Platform of European Memory and Conscience

12/05/2026

🇵🇱 Andrzej Poczobut has been awarded the Order of the White Eagle — Poland’s highest state distinction — by President Karol Nawrocki during a ceremony at the Royal Castle in Warsaw on 3 May 2026. 🎖

A journalist and activist for the Polish minority in Belarus, Poczobut was arrested in March 2021 and later sentenced to eight years in a high-security penal colony for his journalism and efforts to preserve Polish cultural heritage in Belarus. Belarusian authorities accused him of the so-called “rehabilitation of Na**sm.”

Following years of imprisonment, he was released on 28 April 2026 as part of a prisoner exchange at the Polish-Belarusian border, together with two Polish citizens and two Moldovan nationals. ✨

Among the guests attending the ceremony was Dr. Łukasz Kamiński, Director of the Ossolineum / ZNiO — one of the Platform’s member institutions — and former President of the PEMC.

11/05/2026

Last week, Dr. Peter Keup from UOKG e.V. — member of the PEMC Executive Board — delivered an important lecture at the Cottbus Memorial Prison on the legacy of political repression in the former GDR 🇩🇪

In his presentation, “How Victims Became Perpetrators: The Transformation of Political Prisoners into System Collaborators in the GDR Prison System,” Dr. Keup shared insights from his doctoral research on the methods of the Stasi and the long-term impact of authoritarian systems on individuals and society.

As a former political prisoner himself, Dr. Keup combines academic expertise with personal experience, contributing to ongoing discussions on historical memory, justice, and reconciliation 🕊️

The event also marked the opening of the exhibition “Stasi – What Was It?”, helping younger generations and visitors better understand the mechanisms of surveillance and repression in East Germany.

08/05/2026

This year, during our Annual Meeting, we will be hosted by Śląskie Centrum Wolności i Solidarności and will gather in this very place of profound historical significance. Over the course of our three-day meeting, we will have the opportunity to learn more about this history.

On December 16, 1981, during the dark days of martial law in Poland, the Pacification of Wujek became one of the most tragic symbols of resistance and repression.

At the Wujek Coal Mine in Katowice, striking miners stood in defiance—demanding dignity, freedom, and the release of their fellow workers. The response was brutal. Police and army units opened fire.

Nine miners lost their lives that day:
🕯️ Józef Czekalski
🕯️ Joachim Gnida
🕯️ Bogusław Kopczak
🕯️ Ryszard Gzik
🕯️ Zbigniew Wilk
🕯️ Andrzej Pełka
🕯️ Jan Stawisiński
🕯️ Krzysztof Giza
🕯️ Zenon Zając

They were workers, fathers, sons—ordinary people who paid the highest price for standing up against o

To lern more about Nine of Wujek check
👉https://scwis.pl/en/the-nine-from-wujek/

Today, we remember them not just as victims, but as symbols of courage and the enduring fight for freedom. Their legacy lives on in the story of Poland’s path to democracy.

In December 1981, in response to the declaration of martial law in Poland, the “Wujek" coal mine in Katowice became the scene of dramatic events that were deeply etched into the national memory. This chronicle is dedicated to a detailed account of those events. The miners’ strike was a key act o...

03/05/2026

📅 On 3 May 1952, he hosted his first broadcast from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Munich, launching what would become a lifeline of reliable information and hope for millions of Poles living behind the Iron Curtain 📻 And exactly 42 years later, on 3 May 1994, the “Courier from Warsaw” received the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest distinction, a symbolic recognition of a lifetime devoted to freedom and sovereignty 🇵🇱
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🏛️ Ten years ago, the Ossolineum / ZNiO opened the Muzeum Pana Tadeusza, creating a place where literature, history, and freedom speak to one another in a truly unique way ✨ It is one of those institutions that does much more than preserve collections; it actively helps us understand how ideas, words, and individual courage can shape the fate of nations.
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One of the museum’s most compelling permanent exhibitions, “Mission: Poland”, tells the story of the romantic idea of freedom translated into the harsh realities of the Second World War and the post-war era 📚🕊️ At its heart stands Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, a figure whose life shows how powerful truth and communication can be in times of oppression.
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This is what makes the Muzeum Pana Tadeusza and Ossolineum / ZNiO so extraordinary. They do not simply display the past, they show how memory can remain alive, meaningful, and relevant today 💡
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👏 Congratulations to Ossolineum on the 10th anniversary of the Pan Tadeusz Museum, and thank you for pursuing our shared mission with such depth, imagination, and care. If you are in Wrocław, be sure to visit “Mission: Poland” at the Pan Tadeusz Museum, Rynek 6. It is a story worth hearing, and a place worth experiencing ❤️
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📸 Photo: Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, from the collection of the Ossolineum / ZNiO

01/05/2026

On May 25–27 we’ll be gathering in Katowice for the PEMC Annual Meeting! 🇵🇱

On day 3, we’ve planned something special for you — a guided tour around the city 🏙️, offering a deeper look into its unique urban and historical landscape.

