Minister of Education stresses need for myths in history

Russia’s Minister of Education and Sciences Olga Vasilyeva has said that it is impossible to go "without mythologizing" when studying history.

"We cannot do without heroes, without the heroic image of historical characters. Whether you are a [child] or an adult, you must have an ideal to strive for," said Vasilyeva in an interview with Interfax.

When asked what position Vasilieva takes in the debate about the so-called heroism of Panfilov’s 28 men, she replied that she shared the view of her teacher academician Georgy Kumanyov. He considers “the feat of Panfilov’s men” to be a historical fact.

In regards Joseph Stalin, the Minister called him "a man whose tyranny is evident." She recognized that Stalin was responsible for political repression.

“But we have to agree that this man was a statesman. I usually call him a great politician with a big-big ‘minus’. This is my attitude, so is unlikely that I can be considered a Stalinist,” said Vasilyeva.

“As a pragmatist, Stalin perfectly understood that a terrible war was nigh and that mobilization was needed, including spiritual [mobilization] … hence the poems and the films of Aleksander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible” said Vasilyeva.

Olga Vasilyeva became Russia’s Minister of Education and Sciences in August 2016, succeeding Dmitry Livanov.

Vasilyeva has a doctorate in history. She wrote her dissertation on the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in Soviet state policy from 1943-1948.