Politics
Resistance to Soviets in Baltics, Western Ukraine and Western Belarus
Reading Time: 3 minutesA new Russian website intended to ensure no one forgets what it calls “the victims of nationalist terror in the Western regions of the USSR” unintentionally calls attention to the strength of resistance to the imposition of Soviet power in the Baltic states, Western Ukraine and Western Belarus after World War II.
By Paul Goble
New Russian Web Site Highlights Resistance to Soviets in Baltics, Western Ukraine and Western Belarus after World War II
A new Russian website intended to ensure no one forgets what it calls “the victims of nationalist terror in the Western regions of the USSR” unintentionally calls attention to the strength of resistance to the imposition of Soviet power in the Baltic states, Western Ukraine and Western Belarus after World War II.
The site, lists.historyfoundation.ru/, includes data, admitted to be as yet far from complete, on 3294 civilians (2298) and military (996) who were killed (2444), wounded (505), kidnapped (293) or disappeared (52) between 1944 and 1947. The number of victims was 190 in 1944, 2641 in 1945, 204 in 1946, and 258 in 1947 (www.rus-obr.ru/blog/6429).
Victims of all categories, the site goes on, totaled 1945 in Western Ukraine, 423 in Western Belarus, 251 in Estonia, 168 in Latvia, and 507 in Lithuania. And the site can be searched by both name and location, something that will allow interested individuals to find out about their relatives or friends.
And the site also includes hypertext links to the full text of “Everyday Terror: The Activity of Nationalist Formations in the Western Regions of the USSR, Book I” (in Russian; Moscow, 2009, 232 pp., ISBN: 987-5-9990-0004-0), and to other collections of archival documents as well, from which some of the site’s data entries are taken.
In presenting the site, its compilers note that “during the course of long years, the history of the activity of armed nationalist formations on the territory of the Western regions of the Soviet Union remained a prohibited theme for investigators” because it did not fit “into the Procrustean bed of official ideology.”
“After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the history of the harsh ‘war after the war’ in the Western regions of the USSR appeared at the center of attention of the political elite of the independent states,” where those who participated in the fight against Soviet power were presented as national heroes.
Thus it should come as no surprise that “in the last decade and a half, the activity of the nationalist armed formations became in the Baltic republics and in Ukraine one of the most actively investigated pages of Soviet history,” the site’s editors say. But these investigations, the editors add, were far from objective.
“The opposite site of making heroes of ‘the forest brothers’ and the militants of the OUN and UPA was the neglect of their numerous victims, a large part of which were not Red commissars but peaceful residents who were local to Soviet power.” According to the editors, 85 percent of the more than 25,000 killed by the Forest Brothers in Lithuania were Lithuanian.
These victims and the thousands more in Western Ukraine and Western Belarus are being intentionally forgotten, dismissed as “Soviet agents” or classified as victims of the Soviet NKVD. That must end, the Historical Memory Foundation says, and to that end, it has launched this website.
“We are certain,” the editors say, “that the memory of the innocent victims of nationalist terror must be carefully preserved and kept alive just as the memory about the innocent victims of Soviet political repressions are.” And consequently, they have launched the site in the hopes that those with information about the victims will contribute to it.
“Recognizing that the problem of preserving the memory about the victims of nationalist terror is important for Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Estonia, the Historical Memory Foundation has begun the realization of the project of the creation of a generally accessible electronic data base” of the victims of “nationalist terror.”
The primary source for the site, its organizers is, are the NKVD and MVD data bases housed in the State Archive of the Russian Federation, which include materials draw from the daily reports to NKVD Deputy Commissar S.N. Kruglov of these agencies during the course of their struggle with “banditism.”
And the site’s introduction concludes with the note that in order to present “the fullest data on the victims of nationalist terror,” the site’s editors “have considered it correct not to include in the lists the soldiers of the Red Army and organs of internal affairs and state security who died in the course of the operations for the liquidation of nationalist armed formations.”
Many Russians who visit this site may learn for the first time just how strong was the resistance to Stalin’s imposition or re-imposition of Soviet power in the Western borderlands of the USSR and the occupied Baltic countries, something that will do little to promote positive attitudes among them to the peoples of these now independent countries.
At the same time, many of the peoples in these countries will be able to use this site to learn more about the national resistance in their past than many of them have up to now, a knowledge that will also affect how they view the Soviet system and those who continue to apologize for some of its worst periods and personalities.
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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