While opening the conference, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU Mykola Tochytskyi underscored the symbolism of the conference venue as the tragedy of the Holodomor is a part of the European history which was hidden by the Soviet regime behind a wall of lies for a long time.

Vice-President of the European Parliament Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Member of the European Parliament Sandra Kalniete, Creative Director of the House of European History Taja Vovk van Gaal, Member of the European Parliament, Co-Chair of Euronest Rebecca Harms, Director General of the National Museum “Memorial of Holodomor Victims” Olesia Stasiuk, professor, senior research fellow of the Institute of Political, Ethnic and National Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Yurii Shapoval, visiting professor of the University of Munich, the Humboldt University Berlin, fellow at Harvard University and the Kennan Institute of the Wilson Center Gerhard Simon took part at the event.

Head of the Ukraine’s Mission to the EU Mykola Tochytskyi stressed the importance of highlighting the truth about the Holodomor and paying a decent tribute to all those who suffered in this horrific tragedy. In this regard, he proposed to the House of European History to consider an idea to organize a part of their permanent exhibition dedicated to the Holodomor.

Member of the European Parliament Sandra Kalniete noted that the Holodomor was one of the most horrific crimes of the Stalin regime that constitutes a genocide and a crime against humanity. She also underscored that recent developments in Ukraine is significant for the future of the whole European Union as Russia’s recent attack on Ukrainian ships in broad daylight is a test for the EU and NATO reaction.

Vice-President of the European Parliament Zdzisław Krasnodębski underlined that we should mourn the victims of the Holodomor and work further on opening and spreading the truth about this tragedy.

During the professional discussion, prominent experts Olesia Stasiuk, Gerhard Simon and Yurii Shapoval gave a profound analysis on the causes and consequences of Holodomor, called on Ukraine’s partners recognize it as a genocide against Ukrainians and spread the word about it in every corner of the globe.

The conference in Brussels was a part of a broader program of commemorative events in Ukraine and throughout the world on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of one of the biggest tragedies of the 20th century. All the participants of the discussion agreed that it is crucial to restore the historical truth about the Holodomor in order to prevent such crimes against humanity in the future.