Hearings entitled "Zakerzonnia – tragedy of Ukrainians. Crime of the Communist regime" (dedicated to the 70th anniversary of deportation of Ukrainians from the territory of Poland) held on September 16, were organized by the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.
People's deputies, scientists, representatives of NGOs, and associations of deported Ukrainians participated in the event.
As the initiator of the hearings, Chairperson of the Subcommittee on matters of migrant workers as well as national and cultural cooperation of the European Integration Committee Oleh Pankevych claimed, September of 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of signing of the Agreement between the Ukrainian SSR and the Polish Committee of National Liberation which became the beginning of massive deportation of Ukrainians from their ethnic territory, and Poles from the territory of Western Ukraine. Deportations lasted through 1944-1951.
"Over the years of independence, Ukraine, Poland, other countries, and international organizations have not condemned deportation of Ukrainians. Commemorating this anniversary is a chance to condemn man-hateful practices of totalitarian regimes of the XX century. Ukraine still does not have a law that would protect rights and dignity of the deported, that would ensure preserving memory about such tragic events", claimed Oleh Pankevych.
The people's deputy informed that he and his colleagues have submitted the draft resolution of the Verkhovna Rada on holding parliamentary hearings on deportation to the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and International Relations. The Committee supported the suggestion to hold a public discussion. Oleh Pankevych informed that the bill "On recognition citizens of Ukraine, who in 1944-1951 were forcibly relocated from the territory of the People's Republic of Poland to the territory of the USSR, as the deported ones" was included to the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada's session on September 2, 2014.
As Chair of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory Volodymyr Viatrovych noted, memory of this tragedy of deportation has been preserved thanks to public initiatives. "However, these initiatives are not enough – we shall involve the state in this. These first hearings at the Ukrainian Parliament are a point of no return for changes in the state's attitude towards the deported", he claimed.
Chairperson of the "Zakerzonnia" Association of Societies of Deported Ukrainians Volodymyr Sereda stated that the agreement was signed by subjects with no international status or right. On the part of Ukraine – by Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Ukrainian SSR Mykyta Khrushchov, on the part of Poland – by the Polish Committee of National Liberation. He stressed that Lviv has an unfinished monument of the deportation of Ukrainians – the state should finish constructing it.Chairperson of "Kholmshchyna" Association Mykola Onufriichuk said it's a shame that the Parliament has not given an appropriate political and legal evaluation of the situation with forcible relocation of ethnic Ukrainians from the territory of their native land. "It's a shame that we have not settled the issue on, especially, the visa regime for us and for our descendants with Poland at the intergovernmental level", claimed M.Onufriichuk.
"Wanting to become a full-fledged member of the European Community, the Republic of Poland has for the last decades been elaborating and introducing national legislation that would guarantee Poles deported from the territory of the Ukrainian SSR to the territory of Poland restoration of their property rights. Ukraine shall follow Poland's example", said Chairperson of Kyiv Association of Deported Ukrainians "Kholmshchyna" named after Mykhailo Hrushevskyi Stepan Romaniuk.