PSKOV - On June 10 and 11, 2026, an international conference will be held in Pskov as part of the Pskov Forum "This is Where We Stand" entitled "Russophobia - the ideology of the West. Russia and the West in the 21st Century - War or Peace?". The event brings together historians, political scientists, publicists and public figures from several countries who will discuss the causes and consequences of Russophobia as well as current relations between Russia and Western states.

The first block of discussions will be opened by the Chairman of the Public Chamber of the Pskov Region, Alexander Sedunov. The main speakers will include Professor Nataliya Tanshinova with a contribution on the historical roots of Western Russophobia, Canadian expert Yakov Rabkin, who will focus on the connections between Russophobia and demodernization, and historian Vladimir Blokhin analyzing this phenomenon in the environment of the Russian intelligentsia.

The participation of foreign experts is attracting significant attention. Pascal Lottaz from Switzerland and Japan will present a perspective on the impact of anti-Russian sentiment on European neutrality, while Chilean analyst Oleg Jasinskij will discuss manifestations of Russophobia in the countries of the global South.

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The afternoon panel will offer a broader historical and social context. British columnist Christopher Read will present the perspective of English-speaking travelers on the Soviet Union and contemporary Russia. Historian Boris Kovalev will address the issue of war crimes investigations during the Soviet “thaw” period and international cooperation in this area.

The program will also include a presentation by Serbian historian Nebojša Stambolija on the participation of Russian volunteers on the side of the Serbs during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. The organizers expect the forum to contribute to a professional debate on historical memory, information conflicts, and the future of relations between Russia and the West. The Pskov Forum thus confirms its role as an important international platform for the exchange of views on current geopolitical issues.

The International Forum for the Promotion of Russian History and Culture “This is What We Stand For” continues in Pskov with the second day of an extensive professional program. The event, which runs from June 10 to 14 under the motto “Service to Russia – the Meaning and Way of Life,” brought historians, philosophers, political scientists, publicists and cultural figures from a number of countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America to the Pskov region. The opening ceremony took place on June 10 at the Pskov Museum with the participation of foreign guests and representatives of the region.

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The first day of the conference was dedicated to the topic “Russophobia – the ideology of the West”. Speakers included Nataliya Tanshinova, Yakov Rabkin, Vladimir Blokhin, Pascal Lottaz, Oleg Jasinskij, Christopher Read, Boris Kovalev, Nebojsa Stambolia, Tatyana Khriskevičová and Czech publicist Stanislav Novotný. The discussions focused on the historical roots of Russophobia, issues of national sovereignty, the interpretation of history and the current state of relations between Russia and the Western world.

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The Pskov Forum continues with a debate by the Zinoviev Club. Participants seek an answer to the question “War or Peace?”

The second day of the forum follows up on the previous debates with an expanded session of the Zinoviev Club of the Rossiya Segodnya agency, which is dedicated to the topic of the same name: “Russia and the West in the 21st Century – War or Peace?”. The Zinoviev Club represents one of the most important intellectual platforms in contemporary Russia and continues the legacy of the philosopher, sociologist and writer Alexander Zinoviev.

A prominent figure on today's program is Olga Mironovna Zinoviev, widow of Alexander Zinoviev, philosopher, writer and long-time promoter of his work. Together with Vitaly Mironov, project leader of the international forum "We Stand on This", she will moderate the main discussion of the day.

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Among the most prominent speakers on today's program is Serbian political scientist Dušan Proroković, who will address the issue of state sovereignty in a changing world order. Olga Mironovna Zinoviev will present a lecture inspired by Alexander Zinoviev's last warning about the civilizational crisis of modern society. British political scientist Richard Sakwa will analyze the impact of the Russian-European conflict on the future of Europe, while well-known British analyst Alexander Mercouris will talk about the creation of the image of Russia in Western literature and art.

The afternoon block will bring other perspectives on current geopolitical and historical processes. Speakers will include Geoffrey Roberts from Ireland, Alastair Renfrew from Great Britain, Dmitry Vinnik, Alexei Blinov, Alexander Sedunov and Aljona Vinnikova. Their contributions touch on the topics of historical memory, neocolonialism, philosophy, media and psychological aspects of Russophobia.

On its second day, the Pskov Forum thus confirms its ambition to become a significant international platform for discussion on history, culture, civilizational values ​​and the future structure of relations between Russia and the West. According to the organizers, the goal is not only an expert exchange of views, but also the search for ways to dialogue in a time of growing international tension.

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