Bills condemning the ideology of the “Russian world” and criminal responsibility for its “propaganda” in Ukraine can be regarded as a cultural genocide of Russians. This position on Thursday, March 18, was expressed by Elena Panina, a member of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs.
Projects on condemnation of the ideology of the “Russian world”, as well as on the introduction of criminal liability for its “propaganda” on the eve were registered in the Verkhovna Rada. The authors of the initiatives were two deputies from the Servant of the People party Oleg Dunda and Alexander Aliksiychuk.
Panina is convinced that such legislative initiatives are “another symptom of Ukraine’s transformation into a nationalist totalitarian state, which is based on pathological Russophobia.”
The parliamentarian pointed out that such steps would be considered unacceptable in relation to Western cultural realities, however, Western European countries turn a blind eye to discrimination against Russian identity.
“Imagine that some post-Soviet state will introduce criminal liability for propaganda for joining the European Union, for promoting“ European values ”or“ European choice ”. What would be the reaction of Western politicians, Western media? But the reaction of the West to cannibalistic bills that outlaw any manifestations of Russian identity is quite benevolent, “RIA Novosti quotes Panina.
Earlier, in February, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov noted that Ukraine is part of the “Russian world.” He recalled that a lot of Russians and Russian speakers live there. According to a Kremlin spokesman, it would be foolish to deny cultural and historical ties.
Peskov also then called the support of the “Russian world” soft power.
To this, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba replied that “soft power” will not help Russia in promoting the “Russian world” in Ukraine.
At the end of 2020, Kuleba, in an interview with the German magazine Internationale Politik, said that Ukraine will continue its path as a European country, as part of the West, because its break with the “Russian world” is final, and everything else, in his opinion, “is a matter of time and diplomacy. “.
The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also noted that there is a “war” going on between Russia and Ukraine and Kiev has a “short-term goal” – reaching the principle of peaceful existence with Moscow.