BIZ nr 563: The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact in Russia: ‘gradual resurgence’ of the Soviet version of events or unchallenged continuation of it?
This year marks the 85th th anniversary of signing the Soviet-German non-aggression pact in Moscow on August 23rd, 1939. Still today, after 10 years after Russia’s war against Ukraine and more than two years into the full-scale invasion, the following view, both outside and inside of Russia, prevails. Firstly, that the MRP and the secret protocols (the MRP contained one protocol but consequent treaties also contained some) on division of Central and Eastern Europe were condemned by the decision of the Congress of People’s Deputies of the USSR (the highest legislative body at that time, here-after Congress) ‘On the political and legal assessment of the Soviet-German non-aggression pact of 1939’ on December 24th, 1989. Secondly, that the official position of Russia on those documents has been ‘gradually returning’ to the Soviet version of events prior December 1989 that justified the MRP while denying existence of the secret protocols.