Brussels, 12.06.2024 – Today, a solemn commemoration event was held in Brussels to honour the victims of the Soviet mass deportations, which occurred across Central and Eastern Europe between 1920 and 1952. Marek Mutor, President of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience, participated in the ceremony and read out the names of deported victims from various countries. This poignant tribute acknowledged the over 6 million people – women, men, children, mothers, and fathers – who suffered under these brutal regimes.

The initiative for these commemorations began with the Informal Group on European Remembrance of the European Parliament, led by Rasa Jukneviciene. It has since been officially included in the Annual European Parliament Event by President Roberta Metsola. This inclusion highlights the significance of recognizing the atrocities of totalitarian regimes and honouring their victims, reinforcing the message: #NeverForget.

Prominent figures reading the names included Roberta Metsola, Roberts Zīle, Assita Kanko, Jaume Duch Guillot, Michael Gahler, Marc Angel, Inese Vaidere, and many others. These representatives from various European Union countries and political groups united in a collective gesture of remembrance.

The event also provided an excellent opportunity to promote our publication, “Lest We Forget,” which offers historical context on the Soviet deportations and shares the stories of real victims of totalitarian crimes. Copies of the book were distributed to Members of the European Parliament, with the hope that in the upcoming new 5-year term, they will continue to recognize the importance of remembrance and support the Platform’s initiatives.

 

 

The publication of “Lest We Forget” and its promotion in Brussels were made possible by the support of the Polska Fundacja Narodowa, an institution dedicated to preserving the memory of totalitarianism.