MOSCOW, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Russia's State Duma adopted Wednesday an appeal to the parliaments of Europe, urging them to take all possible measures to counter any attempts to revive fascism and strictly resist the destruction of monuments and memorials.
Russia's State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, made the appeal in regard to Poland's decision on removing Soviet monuments in the country, the State Duma's press service said.
"Deputies of the State Duma appeal to the parliaments of Europe and European parliamentary institutions to resolutely condemn the recent case of destruction and desecration of monuments and memorials in honor of the soldiers of the anti-Hitler coalition who gave their lives for the liberation of Europe from Nazism," said a statement published by the press service.
According to the document, the State Duma addressed its appeal to the national parliaments of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.
Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday signed amendments to a law banning the publicity of Communism, which authorizes the removal of monuments and other memorial facilities to the Soviet soldiers who liberated Poland from Nazi occupation in 1944-1945.
In response, the State Duma said that such "blasphemous act" can only exacerbate the European young generation's ignorance of the truth about World War II and foster a breeding ground for terrorism and hostility.
It called on European parliamentarians to unite their efforts and take all possible measures, primarily of a legislative nature, to counter any attempts to revive fascism and strictly resist the destruction of monuments and memorials, the press service said.
Earlier in the day, Russian Federation Council speaker said the foreign ministry is preparing a retaliatory response to Poland's decision to dismantle Soviet monuments.
Under bilateral agreements reached by the two countries in 1992-1994, Polish authorities are obligated to protect and preserve these memorial facilities including martyr cemeteries and monuments, the ministry said Tuesday in a statement.
