What changed

40. Highlights that the lack of thorough academic research, historical education and public awareness concerning the Soviet occupation and its long-term consequences enables the spread of historical manipulation and disinformation campaigns, which the Russian Federation exploits to undermine the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of Georgian society; stresses, therefore, the importance of academic research, documentation and the dissemination of knowledge about Georgia’s history under Soviet occupation, including the political repression, mass executions and the history of resistance to Soviet-Russian occupation, as well as the restoration of these events to the collective memory; expresses regret that, in recent years, with at least the passive acquiescence of the authorities, efforts to relativise communist crimes and reverse the process of de-Stalinisation have been observed; emphasises, in this regard, the important role of independent historians, researchers and civil society organisations, such as SovLab, in studying the Soviet occupation, its political, legal and moral consequences, as well as in identifying burial sites of victims of communist terror and ensuring their identification and dignified commemoration; encourages relevant institutions in the Member States engaged in documenting the consequences of Soviet occupation, communist crimes and other totalitarian regimes, to deepen cooperation with their Georgian counterparts, support joint research projects, and participate in educational programmes and initiatives aimed at uncovering, documenting and disseminating knowledge about this chapter of Georgia’s history; expresses concern about the systematic obstruction of access to archives related to repression and crimes committed during the period of Soviet occupation; calls on the Georgian authorities to ensure full, transparent and non-discriminatory access to archives relating to the Soviet period for scholars, researchers and civil society organisations;