The article covers the processes of social memory transformation in the Russian society. The authors determine its deformation in locus of relationship between the past and present. It is emphasized that the distinction between history and historical memory as an integral part of social memory reside in how to interpret the possibility of studying the past time. Deformations of social memory in locus of relationship between the past and present relate to the fact that memory is selective and often personified in nature, when evaluation of specific historical figures forms certain impressions, judgments, and opinions.

The article shows paradoxical combination of the past and present, significance of the past events for orientation in the present. The authors argue that historical memory is a powerful, active phenomenon that has an impact on people’s behavior equal to the influence exerted by estimate of their current economic situation, their insecurity and despondency in this transitional period. However, the “constructed historical past” in the modern Russian society remains unsteady. Controversies with regard to the historical past result from the absence of consistency in opinions on the desired future of the country. Historical narrative of power is forming preconditioned by its political pretensions and ideological motivations.