“The way we perceive the past determines our political choices and positions today”, said historian Stefan Bejan, an expert at WatchDog Community. The statement was made during the public debate “June 22, 1941: reality, myths, and propaganda”, organized by IPN Press Agency.
According to the historian, in the current geopolitical context, the Russian Federation continues to exploit historical aspects in its propaganda messages, with the aim of influencing the perceptions and decisions of citizens from the former Soviet bloc, including the Republic of Moldova.
“The Russian Federation places great emphasis on historical memory. The person who will go to vote on September 28 will be heavily influenced by their vision of the Second World War and their vision of the war in Ukraine. Those who claim that June 22 marked the start of the Great Patriotic War are now on the side of the Russian Federation and do not condemn the invasion of Ukraine. Those who argue that June 22 was a continuation of the Second World War are now against the war in Ukraine,” explained Stefan Bejan.
In his opinion, Moldovans’ perception of the past remains an essential factor in making political decisions and in the country’s geopolitical orientation.
“Moldovans’ perception of historical events greatly influences their current decisions. Also, history is being used as a destabilizing factor, as a factor of political influence in the Republic of Moldova,” underlined the historian.
Historian Stefan Bejan also drew attention to the importance of the parliamentary elections in September, which he considers a new test for Moldovan society, facing the choice between East and West.
“In September, crucial parliamentary elections will take place, and we will once again be faced with the choice between East and West, not necessarily between political doctrines or electoral programs. History matters a lot today in Moldovan society,” concluded the WatchDog Community expert.
The public debate “June 22, 1941: reality, myths, and propaganda” is the 50th edition of the cycle “The Impact of the Past on the Processes of Trust and Peace Consolidation”, organized by IPN Press Agency with the support of the German Hanns Seidel Foundation.