Commemoration Day for the Victims of Communist Genocide
June 14, Saturday
Where and when is it observed?
This day is observed in different countries on various dates. For example:
* In Lithuania — June 14 (in memory of the mass deportations of 1941)
* In Latvia — March 25 and June 14
* In Estonia — March 25 and June 14
* In the Czech Republic and other Central European countries, there are similar memorial days related to condemning the crimes of totalitarian regimes
Purpose of the memorial day
* To honor the memory of millions of victims of political repression and genocide
* To draw attention to the crimes of totalitarian communist regimes
* To emphasize the importance of historical memory and preventing such tragedies from recurring
Forms of commemoration
* Holding ceremonies at memorials for victims of repression
* Moments of silence
* Public events, exhibitions, lectures dedicated to historical events
* Coverage in media and educational programs
Context and historical background
The term "communist genocide" often refers to actions of the Soviet regime and other communist governments, including:
* The Holodomor in Ukraine (1932–1933)
* Mass repressions in the USSR (1930s – 1950s)
* Deportations of peoples (e.g., Crimean Tatars, Chechens, Baltic peoples)
* Crimes of communist regimes in Cambodia, China, North Korea, and other countries
International reaction
* In 2008, the European Parliament adopted the Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism, equating the crimes of communist regimes with those of the Nazis
* Several countries have established monuments and memorial museums dedicated to the victims of communism