Did you know that Katowice is home to some of the most remarkable early 20th-century workers’ settlements in Europe? 🏘️ Districts like Nikiszowiec and Giszowiec were carefully designed for miners and their families ⛏️, combining functionality with thoughtful urban planning. Nikiszowiec, with its distinctive red-brick architecture 🧱 and enclosed courtyards, remains almost unchanged and is often described as a “city within a city.” Giszowiec, on the other hand, was inspired by the garden city movement 🌳, blending residential space with greenery and a village-like layout.

These districts offer a fascinating glimpse into industrial heritage, social history, and urban design 📚 — a perfect experience for those interested in how communities and cities evolve over time.

We can’t wait to discover Katowice together with you! ✨

30/04/2026

🇪🇺 Important conversations in Brussels, and another meaningful step forward for the Memorial project❗
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Because the Memorial will be physically located on Esplanade Solidarność in Brussels in front of European Parliament, it is essential for us to listen carefully to many perspectives and work across many levels 🤝 A truly pan-European project must be built through dialogue, with European, regional, local, and community voices all part of the process. During these meetings, PEMC was represented by our Managing Director, Wojtek Bednarski 🏛️📖
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We were very pleased to meet Julie de Groote, Alderwoman for Urban Planning & Heritage of the Commune d'Ixelles, where the Esplanade is located. The local community is extremely important to us, and we are sincerely grateful for the opportunity to present the Memorial project, explain its meaning, and receive extensive advice and valuable feedback 🌍💬
We also had the pleasure of meeting Audrey Henry, Secretary of State for Urban Planning and Public Cleanliness at the Région Bruxelles-Capitale - Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest. This conversation gave us an important, broader perspective on the Belgian capital as a whole, helping us better understand the regional context in which the Memorial will one day stand 🌆✨ We deeply appreciate the openness, thoughtful questions, and constructive reception of the project.
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We are genuinely encouraged by how positively the Memorial has been received. We know how important this project is, and we are very glad to see that others feel the same way 💙 The Memorial speaks to Europe’s past, but also to its future, and we are moving forward with determination to make it a reality for the Future of Europe❗
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📣 And this is not the end. We hope that after 15 May, we will have more good news to share about the Memorial project, so stay with us and follow closely 👀🕯️

29/04/2026

Meet Us | Get to Know Our Supervisory Board 👋

Today, in our Meet Us campaign, we would like to introduce a member of our Supervisory Board from Ukraine 🇺🇦

💬"The function of memory is not only to register past events, but to stimulate human conscience.” These words by Raphael Lemkin, the author of the term “genocide,” in my opinion, reflect the activities of the Platform and its members.
Ukraine’s experience shows how working with memory—uncovering the truth about past crimes, commemorating victims, and pursuing decommunization—can become a vital part of building civil society, affirming a European path of development, and strengthening resilience against aggression.
At the same time, we observe a contrasting approach in the Russian Federation, where denial of crimes shape aggressive narratives that have contributed to the war against Ukraine. This contrast demonstrates that memory is not only about the past, but also about the moral compass of societies in the present."

Yana Hrynko is a museum professional specializing in the history of Soviet crimes in Ukraine and memory politics. She has curated numerous cultural and exhibition projects. Currently, she works on documenting the social and humanitarian dimensions of the Russian–Ukrainian war at the Національний музей історії України у Другій світовій війні. Офіційна стор. in Kyiv.

24/04/2026

We’re honored that this year’s PEMC Annual Meeting will be hosted by the Śląskie Centrum Wolności i Solidarności in Katowice — a place where history speaks with powerful clarity. 🏛️

The Center’s main exhibition, opened on the 40th anniversary of the pacification of the “Wujek” coal mine, tells the story of the December 1981 strike and the courage of those who stood against the communist regime. 🕯️

Set across three levels of a historic industrial building, the exhibition invites visitors into a deeply immersive journey — through the realities of martial law, the everyday acts of resistance, and the human stories behind them.

