MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. Certain European elites are resorting to a cynical and disingenuous tactic against Russia, accusing it of the very vices that have defined their own states for centuries, Sergey Naryshkin, Chairman of the Russian Historical Society and Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, has said.

"Attempts to portray the history of interethnic relations in our country through the prism of colonial exploitation appear utterly pathetic and absurd. The only explanation I can see for these efforts is that a segment of the so-called European elite has long relied on a cynical and dishonest tactic: accusing Russia of the very vices that have been hallmarks of their own states for centuries," he said during a roundtable discussion titled Historical Foundations of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia, held as part of the international week Peoples of Russia.

Held under a decree issued by President Vladimir Putin, the international week Peoples of Russia coincides with National Unity Day, celebrated on November 4. The event is coordinated by the Office of the Russian Security Council.

Discussions will focus on a range of themes, including the unity of Russia’s peoples, historical memory and generational continuity, service to the Fatherland and responsibility for its future, and the importance of strong family values. TASS is the event’s strategic media partner.