The "Alexandru Mosanu" Association of Historians of the Republic of Moldova considers that the new history textbooks for 9th and 12th-grade students meet all the standards of educational books and are fully suitable for use in schools. During a press conference at IPN, the association condemned the "unfounded attacks recently carried out by certain individuals and groups against the authors of the textbooks" and expressed indignation over "the interference of political actors in historical research".
The Association of Historians of the Republic of Moldova (AIRM) "Alexandru Mosanu" emphasized that this is not the first time that certain political forces in the country, whether from the government or the opposition, have used "our nation's history for political, manipulative, and discriminatory purposes" aimed at discrediting the historian community.
Dr. Ruslan Sevcenco, a historian, highlighted that the textbook was developed by specialists who are knowledgeable in the field, have worked on it for a long time, and are well-versed in historical literature and sources, unlike those criticizing the textbook. "Regarding the Holocaust, we believe that a clear, convincing, and well-argued position has been presented. If anyone questions this position, they should bring archival documents to challenge it based on facts", exemplified the historian.
Ruslan Sevcenco stated that the Association of Historians of the Republic of Moldova encourages historians and parents to study the textbook and provide well-reasoned opinions. "Let us move forward by researching our historical past as it truly was, based on documents, not on provocations, insinuations, and pro-Russian statements in our country," he said.
Anatol Petrencu, president of the Association of Historians of the Republic of Moldova, noted that those attacking the history textbooks are political figures, and their objections remain unchanged. "It is very clear that this is a case of political interference in the educational process. Of course, it is an election year, and we understand what is happening—public opinion is already being prepared against the government, and so on. However, it is regrettable that these textbooks, the result of the hard work of multiple teams, are being put up for debate," said Anatol Petrencu.
Ion Negrei, vice president of the Association of Historians of the Republic of Moldova, also believes that "the current attack on the history textbooks is taking place in a specific geopolitical context." The historian pointed out that although the textbooks were published in September last year, they only became a "subject of interpretation and propaganda" in January-February 2025. According to him, this indicates that "this campaign is orchestrated by someone".
"There is a need for these works to be published in sufficient quantities and distributed to educational institutions, including schools with instruction in Russian, thereby granting them official textbook status. Only in this way will we be able to understand our common historical past, with its good and bad aspects, its bright and dark pages," states a declaration from AIRM "Alexandru Mosanu", presented at the conference.
Note: IPN Agency offers the right to reply to individuals who feel targeted by news articles based on statements made during this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.
