Authors of propaganda textbook for occupied Kherson region sentenced to 10 years in prison

In the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region and Crimea, Russia used a school history textbook as a tool of propaganda and justification for the war against Ukraine. For this, the authors of the Russian edition were sentenced to imprisonment with confiscation of property.

This was reported by the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office.

The authors of the Russian school textbook "History. History of Russia. 1945 - the beginning of the XXI century", which was used in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, were sentenced. The Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv found Vladimir Medinsky and Anatoly Torkunov guilty. Each of them was sentenced to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

According to the investigation, the textbook became part of the state information campaign of the Russian Federation aimed at justifying the war, the occupation of Ukrainian territories and the imposition of the Russian version of modern history. The book contained calls for changing the state borders of Ukraine, justifying armed aggression and propagandizing the occupation.

The Russian authorities placed a special emphasis on children and adolescents in the occupied territories. Through educational materials, schoolchildren were imposed theses about "fraternal peoples," denial of Ukrainian statehood, and the so-called "liberation" of Ukraine during the "svoya".

Since September 1, 2023, this textbook has been used in schools in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, as well as in Crimea. In addition, it was distributed in Russia itself.

Prosecutors proved in court the guilt of both defendants under articles on encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine and justification of Russian aggression.

Also in April, three collaborators who helped the occupiers impose Russian order in education and local life were exposed in Kherson region. Their activities included propaganda, pressure on parents, and participation in a pseudo-referendum.

Анна Бальчінос