In researching the history of Polish-Ukrainian relations of the 20th century, particularly of the bloodiest events in that relationship, I write about symmetry.
The terrible symmetry of our relationship, which with each display of increasing pressure by one or the other side resulted in a symmetrical response from the other side. This effect of a bloody domino led to the situation in which both of our nations have people amongst them who did commit crimes — crimes against freedom, against faiths, against the lives of others.
There is an obverse side: Despite all, there were people who didn’t lose their humanity during an inhumane period. Not only rank and file Ukrainians and Poles greeted each other, but the leaders of the opposing sides did so: forgiving and granting forgiveness, continuing the work of the others. This is the basis of the multi-year process of understanding.
We ask for forgiveness and we grant forgiveness. Such is the Christian, civic and geopolitical formula to build a partnership.
Now, by adopting a law that calls for criminal persecution for expressing one’s thoughts about our past, in which both sides took part, the president of Poland has carelessly ended the long-term process of understanding. For there cannot be an entente without understanding, and no understanding without being able to hear what is said.
The right to expression was taken away not from Ukrainians, although we are rightly outraged in part by the international nature of the sanctions imposed by the Polish legislation. But today, Ukrainians are not a national minority, not a colonized nation, but a sovereign state, which necessarily, can protect the freedom of speech and human rights of its citizens.
The right of freedom of thought and expression has been taken away from Polish citizens. The Polish government negligently thinks that it can shape a free Polish public into a mass, similar to the molds of its Communist past.
In this complex and dangerous period of a stable and positive neighborhood in central Europe, I have two hopes.
The first, for the intellectual strength of Poles, for their commitment to a mission, expressed by Polish partisans of various eras to defend and protect “your freedoms and ours.”
My second hope is for restraint by the Ukrainian side, that it not adopt symmetrical decisions, which are so simple and predictable at first glance.
By encouraging symmetry, evil will win, and a third party will triumph.
I am certain that it is sufficient to point to our neighbor’s error, and to warn this neighbor and partner away from ill-considered, perhaps even dangerous actions, without descending to those levels.
Ukraine in 2018 is a state whose citizens each day, at the price of their own lives, defend the values of freedom, European values and the freedom of Europe. Ukraine has affirmed for itself, for its people and before the free world, its allegiance to the pledge that never again will totalitarian practices occur on its soil.
Volodymyr Viatrovych is head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance.
