Some individuals in Daugavpils appeal to the sanctity of the city’s flag during wartime. Meanwhile, many in people that are in power in Russia present distorted historic facts in attempt to justify the horrible crimes they are committing in Ukraine. Interpretations of history will always exist and a completely objective look is nearly impossible to accomplish. But there are facts that show what is truth and what is not.
BNN contacted University of Latvia Museum Inventory Keeper and LU History and Philosophy Faculty PhD student Rūdolfs Rubenis, who is an active member of Latvia student corporation.
Commenting on what happened in Daugavpils after the city’s flag was replaced with Ukraine’s flag, which was a show of solidarity to the war-torn country, the historian said: «There are members of society to whom this flag symbolizes something positive and other people who associate it with negativity. The latter are the people who sympathize with Russia in the Russian-Ukrainian war. If the flag of Russia’s enemy is hoisted, they consider it a provocation from supporters of Ukraine.»
«Those who side with Ukraine, this flag and its hoisting symbolizes a gesture of solidarity, which shows that they stand with Ukraine and support it in all ways.»
Every country needs a flag because it symbolizes the country’s identity
The history of flags as symbols is very, very old. The flag of Denmark or the Dannebrog is considered the oldest flag in the world, which first appeared during the Livonian Crusade. A flag is an official symbol made of fabric. It symbolizes a country, nation, organisation, military formation or community.
A flag has symbolic and practical value – in the past they were used for signalling, for example, army regiments raised flags and waved them to indicate the start of movement.
Latvia also has its own flag, which is protected by the law. Why is it so important? Because it is a symbol that embodies the nation’s shared identity. Under the flag, the nation, people or group of people are united for the sake of a single idea, says the historian.
«If we look at Ukraine’s flag, it is bright blue and yellow. It was hoisted for the first time in 1848 in Lviv, which was then part of Eastern Hungary. The flag was hoisted by national revolutionaries to demonstrate Ukrainians are a political nation. The 19th century was an era of nationalism. At the time educated members of society played a major part at the time because they formed political nations.»
Distorting history
«There is a saying that everyone writes history they way that benefits them. Politicians often present history in a way that benefits a specific ideology,» says the historian. He admits history is a science in which it is very hard to avoid politicization and ideologicalisation, because every time the government changes, so do the interpretations of history. Interpretations also change along with generations.
It is also important to keep in mind that not only does the nation have its own look at history, but also politicians may have their own opinions. Politicians who sympathize with another nation, group of people may attempt to present history in a way that would be beneficial to them and a specific group of society. «This is a big problem,» stressed Rubenis. Cicero once said: «Historia est Magistra Vitae,» or history is the teacher of life. «I completely agree with this. Those who learn from mistakes of the past, can avoid the same mistakes in the present, ensuring a good future. But in politics history is always used as a means of accomplishing goals. The desire to accomplish political goals can go into radical means, such as using war,» says the historian.
«Carl von Clausewitz said once: ‘War is the continuation of politics by other means.’ It is, unfortunately.»
The historian also says that the historian community continues discussing if such a thing as 100% objective history even exists. «It doesn’t, because, for example Latvia has had many different powers over the years, so interpretation of the course of history is speckled. The objective of historians is looking at events from different perspectives.»
He admits that this doesn’t work 100% of the time, because historian’s interpretation is affected by their gender, ethnicity, political views and religious beliefs.
«Facts cannot be altered, but the question is how they are interpreted. They can be interpreted as true or false,» stresses Rubenis.
As for the look at historic facts and how Russia is manipulating them now, the historian says: «Without a doubt Russia as an imperialistic countries with a desire to restore itself as a superpower will always try to prove they are Kyiv state or the inheritor of Kievan Rus’. This claim does not withstand criticisms, because there was no Russia during Kievan Rus’. Russia as a country started forming much later, around the time of Grand Duchy of Moscow in the middle of the 14th century.»
«Russia will try to use different arguments to prove it is the inheritor of Kievan Rus’ in an attempt to prove that Ukraine is a splinter province of Russia from the 19th century.»
