FILE | Miguel Gutierrez | EFE
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The idea of changing the name of the Russian Federation to Muscovy is not new in Ukraine.
He Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has commissioned to study an electronic petition with more than 25,000 signatures of support that suggests officially changing the name of “Rusia” by “Moscovia” and replace the terms “Russian” with “Muscovite” and “Russian Federation” with “Moscow Federation”.
The author of the petition maintains that “the historical name of Russia is Muscovy”, as reported today by the Union agency.
“This name was used in European languages and in some Asian ones. This name also appears on many historical maps from the 16th to the 19th centuries, which were made in Europe before and following the name change from the Kingdom of Moscow to the All-Russian Empire,” the petition states.
The author also points out that “Russia has existed for only 301 years, since October 22, 1721, when Tsar Peter I of Moscow proclaimed the Muscovite kingdom ‘Russian Empire’.”
Zelensky indicated that “the issue raised in the petition requires a thorough examination, both in terms of the historical and cultural context and taking into account the possible international legal consequences.”
The Ukrainian president added that he has commissioned his Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal, resolve this issue together with scientific institutions.
The idea of changing the name of the Russian Federation to Muscovy is not new in Ukraine.
Already in 2019, Nikita Poturaev, Zelensky’s political adviser, made a proposal along these lines and later, the journalist Ayder Muzhdabayev stated that changing the name of Russia to Muscovy would have historical grounds.
