"The current situation in the region is off-topic, as is any other reply not directly related to this excellent collection of placemarks."

This excellent collection of placemarks reflects on the current situation and is interpreted as such very consistently by people on both sides of the fence. You truly have to be blind not to see that in some of the responses.
There are controversial and hotly contested half-truths to the original post and the info in the linked material. By letting the original thread stand, but suppressing the discussion (which cannot help but spill over to modern day) contesting the controversial statements made by the author, you, moderator, take the side - willingly or otherwise - of the author. Also, yours is the face of Google, Inc. in this microcosm.
It is impossible to separate this into a purely historical thread - the history is yet to be made. Can you say that this is not a transparent enough attempt to re-write history? Are you sure Google wants to be part of it?