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The European Court of Human Rights on Katyn: a war crime with no legal consequences

EASTWEEK

2012-04-18 | Jadwiga Rogoża

The Court’s verdict is unlikely to have marked the end of the court proceedings into the Katyn massacre. The verdict passed by the ‘basic’ seven-judge chamber is not legally binding, and the Polish side has already announced it will bring a motion for the case to be reheard by the Grand Chamber (consisting of seventeen judges). more »

The evolution of Russia’s historical policy

EASTWEEK

2010-05-12 | Marcin Kaczmarski and Jadwiga Rogoża

Russia is modifying its historical policy; it is giving up its vindications of Stalin, while at the same time defending the concept of the USSR’s role as liberator during the Second World War. more »

Russia’s president criticises Stalin, but not the USSR

EASTWEEK

2010-04-21

On 14 April during his visit to the United States, President Dmitri Medvedev gave a television interview to Russia Today in which he acknowledged Stalin’s guilt for the Katyn massacre. He made a similar declaration on 18 April in Cracow before the funeral of Lech Kaczynski. The criticism of Stalin, visible in statements of the highest authorities may signal an attempt to eliminate the most controversial element of state ideology—that which continues to base itself on the achievements of the Soviet Union during the Second World War. more »

Russian debate on the Katyn massacre: Acknowledgement and closure?

EASTWEEK

2010-04-14 | Jadwiga Rogoża

The Russian ruling elite has acknowledged that the Stalinist regime was responsible for the Katyn massacre, and considers this gesture sufficient to finally close the process of accounting for Katyn. more »

Russian government withdraws the draft law against 'falsification of history'

EASTWEEK

2010-01-20

On 14 January, the Vedomosti daily reported that the government had issued a negative opinion on the draft law providing for penalties for denying the Soviet Union's victory in World War II. The fact that the radical draft has been withdrawn several months before the 65th anniversary of the victory demonstrates that the Russian authorities are currently unwilling to confront their foreign partners, even if they are continuing to actively play the history card. more »