Legal forum in Petersburg Memory, textbooks and law

Jun 24

Alena Germanova's complete report from the fourteenth St. Petersburg International Legal Forum covers historical-memory discussions, textbook presentations and legal cooperation. Konstantin Chuychenko gives his interpretation of foreign support for the 1905 revolution and state weakness; Margarita Simonyan claims global historical amnesia. The report says new Donbas and Novorossiya history books were presented and that new state social-studies textbooks will be used from September 1; Vladimir Medinsky criticizes old definitions and Sergey Kravtsov describes the new grade coverage and lower prices. Dmitry Medvedev opens the plenary with an argument for equal sovereignty under international law; the report identifies Vietnam as guest partner and shows its justice minister. It briefly describes prosecutorial cooperation meetings. Alexander Gutsan says an Istanbul court rejected Russia's Tarabya-villa ownership claim in May and that an appeal is being prepared. A navigation-sanctions session includes Bart Soens calling tanker detentions and maritime-drone attacks illegal and suggesting naval escorts. A final section describes bureaucracy facing charities and planned regional offices of a child-protection foundation. Historical, sovereignty and legality claims remain the speakers' positions; textbook use, an appeal and foundation expansion are future actions in this report.

At the legal forum, Channel One announces use of new state social-studies textbooks from September 1. Vladimir Medinsky criticizes an old textbook's definition of art. Sergey Kravtsov says social studies returns to grades nine, ten and eleven and that the state books cost several times less than commercial books. Presentation and rollout plans are distinct from implementation in classrooms.