Forgeries in the documents of the soviet authorities: the case of I.K. Zakharov and the implications for collective memory

Abstract

The article examines the case of Lieutenant Major, Ivan Konstantinovich Zakharov, Hero of the Soviet Union, presented by Soviet propaganda as a soldier who fell in battles against Ukrainian nationalists in 1947. The analysis of archival sources, the press of the time and commemorative materials demonstrates the existence of biographical forgeries and manipulations aimed at reinforcing the heroic mythology of the totalitarian communist regime. The study highlights the way, Soviet authorities used lies, concealing crimes and mystifying the past to shape collective memory and serve political objectives. The conclusion of the research emphasizes the need to confront the past and expose historical falsehoods, in order to consolidate authentic democratic values in the Republic of Moldova.