Pro-Putin history textbook 'response' to Russophobia: editor

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

MOSCOW (AFP) — A new Russian history textbook that reportedly praises President Vladimir Putin and justifies Stalin's dictatorship is a response to anti-Russian tendencies abroad, Kommersant daily quoted the controversial book's editor saying Thursday.

"I have analysed books on Russian history in neighbouring countries and came to the conclusion... that our neighbours excel at educational Russophobia," the editor, Alexander Filippov, was quoted as saying.

"The Russian people is presented as a source of all evil. It was necessary to respond," he said.

The newly approved textbook, "Russian History 1945-2007," is to be tried out in schools in five Russian regions pending nationwide approval.

Kommersant said "the eras of Joseph Stalin and Leonid Brezhnev...