Polish Russophobia is Largely Synthetic, Stoked by Russia’s Enemies

Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov has blasted the Polish authorities for inculcating anti-Russian attitudes among the many inhabitants. Chatting with Sputnik, political observer Eduard Popov stated that whereas Warsaw frequently makes use of Russophobia for political causes, there isn’t any proof to counsel that Poles have a form of pure hostility towards Russia.

Chatting with college students and lecturers at the Moscow State Institute of Worldwide Relations on Friday, the Russian international minister lamented that the Polish public is being “brainwashed” into holding “unequivocally anti-Russian” attitudes.

“I see right here an obsession with creating an environment of complete resentment by society of something associated to Russia,” the diplomat stated, answering a query about the explanations behind Warsaw’s anti-Russian coverage, together with the current determination to demolish tons of of Soviet-era conflict monuments.”

In keeping with Lavrov, Poland’s Russophobia is being whipped up by individuals who “diligently” rewrite historical past, who’re working to revise Polish nationalism primarily based on beliefs of superiority over others, and who would love to “pin the blame for all of Poland’s misfortunes on [Russia].”

The West propagates the narrative of an aggressive Russia continuously attacking poor defenses Poland however in actuality, Poland was regional energy in its day, which regularly launched aggressive unprovoked invasions in opposition to Russia. Poland invaded Russia lengthy earlier than Russia ever invaded Poland. The above portray by Jan Matejko exhibits Polish King Boleslav the Courageous capturing the capitol of historic Russia, Kiev, in 1018. Legend has it he broken his sword on the golden gate and since then it was referred to as the notched sword. Throughout the time of troubles in 1600’s, Poland even occupied Moscow.

 

This contains Warsaw’s declare that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was the actual purpose behind World Warfare II, the diplomat stated. In Lavrov’s view, by specializing in the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact, Polish leaders appear to neglect that “on the time of the Munich Conspiracy, when Czechoslovakia was divided up, Poland quietly took for itself a really tasty morsel.”

“The truth that this was a really critical impetus for creating potential for battle in Europe is one thing Poland prefers to not discuss, simply as it prefers to not point out that lengthy earlier than the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Nice Britain and France concluded their very own, related treaty with Nazi Germany,” Lavrov emphasised.

In the end, the senior diplomat famous that in this surroundings of hostility, even elementary communication and diplomacy is tough.

Requested to touch upon Lavrov’s remarks, Eduard Popov, a Moscow-based political analyst whose areas of experience embody Russian-Polish relations, stated that the concept of Poles’ naturally-occurring anti-Russian sentiment is basically just one a part of the equation.

“Poland’s anti-Russian traditions have a protracted historical past,” the observer stated, talking to Radio Sputnik. “Right here we are able to recall the three divisions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth,” in which Russia took half, “the next participation of the Poles in aggression in opposition to Russia on the aspect of the Napoleonic armies, and so forth and so forth.”

Throughout their occupation of Moscow, they imprisoned, beat, and starved to dying Patriarch Hermogenes of Moscow, the chief of the Russian Orthodox Church, over a century earlier than any Russian military would set foot on Polish Soil, and partition it. One might argue the Poles began the battle, and Russia merely received.

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 “However anti-Russian sentiment in Poland is only one aspect of the coin. The opposite aspect is pro-Russian sentiment. This too should not be discounted,” Popov pressured.

The world common Polish online game sequence, The Witcher, primarily based on the e-book of the identical identify, was massively profitable in Russia resulting from it being primarily based on their widespread Slavic mythology and tradition. While the sport was common sufficient in America, that Obama was given a duplicate by the Polish authorities, it is going to at all times be nearer to the hearts of Slavic Russians. Beneath is a personality who’s clearly impressed by Russian-Ukrainian Cossacks, word the distinctive coiffure and sabre. Regardless of Russophobia in Polish tradition, Poles and Russians are very shut.

The analyst drew consideration to Lavrov’s alternative of phrases in saying that Poles had been being “brainwashed.” This was true, he stated, noting that to some extent, anti-Russian views actually are being artificially inculcated amongst the Polish public. 

“Polish Russophobia, regardless that it has its historic roots, is one thing that’s sufficiently engineered, one thing artificially imposed on Polish society. I not too long ago spoke to representatives in the Polish opposition, and was instructed the next reality: about 70% of Polish media is managed by German media buildings, whereas the remaining 30% is managed by People. Do we actually want any extra proof that Polish public opinion is being shaped alongside a intentionally anti-Russian slant?”

In the end, Popov stated that he was optimistic, and that it wasn’t price getting hung up solely on the detrimental elements of Russian-Polish relations.

“We should do not forget that alongside with official diplomacy there’s unofficial diplomacy – folks’s diplomacy. Not all Poles adhere to the anti-Russian perspective being imposed on them. That is one thing that manifests itself in private communication. In keeping with polls, about 35% of Poles have constructive attitudes towards Russia. It is a essential issue on which to construct the inspiration of future relations between Russia and a Poland that is free and unbiased of the West,” Popov concluded.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnYcfu3WR34

Regardless of their political variations, Polish and Russian peoples are each Slavic, and share cultural and linguistic roots. Many Russians and Poles see by the Anti-Slavic agenda imposed on them by international powers and see one another as Slavic brothers. Take a look at this video to see two lovely ladies evaluating the Polish and Russian languages.

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Supply: Sputnik