You're reading: A human rights group urges Russia to acknowledge historical crimes

PARIS (AP) — A leader of one of Russia's most prominent human rights groups says the Kremlin's failure to recognize Soviet-era acts of aggression is leading to "historical wars" against its neighbors.

Arseny Roginsky says opposing views of Soviet-era history have created conflicts with Poland, Ukraine, Georgia and the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, among others.

Roginsky said in ParisNov. 19that Russia must recognize its occupation of some of its neighbors and open up its historical archives. He said Russia’s neighbors must also accept responsibility for some of their actions that have led to friction with their larger neighbor.

Roginsky is a historian and founder of Memorial, which seeks to document political repression in the Soviet Union.