From 2023, Russian high school students will study according to new “history textbooks”.
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Their co-author was personally Vladimir Medinsky, the former Minister of Culture of Russia, and now an assistant to President Putin and his adviser on military history.
In this book for 11th grade students, according to readers, about 100 pages are devoted to the rule of dictator Putin.
Sergei Sidorenko, editor-in-chief of Evropeyskaya Pravda, noted in his article that this textbook caused a whole storm of emotions in Hungary.
References to Hungary in the book relate primarily to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, an anti-Soviet uprising that was brutally suppressed by the regular army of the USSR.
But the authors of the “textbook” call the participants in the 1956 revolution fascists and rebellious radicals who fought against Soviet monuments.
The catalyst for the Hungarian crisis was the actions of the Western intelligence services and the internal opposition they supported, the “history textbook” claims and additionally criticizes the Hungarians for “deciding to abandon the Stalinist legacy” (it is interesting that this characterization, therefore, should show the Hungarians from dashing side for Russian schoolchildren).
This propaganda textbook, unlike the Hungarian one mentioned above, is mandatory for use in Russian schools.
Once again, the “hand of the West” is to blame for everything, allegedly leading a handful of “fascists”, and this led to bloody events, although in general the people and leaders of the country, they say, sought to be with Russia.
Zero reaction
It is easy to understand the scale of indignation of many ordinary Hungarians because of this scandal caused by the Russian “history textbook”. And not just Russian, but authored by Putin’s adviser,” writes Siorenko.
Public outrage over this book has now united all politicians and all parties in Hungary – with one, but very big exception – Viktor Orban and his team.
None of the Hungarian officials or Fidesz functionaries reacted to what society perceived as a Russian attack.
The representative of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Tomasz Menzer, limited himself to a very diplomatic comment for the pro-government media: they say that the fact that in 1956 the Hungarian people rebelled against the communist dictatorship is so obvious that we are not going to prove it to anyone.
The head of the Foreign Ministry, Peter Szijjarto, who always makes sarcastic comments about Ukraine, is also silent. But about the Russian pseudo-book and the anti-Hungarian theses in it – not a couple from the lips.
In 2016, Szijjarto and his department called the Russian ambassador to the carpet in a similar situation. Then there was not a book, but a 10-minute program about 1956 in Hungary with similar narratives.
Now the willingness to endure the insults of Russians in Budapest is incomparably higher.
Meanwhile, pressure on Orban on this matter continues. History with Russian! history textbook has become a convenient tool for the struggle of the Hungarian opposition with the current government. All leading opposition politicians – from parliamentarians to the mayor of Budapest – demanded that Orban immediately call the Russian ambassador.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.