Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STPETERSBURG40
2009-03-31 14:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate St Petersburg
Cable title:
ANTI-SEMITIC BOOK REMOVED FROM UNIVERSITY BOOKSHELVES
how-toR 311438Z MAR 09 FM AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2742 INFO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
UNCLAS ST PETERSBURG 000040
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: RS PHUM
SUBJECT: ANTI-SEMITIC BOOK REMOVED FROM UNIVERSITY BOOKSHELVES
(U) The St. Petersburg University of the Russian Ministry of
Internal Affairs - the training ground for future policemen -
recently issued a controversial textbook "History of the
Domestic Government and Rights" to students as part of a
history course. The book is decidedly anti-Semitic in tone,
blaming Jews for all of Russia's problems and accusing Gorbachev
of having engineered the downfall of the Soviet Union as part of
a Zionist plot. The book seems to have initially had the
backing of the university, as it was copyrighted by the
university itself in conjunction with the author. Local media
drew public attention to the issue. On March 30 two university
officials appeared on television and acknowledged that the book
was outrageous and shameful. The university subsequently
removed all copies of the textbook from its library and bookshop
on March 31.
GWALTNEY