Despite the fact that the history of Russia is quite "motley" because of the peculiarities of its constituent regions, there are worthy examples in it, on which it is possible to build a historical tradition, one of them is the Novgorod Republic.

This opinion was expressed to the "Observer" by a senior researcher at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, former head of the SBU archive Sergei Kokin.

Answering the question, what a worthy alternative could be offered to the Kremlin, accustomed to borrow the history of Kievan Rus, Kokin remarked: "The history of Russia as such is very variegated, because even pre-Petrine Russia was a very multinational state. As a matter of fact, it is necessary to study the history of each region. Since the same Norman times, the Novgorod Republic. In the northern Primorye people generally did not call themselves Russians for a long time. In the south, the Cossacks also considered themselves almost a separate nation ".

At the same time, he is convinced: in the history of Russia "there are significant events on which it would be possible to build a historical tradition," "there are good examples on which to rely and be proud of them".

"The same Novgorod republic is a fairly democratic system both for the Middle Ages," Kokin recalled..

He also drew attention to the personality of Peter I, who was a "Eurointegrator".

"Why did he build St. Petersburg?" It was the Eurointegrator. He dragged Russia with all his strength for his beard to Europe. He was looking in the west direction, because he understood with what direction the prospects of the state are connected, "the historian emphasized..

As the "Observer" wrote, earlier Sergei Kokin explained what the illiterate historical statements of the Russian president dictated.

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