85 years on, Putin repeats Stalin’s crimes

Russia’s war against Ukraine is a brutal reminder that history can repeat itself when past crimes go unacknowledged and unpunished. The deliberate killing of civilians, attacks on schools, hospitals and shelters, and the mass deportation and forced Russification of children echo the crimes committed by the Soviet regime 85 years ago across neighbouring nations - crimes that Russia is repeating in Ukraine today. There can be no return to business as usual with Putin. This must be Europe’s uncompromising position.

This message lies at the heart of the ceremony in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels, marking the 85th anniversary of the mass deportations and political repressions carried out by the Soviets from 14 June 1941 onwards. Organised by the Parliament at the initiative of the EPP Group, the ceremony continues a Baltic tradition: reading aloud the names of those who were deported. The names were read by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Members of the European Parliament, Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, diplomats and any other attendees. Refat Chubarov, President of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars, also addressed the participants. He noted that his people had also suffered under Soviet deportations and are now once again forced to face the consequences of Russia’s occupation.

"Today marks 85 years since the crimes against humanity committed by the Soviet Union against tens of thousands of people from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Sadly, such crimes do not belong merely to history. They are being committed here and now against the people of Ukraine, especially children. The name of the Russian state and its leaders may change, but its actions do not. Today is not only about remembering the victims of the past. It is a call to all of Europe. The value of human life and freedom must never be taken for granted. We must stand up and defend these values to ensure that the crimes of the past are never repeated," said Riho Terras MEP, Head of the Estonian delegation in the EPP Group.  

"I’m glad that the symbolic reading of names is becoming a tradition. The lessons of history are a crucial foundation for European solidarity. The war in Ukraine has shown that past crimes, when not properly acknowledged, can resurface. It is essential not to repeat such mistakes now, when war crimes have once again become a present reality," emphasised Rasa Juknevičienė MEP, Head of the Lithuanian delegation in the EPP Group.  

“The memory of those deported on June 14, 1941, serves as a reminder that history must not be forgotten and that it is repeating itself today in Ukraine. The heroic Ukrainian people are defending Europe and humanity from Russian aggression and the mass repression being carried out by the Kremlin in the occupied part of Ukraine. Russia has deported tens of thousands of Ukrainians, including children, from the occupied territories and is making every effort to erase their identity and sense of belonging to the Ukrainian nation. Of the more than 20,000 children illegally taken away, only 2,500 have been returned. The names of those responsible for the abduction of Ukrainian children are known, and these individuals must be included on the international sanctions list,” insisted Sandra Kalniete MEP, Head of the Latvian delegation in the EPP Group.