Russian Official Highlights Importance of Historical Memory in International Teleconference

Elena Malysheva, head of the National Center for Historical Memory under the President of the Russian Federation, participated in an international teleconference on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, focusing on the preservation of historical memory and countering historical falsification. The event, titled “In unity is our strength!”, commemorated the 85th anniversary of the start of the Anti-Fascist Committee of Soviet Women and connected participants from Russia, Belarus, and Austria.

The Anti-Fascist Committee and its Legacy

The teleconference marked 85 years since the establishment of the Anti-Fascist Committee of Soviet Women, a key component of the Sovinformburo, dedicated to engaging with international women’s organizations in the fight against Nazism. Following World War II, the Committee of Soviet Women continued this work, evolving into the Women’s Union of Russia in 1992. Women’s Union of Russia

Historical Memory as a Constitutional Norm

Malysheva emphasized that historical memory is enshrined in the Russian Constitution and serves as a foundation for citizenship and state sovereignty. She argued that it is not merely a collection of facts but a methodological basis for the national worldview, requiring a broad and deep understanding.

Genocide During the Great Patriotic War

Malysheva stated that acknowledging the genocide committed against the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War (World War II) by the Nazis and their collaborators is crucial for preventing historical falsification. She asserted that Nazi Germany and its allies aimed for the complete destruction of the Soviet people and state, a point she believes is supported by key vectors of historical memory.

International Collaboration and Countering Falsification

Participants discussed the importance of preserving the historical memory of the Soviet people’s contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany, the role of compatriots during the war, and the mission of the Anti-Fascist Committee of Soviet Women. The discussion also addressed the current international situation, focusing on upholding peace and combating the distortion of historical facts and contemporary events.

Participants in the Discussion

The teleconference included contributions from:

• Maria Sittel, Chairman of the Women’s Union of Russia
• Ekaterina Lakhova, President of the Women’s Union of Russia
• Maxim Grigoriev, Chairman of the International Public Tribunal for the Crimes of Ukrainian Neo-Nazis, member of SVO
• Ekaterina Martyanova, Chairman of the regional branch of the Women’s Union of Russia (DPR), Chairman of the Public Chamber of the DPR
• Olga Shpilevskaya, head of the Belarusian representative office of the interstate television and radio company “Mir”, chairman of the Belarusian Women’s Union
• Irina Jayani, Chairman of the Eurasian Partnership Association, member of the Supreme Advisory Council of the Assembly of the Peoples of the World

Elena Malysheva’s Background

Elena Vasilyevna Malysheva, born March 13, 1961, is a Russian physician, internist, cardiologist, and television host. Yelena Malysheva – Wikipedia She is known for hosting the TV programs Zdorovye and Zhit zdorovo! on Channel One Russia and is a professor at the Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry. Her parents were both doctors; her father, Vasily Iosifovich Shabunin, was a chief physician, and her mother, Galina Aleksandrovna Morozova, headed the infectious diseases department in a Kemerovo hospital. Elena Malysheva: biography, personal life, family, husband, children