Today, the EESC hosted the discussion “War and the Shaping of the Russian State: Past, Present, and Future”, featuring Yan Rachinsky and Mikhail Zygar. The event revolved around the historical origins of the current Russian system, the relationship between society and the state, how the war and its course have shaped this relationship, and the prospects for the future of Russian statehood.
“Bolshevik terror and the chimaera of communism were something that prevented civic institutions from taking root in Russia,” noted Yan Rachinsky, Head of the human rights centre Memorial and co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize.
“The 90s worsened this situation further – this era, both socially and economically, confirmed the people’s belief that no truth exists,” added Mikhail Zygar, journalist and author.