Regarding the display of numerous communist symbols by the home fans during the UEFA Conference League match Omonia Nicosia – Legia Warsaw on 28 Nov 2024 in Nicosia (Cyprus), the Platform of European Memory and Conscience is deeply concerned about presence of banners with hammer and sickle, Stalin, Lenin or Che Guevara during sports events, broadcasted worldwide. The Platform strongly condemns presentation of any symbols of totalitarianism in public space.

Glorification of any totalitarianism – Communism, Nazim or Fascism is deeply offensive not only to the memory of dozens of millions of victims of those regimes and their ideologies, but also to their families. The Communist ideology continues to kill and enslave people in many places in the world.

The Platform firmly stands by the position of the European Parliament, expressed in the resolution of 19 September 2019 on the importance of European remembrance for the future of Europe, in which the Parliament “condemns all manifestations and propagation of totalitarian ideologies” and “expresses its deep respect for each victim of these totalitarian regimes and calls on all EU institutions and actors to do their utmost to ensure that horrific totalitarian crimes against humanity and systemic gross human rights violations are remembered and brought before courts of law”.

We urge all organisations responsible for supervising sports competition to react and prevent any glorification of totalitarianism or totalitarian ideology during events that are supposed to promote fair competition, friendship and respect for human dignity.

In Prague, on 6 December 2024

Photo: legia.net