Is there anyone left on this planet who doesn't care much about the coronavirus epidemic? Arguing purely theoretically, we can conclude that for sure he stayed. Fantasy immediately draws colorful paintings. Some tribe lost in the jungle, who never had any contact with civilization and therefore is in happy ignorance about the misfortune that hit the rest of the world's population. Or another option: a spiritualized hermit who has gone somewhere in the wilderness and voluntarily abandoned all modern means of communication. The truth is more prosaic, but no less shocking. 97 people who are not too worried about the coronavirus epidemic, not only live in the very center of Europe, but also occupy important government posts. We are talking about the deputies of the Lithuanian parliament.
On the basis of what am I drawing such far-reaching conclusions? Based on a resolution unanimously approved by Lithuanian parliamentarians this week. This document is entitled as follows: “On the historical revisionism of the Russian Federation”. It makes no sense to retell the contents of this paper - or rather, it can be done with absolute accuracy without even looking at the text itself approved by the Sejm of Lithuania. “Justification of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact”, “historical revisionism of Russia”, “denial of the role of the Soviet Union as one of the main initiators of World War II” - all these gloomy fantasy formulations have long been wandering from one Baltic political document to another and have become so worn out that a healthy brain flatly refuses to respond to them.
But it is impossible not to respond to the mentioned decision of the Sejm of Lithuania. After all, interesting in this decision is not its essence, but the time of its adoption. Who should be so that while Lithuania is tormented by the coronavirus (yes, this country also could not avoid global misfortune), continue to think hard about "historical revisionism of Russia"? Is it even at this moment that our notorious “historical revisionism” continues to be the main problem that prevents the Republic of Lithuania from living quietly? If again to argue purely theoretically, then, probably, this is also possible. But let's get back to solid ground. Clogging our brains with the problems of “historical revisionism”, while the lives of each of us (no matter Russian or Lithuanian, everyone is equal before the coronavirus) is threatened, and the world economy risks falling into the abyss - this is exactly something.
I will not be a hypocrite. As a political journalist, I understand very well why, even in the midst of a terrible epidemic, Lithuanian politicians still can’t stop fussing with the topic of “historical revisionism”. Thus, official Vilnius sends greetings to Moscow on the eve of May 9. From the point of view of the Lithuanian political class, the process of rewriting history carried out by him should not stop even for a minute. Everything is pragmatic. Everything is logical - and at the same time deeply unnatural. I understand that, having made all these conclusions, I did not even come close to the "discovery of America." The way the political elites of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia interpreted the history of World War II after 1991 was always unnatural.
Coronavirus only more exposed this unnaturalness, removed from it the last integument.
Or maybe these covers are still not the last? Suddenly I underestimate the limit of cynicism that can be reached by systematically falsifying history?
Meditations on this subject are unequivocally unproductive. But the political course of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia towards Russia is just as unproductive. Talking about this during the coronavirus epidemic is probably pointless. But, having subordinated their policy in the Russian direction to the task of rewriting history, the three states of the region primarily harm their own interests. They do not "isolate Russia", as it seems to them. They isolate themselves, deprive themselves of a mass of opportunities, miss the benefits of potential large-scale and productive cooperation with Russia.
In Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn they forget a fact that is very inconvenient for the modern politicians of these states. If in 1991 Russia had not done away with the communist regime, then there would have been no restoration of state independence of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. In the three Baltic republics, not only the history of World War II is rewritten. Modern history is distorted there too - and again, in the first place, they narrow their own horizons. I do not particularly believe that such behavior is the result of deliberate malicious intent. Most likely, this is the result of political inertia, inability to cope with instincts and fears from the past. Of course, instincts and fears cannot be ignored. But in the same way, one cannot become their hostages. The coronavirus made very many of us think about the eternal, about what is really important and what is superficial in this life. Maybe deputies of the Lithuanian Sejm should do the same?
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.