CP of Poland, Protest of the Communist Party of Poland on the removal of the Beloyannis monument in Wroclaw

4/12/19 5:49 PM
  • Poland, Communist Party of Poland En Europe Communist and workers' parties

Communist Party of Poland expresses its indignation at the dismantling of the monument of Nikos Beloyannis in Wroclaw. Monument was located at the yard of the 22nd Primary School in Stablowice district.

Nikos Beloyannis was a hero of the Greek antifascist resistance during the second world war – the fighter of the communist ELAS partisan army, and during the civil war from 1947 to 1949 the commissar of the Democratic Army of Greece. In 1949 as a political refugee he came to Poland. In 1950 returned to Greece to rebuild structures of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). Arrested for his political activity, he was sentenced to death by the military court. Beloyannis was shot on the 30th of March 1952 despite massive protests in Greece and around the world. He became an inspiration for numerous works of art. In Poland he was commemorated with several toponyms of the streets and monuments in Wroclaw and Kroscienko.

Removal of the monument in Wroclaw, similarly as destruction of many other memorials of the heroes of the antifascist resistance and workers' movement as a part of the so-called decommunisation act, is an important element of the campaign aimed at destroying historical memory. Dismantling of the monument was made without agreement or even informing Greek community living in Poland. Its procedure was unclear and people responsible for the decision unknown.

We demand restitution of the monument of Nikos Beloyannis as fast as it is possible. We cannot allow the Institute of National Remembrance and other institutions to rewrite and manipulate historical memory of the society.