Russia deems a historian’s textbook dangerous to the health of children

History lessons about Josef Stalin's campaign of repression are dangerous to the health of students, Russian authorities have concluded. Andrei Suslov, a history professor at Perm State University in western Russia, wrote a history book that is now being contested by the Roskomnadsor, or Russia's Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media. The state authority classified the textbook as "dangerous to the health of children."

Now, he is battling to have his book "A teachers' guide to studying/understanding/examining the Stalin repressions" removed from the blacklist.

"The book is intended for older students," Suslov told DW. "It helps teachers and students get a better sense of the history of Stalinism and its consequences." One of the recommendations it offers is to organize trips to places connected with the repressions.

Suslov wrote the book with a colleague in 2015. It was published by The Center for Political Education and Human Rights, a Russian nonprofit.

The Russian state has become increasingly involved in historical discourse. The Kremlin plays a decisive role. There has been a strong desire to see crisis-ridden Russia become a "major player" again following the collapse of the Soviet Union. ...