“Stop, fascism!”: a round table discussion was held in Tiraspol with the participation of young people from Russia, Pridnestrovie, Gagauzia and Moldova

02/25/15

A round table “No Fascism!” organized by the youth movement “Zvezda” took place in T.G. Shevchenko Pridnestrovian State University. The event was attended by Chief of the Presidential Directorate for Cooperation with Social and Religious Organizations Natalia Nikiforova, Consultant of the Representative Office of Rossotrudnichestvo in the Republic of Moldova Sergei Skvortsov, representatives of youth governments of Pridnestrovie and Gagauzia, a search group “August” and a federation of “Voivodes” (warlords) from Kishinev, and also members of the Council of young diplomats of Pridnestrovie. The guests of honor in the round table were representatives of the Committee on Youth Policy and Interaction with NGOs of St. Petersburg Government M. Pasholikov and I. Hlamov.

Roundtable participants shared their own assessments of contemporary manifestations of bringing fascism to mass. The Chief of the relevant Presidential Directorate noted with concern that fascist sentiments in the world increasingly become anti-Russian, and to support fascism openly ceased to be shameful. According to her, holding such expert, social events has not only a practical, but strategic sense.

The event touched upon information aspects of the spread of fascism, the participants noted particularly the differentiation of approaches in covering fascism issues in Ukraine, Moldova and Pridnestrovie, Russia and Europe.

The representatives of NGOs in Moldova and Gagauzia, involved in search works, shared their experience in conducting patriotic and educational work among young people, noting that despite the features of the political course of the country, the population as a whole adheres to the anti-fascist sentiments. The view was expressed about the need to consolidate the common efforts in the fight against the "brown plague”.

The main discussion concerned the theme of the methodology to counter fascism. In particular, the participants of the round table expressed skepticism about the feasibility of using Western methods and technologies in the fight against the falsification of history and attempts at reviving of fascism.

The acknowledgement of a systemic nature of the problem and the need to build a system to counter as a response, including educational and social components, the work with the great masses of population and individual leaders became a common ground. Participants agreed that the methods should and could be different, but a common strategy should unite all of them.

The participants consider that the main condition for victory in this fight is the development of a single ideology.

The round table resulted in adoption of a resolution in which the participants reaffirmed their readiness to intensify awareness-raising work in order to combat the spread of fascism, neo-fascist and neo-Nazi ideology.