One of the most striking elements is the restored T-55 tank — a stark symbol of the military force used against unarmed miners.🛠️ It’s a reminder of the price paid for freedom and the resilience of those who refused to be silenced.

This is more than an exhibition. It’s a space for reflection — on solidarity, on courage, and on the enduring value of freedom.🕊️

We look forward to experiencing this powerful place together during PEMC Annual Meeting 2026.

23/04/2026

We’re proud to share that members of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation will be hosting this important upcoming event. 👏

Ambassadors and official representatives from nearly 50 diplomatic delegations, captive nations, and human rights organizations will lay wreaths to honor the memory of the more than 100 million victims killed by communism and remember the 1.5 billion people who still live under communist tyranny.

This is more than just a gathering — it’s a chance to remember, learn, and reflect on the legacy of communism and its impact on millions of lives. Voices and stories like these matter, especially today.

During this year’s ceremony, VOC will honor the Viet American Foundation with VOC’s Flame of Liberty Award 🏆

We strongly encourage you to join, take part in the conversation, and help keep this history alive. 🎫

👉 Register here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/victimsofcommunismmemorialfoundation1/2049376

⌛ Thu Apr 23, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:45 PM
📍Corners of New Jersey and Massachusetts Avenues NW, 20001

Roll Call of Nations 2026 – Corners of New Jersey and Massachusetts Avenues NW, Thu Apr 23, 2026 - On April 23, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation will host the 19th Annual Roll Call of Nations Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, DC. Ambassadors and...

22/04/2026

🎉🇪🇺 Truly wonderful news for the Memorial, and for European remembrance❗
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At the recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Estonia proudly declared its commitment to financially support the completion of the Pan-European Memorial for the Victims of Totalitarianism in Brussels. This is a remarkable and encouraging step forward for a vital project that ensures the atrocities of communism, fascism, and Na**sm, along with the stories of their victims, are honoured with the dignity and clarity they deserve right in the heart of Europe!🕯️
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🇪🇪 Estonia’s decision is not only about financial support but also a strong political signal. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna (Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Välisministeerium) underlined that the Memorial will help keep alive the memory of the crimes committed by occupying regimes and the suffering inflicted on nations in the 20th century, while also reminding Europeans of the painful experiences from which today’s democratic Union emerged 💡
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💬 We fully agree with the words of Liisa Pakosta, Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs of Estonia: “Speaking about the crimes committed by totalitarian regimes in the 20th century and commemorating their victims is not only our duty to history and to our parents and grandparents. It’s also a warning to the present day.” Her statement goes to the heart of why this project matters so much, especially now.
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🙏 We also want to express our sincere gratitude to the Užsienio reikalų ministerija 🇱🇹, with whom we work closely in the process of making the Memorial happen. Lithuania’s commitment has been steady, strategic, and deeply meaningful. This continuity of support matters enormously.
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📣 Please share this good news and help us spread the message. Every such declaration brings the Memorial closer to reality, and every shared post helps show that Europe cares, remembers, and is ready to act 🕯️💙
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20/04/2026

📣 V4 Memory Institutions join forces in discussion in the heart of Prague! 🏛️✨
🏅 A high-level international conference, "National Memory Institutions in the V4 Countries," was recently held at the Poslanecká sněmovna Parlamentu České republiky. Organised under the auspices of Pavel Žáček, MP and former director of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, this event brought together the primary guardians of Central European history. We were honoured to participate as the only international network organisation uniting members from all V4 nations, represented by our President, Marek Mutor, who emphasised our role as the "international glue" 🧪 connecting these pillar institutions.
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The conference featured a "who's who" of memory work, showcasing the collective strength of major players across the region:
🇵🇱 Poland: Instytut Pamięci Narodowej represented by Dr. Karol Polejowski and his team.
🇸🇰 Slovakia: Ústav pamäti národa, led by Dr. Jerguš Sivoš.
🇭🇺 Hungary: The Historical Archives of the State Security Services, represented by Director-General Dr Cseh Gergő Bendegúz.
🇨🇿 Czech Republic: A powerful delegation including the Ústav pro studium totalitních režimů, Archiv bezpečnostních složek ČR, and Paměť národa
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These institutions are more than just archives; they are the backbone of historical justice and public awareness 🛡️ By integrating their diverse national experiences, PEMC provides a unique international perspective essential to overcoming the residues of totalitarianism and protecting the broader culture of human rights today.
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Credit: FOTO: KPS/Lukáš Janičina