Verdict Issued Against Assistants of the Russian Dictator
Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office has handed down a verdict against Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, and Anatoly Torkunov. Both were sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison with asset forfeiture. They were found guilty of justifying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine through the authorship of a history textbook that promotes anti-Ukrainian narratives.
Textbook Content and Its Consequences
Medinsky and Torkunov served as editors for the Russian 11th-grade textbook titled 'History. History of Russia. 1945 – Early 21st Century,' which was published in 2023. Starting September 1, 2023, this textbook was used in schools across Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson regions, and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. It was also distributed within Russia itself.
The court found both individuals guilty of aiding efforts to undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as justifying Russia’s armed aggression. The sentence includes full confiscation of any property they hold in Ukraine. The prison term will commence from the date of their actual arrest.
“This is not just about isolated propaganda statements or publications, but about a coordinated state mechanism that prepares Russian society for war, justifies the occupation of Ukrainian territories, mobilization, war crimes, and attempts to destroy Ukrainian identity. One of the outcomes of this effort is the conviction of Vladimir Medinsky and Anatoly Torkunov,” the Prosecutor General's Office stated.
The textbook portrays Ukraine as an 'ultra-nationalist state' that allegedly persecutes all dissent. Russia's full-scale invasion is described as a 'preventive measure' to 'ensure Russia's security,' while the occupation of Ukrainian lands is explicitly justified.
Ukraine’s Security Service had previously charged Medinsky with ideological preparation for war. This verdict targets not just individuals but also the broader issue of information warfare, which forms a key part of Russia’s overall strategy in the conflict against Ukraine.
The ruling highlights Ukraine’s intensified efforts to combat Russian information aggression, a critical component of countering the armed conflict. Given that textbooks promoting anti-Ukrainian narratives are used in occupied territories, this decision may serve as a warning to others engaged in similar activities.
According to the Prosecutor General's Office, such actions reflect a systematic approach to tackling propaganda and information attacks, which are integral to the aggressor’s broader strategy.
The ongoing efforts by Russian authorities to manipulate public perception extend beyond educational materials. Recently, reports emerged about the distribution of fake banknotes embedded with QR codes aimed at stealing personal data. This tactic highlights a broader strategy to undermine trust and spread disinformation, reinforcing the need for vigilance in the face of such deceptive practices.