Thus, leaders of the post-Soviet Baltic countries were referring to the liberation of their countries from nazi invaders as "military occupation start". They did so shortly before the 60th V-E anniversary. The Estonian and Lithuanian presidents ostentatiously refused to attend Moscow celebrations.
"Today, we are resolutely denouncing attempts to misrepresent the Soviet people's contribution to the WWII victory cause," the United Russia, parliamentary majority party, said in a statement made yesterday, as party leaders met Great Patriotic War veterans.
"Certain countries are pursuing lenient policies toward nazi henchmen. That cannot but arouse indignation. Efforts to revise history insult the sacred memory of millions of victims, and of Allied soldiers fallen in battle against nazism," says the statement.
Grigori Yavlinsky, leader of the YABLOKO liberal political party, is also profoundly shocked as certain politicians abroad are adding a fly to the ointment of victors' jubilance.
"Geopolitical games of that time cannot throw a dark shadow on the people who won the war. There is no way to use the 60th Victory anniversary to demonstrate particular opinions on politicians long gone. Whatever Stalin, Molotov, Beria and their ilk might have been doing, their moves cannot now justify monuments erected to SS-men and the coverage of World War II as a tragedy shared by all, whether victims or criminals," Mr. Yavlinsky says in a public statement.
It is sheer immorality in politics to demand WWII results reappraised just before the 60th Victory anniversary, says Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Liberal Democratic Party leader, who regards May 9 as Russia's principal national red-letter day.
Left opposition leaders indignantly spoke against attempts to "play down" the significance of victory in World War II, as they addressed a public rally near the Byelorussia railroad terminus in Moscow.
