Attempts to undermine principles based on the findings of the Nuremberg Trials are a threat to security across the globe. This opinion was expressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his address to the participants in the Nuremberg Lessons forum
on Friday.
The Russian leader called it the duty of the entire international community to safeguard the Nuremberg Trials’ decisions, because "they concern the principles that underlie the values of the post-war world order and the norms of international law".
"They remain a solid and reliable basis for constructive dialogue and cooperation, while forgetting them, or trying to undermine them is a blow to global security," Putin said, noting that is why "Russia is persistently raising these questions at all negotiating platforms".
"We constantly refer to the lessons of the Nuremberg Trials; we understand their importance for defending the truths of historical memory, for making a well-founded and solid case against deliberate distortions and falsifications of World War II events, especially the shameless and deceitful attempts to rehabilitate and even glorify Nazi criminals and their accessories," the President of the Russian Federation said.
Putin expressed hope that this forum would contribute to a substantive and insightful modern interpretation of the historical legacy of the Nuremberg Trials and that conclusions and recommendations would be valuable and enjoy interest from the world community.
According to the President, the conclusions made at the Nuremberg Trials 75 years ago are still relevant today. "The Nuremberg decisions are still relevant today," the Russian President stressed. He reminded that a month ago, based on those decisions, the Soletsk [district] court in Russia recognized the brutal execution of thousands of peaceful, innocent people near the village of Zhestyanaya Gorka in Novgorod Region as genocide.
Nuremberg Trial began on November 20, 1945, and finished on October 1, 1946. The 24 defendants who were members of the highest leadership of Nazi Germany were brought before the court. All 403 court sessions were open. Its work was widely covered by the world press, live radio broadcasting was conducted. Of those convicted of grave crimes against peace and humanity, 12 defendants were sentenced to death by hanging. The rest were to serve life imprisonment or long terms in prison.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS, RIA Novosti