DISINFO: The collective West opposes the condemnation of Nazism
SUMMARY
The vote of Western countries at the UN against a resolution condemning Nazism calls into question the sincerity of their repentance for the events of World War II. Russia has been fighting the falsification of history for many years, including within the framework of the UN General Assembly. It annually introduces a draft resolution on the fight against the glorification of Nazism, which enjoys the support of the overwhelming majority of countries, except the collective West.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Ukrainian Nazis, also part of a broader narrative accusing the EU of Nazism and xenophobia.
This article discusses the Draft Resolution titled 'Combating the Glorification of Nazism, Neo-Nazism, and Other Practices that Contribute to Fuelling Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance.' This resolution was proposed for consideration by United Nations member countries during several meetings of the UN Third Committee, which focuses on social, humanitarian, and cultural issues, in November 2023. The resolution, specifically addressing the 'glorification of Nazism,' was authored by Russia.
Several countries voiced strong opposition to the adoption of the document proposed by Russia. During the debates, representatives from various states highlighted that the Kremlin's resolution is being utilized as an instrument of political pressure. They argued that Russia is trying to justify its aggression against Ukraine using the baseless pretext of 'eradicating neo-Nazism' and the alleged necessity to 'denazify' Ukraine. Numerous UN member countries stressed that Russia's actions in Ukraine, along with its promotion of resolutions that merely give lip service to democracy, seriously weaken genuine attempts to combat neo-Nazism.
During the debate and subsequent votes on amending the Draft Resolution, the Third Committee recommended that the General Assembly adopt the following draft resolutions. Notably, this includes a clause addressing Russian aggression against Ukraine:
“[The UN General Assembly] Notes with alarm that the Russian Federation has sought to justify its territorial aggression against Ukraine on the purported basis of eliminating neo-Nazism, and underlines that the pretextual use of neo-Nazism to justify territorial aggression seriously undermines genuine attempts to combat neo-Nazism.”
Also during the discussion of the Draft Resolution, the US called on Russia to immediately stop its aggression against Ukraine and:
“drop the false narrative by which it has been exploiting one of history’s darkest moments to further its twisted aims.”
The statement on behalf of the EU read as follows:
“We strongly condemn the politically motivated misuse of the anti-Nazism narrative, and unequivocally reject the inaccurate and inappropriate use of the term ‘denazification’ to justify Russia’s inhumane, cruel and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that The West is treating Russians like Nazis treated Jews, that West is anti-Russian; Russophobia is like anti-Semitism, and that The West treats Russians today as it did Jews in the 1930s.