«During the time of the Russian Empire it was called Malorossiya. This is completely false, because in the 19th century Ukrainian political nation started forming in Lviv. And they understood they differ from Russian nation with their culture, language and religion,» explains Rubenis.
Both are Slavic nations, but the claim that Russian and Ukrainian languages are one and the same is untrue. «I studies Czech language at Charles University in Prague in 2017. Studying this language I understood there are many words in Ukrainian language that are similar to Polish, Czech and Slovak languages.»
Coup d’état in Kremlin?
«I’m no prophet, but for years there have been talks about a coup d’état that may happen in the Kremlin against Vladimir Putin. Politologists and military experts talk about this. But it’s not like Russia is ruled by Vladimir Putin on his own (there is no pyramid-type system with the ruler at the top). Russia is ruled by Putin’s system, which consists of Putin and his clans or «chekist oligarchy». Regardless if Putin is overthrown or he decides to leave politics of his own accord, some unknown successor will take his place. It could be Putin’s inheritor that may continue his work. It may be some very dangerous individual that may turn out even less predictable than Putin. There could be an unstable successor that may start clan wars, which may result in a civil war. I was told once by my scientific supervisor of my doctoral thesis, asoc. prof. Raimonds Cerūzis: ‘People fear the unknown. The world fears that they don’t know why will be Putin’s successor.’ Ukrainian defence expert Oleksiy Melnyk said: ‘Even if there is no more Putin, we cannot be sure Russia will change. But I would like to stress that I hope to God no decentralisation processes start in Russia and cause unpredictable consequences’.»
«As for the possibility of democracy in Russia, it is impossible from a historical viewpoint. For centuries Russia has been ruled by a strong arm or a ruler that used violent means to achieve goals. As British historian Norman Davies said, Russia and its rulers have always had a taste for conquering new territories. The country conquers additional territories to expand Moscow’s security perimeter to feel ‘safe’. I would like to say that USSR strengthened its western borders by expanding its territory through the occupation and annexation of Baltic States, East Poland and Bessarabia (Moldova), as well as Karelia and Finland’s eastern territories. After WWII USSR formed a network of satellite countries in Central and Eastern Europe. But history teaches positives: no empire lasts forever – sooner or later they fall. But in what form? Rhetorical question.»
«In any case – it IS difficult for Russia with all the sanctions. Even Putin feels the consequences of his policy – he is looking for ways to circumvent sanctions. One such way is asking ‘unfriendly countries’ to pay for gas in Russian roubles in an attempt to put them in a helpless situation from gas shortage. Time will tell what happens next.»
What role do students play during the Russian-Ukrainian war?
Since Rūdolfs is also an active member of the student corporation, BNN asked him if the importance of student corporations could increase.
«In a way, yes. We are doing active work to help Ukraine. Members of the corporation not only donate money to get humanitarian aid to Ukraine but also invite other members of the corporation to enter the National Guard or reserve troops.»
«If we look at Latvia’s War for Independence era (1918-1920), there was a Separate Student Unit. The core of this unit consisted of student corporations Selonija and Talavija. Of course, there were also Lettonia, Lettgallia and Faternitates Lettica. They too were part of the unit, which was one of the first Latvian military units that were part of Kalpaks’ Battalion, which was commanded by Col. Oskars Kalpaks, who was the commander of armed forces of Latvia’s interim government, not the first commander of Latvia’s army. Dāvids Sīmansons was the first commander of Latvia’s army.»
Rūdolfs stresses that any student corporation member’s drive to enter the National Guard or professional military service is welcome.
«My field is academic research, not military service. I don not deny there are academically-minded people who join the National Guard or professional service.»
«Although student corporations have officially invited Latvian civil society to join the National Guard, reserves or enter professional military service, it is the individual choice of each person, because unlike Lithuania and Estonia, Latvia does not have mandatory military service.»
It should be added that student corporations also actively donate money towards humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.