On Thursday, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a resolution condemning the systematic falsification of historical arguments by the Russian regime as a means to justify its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The resolution – adopted with 480 votes in favour, 58 against, and 48 abstentions – rejects the Russian regime’s historical claims, which aim to undermine Ukraine’s history and national identity, viewing them as futile attempts to justify the ongoing war.
The text also condemns Russia’s failure to hold accountable those responsible for Soviet-era crimes and for suppressing efforts to conduct historical research and public discussions on these matters. This suppression has enabled the Moscow regime to revive imperialist policies and manipulate history for its criminal purposes.
Parliament calls on the European Union and its member states to increase and better coordinate their efforts to promptly and rigorously counter Russian disinformation and foreign interference. This is deemed essential for protecting the integrity of democratic processes and enhancing the resilience of European societies.
MEPs emphasize the need to actively promote media literacy, support quality media and professional journalism, and research new hybrid influence technologies. The resolution also calls on the EU to expand sanctions against Russian media outlets that conduct disinformation campaigns supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. It urges EU countries to implement these sanctions thoroughly and allocate sufficient resources to address this hybrid warfare effectively.
Additionally, MEPs express deep concern over recent announcements from social media companies regarding relaxed rules on fact-checking and moderation, warning that these changes may further enable the spread of Russia’s disinformation campaigns globally. They urge the European Commission and EU member states to strictly enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) in response to these announcements from Meta and X, highlighting it as a crucial part of the fight against Russian disinformation.
