be adopted at the 68th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia, which will be held in June 2025 in Brest. The plenary session of the international forum of the Union State "Great Heritage - Common Future" will be held on April 29.