The Russian Federation uses historical memory as a tool for propaganda and narrative control, claims historian Dr. Virgiliu Birladeanu. In a video interview conducted by IPN News Agency on the topic "Collective Memory - A Battlefield of Hybrid Warfare Against the Republic of Moldova," Virgiliu Bîrlădeanu explained how Moscow manipulates historical perceptions to shape public opinion and maintain subtle influence over the region.
As the head of the Contemporary History Section at the Institute of History of Moldova State University, Birladeanu argues that Russia employs various myths and narratives to construct a heroic self-image. He points out that history is manipulated to strengthen Russia's political position in the region, turning it into an instrument of influence.
"The Russian Federation implants narratives about 'Soviet heroes' and 'liberation from fascism' to maintain its symbolic, ideological, and political influence in the Republic of Moldova, treating historical memory not as a domain of reflection but as a tool for propaganda and narrative control," said historian Virgiliu Birladeanu.
Birladeanu emphasizes that by encouraging this hero cult, Russia seeks to divert discussions away from historical truth, ensuring that the crimes and suffering inflicted by the Soviet regime - such as deportations and organized famine - are forgotten. Instead of fostering critical analysis, an idealized vision that serves Moscow’s political interests is promoted.
"By insistently promoting the cult of 'Soviet heroes,' Russia seeks to preserve an idealized image of the Soviet past, portraying the USSR's intervention in Bessarabia as an entirely benevolent act of 'liberation.' This glorification distracts from the crimes of the Soviet regime and the consequences of occupation, such as deportations, organized famine, Russification, and cultural repression," the historian explained.
He further highlights that the myth of "liberation from fascism" is strategically used to mask the Soviet Union’s true intentions in Bessarabia and justify the forced occupation of these territories.
"The 'liberation from fascism' narrative is used to justify the Red Army's entry into Bessarabia in 1940 and 1944, framing it as a rescue mission rather than a forced occupation of the territory. Any attempt by the Republic of Moldova to critically reinterpret these events is labeled by Russian propaganda as 'revisionism' or 'glorification of fascism,' with Moldovan authorities accused of insulting the memory of heroes," concluded Virgiliu Birladeanu.
The interview "Collective Memory - A Battlefield of Hybrid Warfare Against the Republic of Moldova" is part of a series of debates titled "The Impact of the Past on Processes of Confidence-Building and Peace Consolidation." The project is supported by the German foundation Hanns Seidel.
