DISINFO: Poland and Ukraine established institutions to lie about history
SUMMARY
The Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance and The Institute of National Remembrance in Poland were founded to lie about history. Both institutions aim to create and establish in the social consciousness a new founding myth for the corresponding states.
RESPONSE
The Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance or Ukrainian Institute of National Memory (UINM) is the central executive body operating under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Established on 31 May 2006 as a special organ for the restoration and preservation of national memory of the Ukrainian people. The main goals of the UINM are to shape and carry out the historical policies in Ukraine, to study the issues of the Ukrainian liberation movement, Ukrainian revolution of 1917 – 1921, wars, victims of the Holodomor of 1932 – 1933, mass famine of 1921 – 1923, 1946 – 1947, political repressions and individuals who defended the Ukrainian independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, etc. The Institute of National Remembrance in Poland was established in 1998 following the resolution made by the coalition of parties, stemming from the Solidarity movement (which took over the power from the post-Communist coalition) and was connected with an attempt to solve the problem of documents left after the Communist State Security Bodies dissolved in 1990. This concerned the establishment of an institution which was apolitical and independent from the government. The institution would take control over the archives of the communist political police which were controlled by Secret Service. It would also make the documents available to people who were objects of state supervision. The Institute of National Remembrance is a special institution having the functions of state and justice administration, of an archive, an academic institute, an education centre and (since 2007) of a body which conducts vetting proceedings.