Despite strong winds and rain, participation was excellent! We sincerely thank everyone who joined us for this extraordinary history lesson.

The Memorial Peloton is an initiative of the Sybir Memorial Museum, created to commemorate all those who, as a result of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact signed on August 23, 1939, and the subsequent outbreak of World War II, found themselves in territories occupied by the Soviet Union and suffered under its terror. For several years now, the event has also been held in other European countries. This weekend, it took place in Riga and Vilnius. Today, we completed our ride through the streets of Białystok, and ahead of us lies the final walk in Mereni near Chișinău (August 30, 2025).

The Białystok edition of the Memorial Peloton began at Katyn Square and Monument, which was erected in 2000 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the massacre — a tribute to the 22,000 victims executed by the Soviets in the spring of 1940 in Katyn, Kharkiv, Kalinin, Kyiv, Minsk, and other sites of execution.

Over 60 people took part in the event, including international guests — Arūnas Bubnys, PhD, Director of the Lithuanian Genocide and Resistance Research Center, and Gints Apals, Head of the Research Department at the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. They were welcomed by Professor Wojciech Śleszyński, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum, who emphasized:

“It is worth remembering that the experience of deportation affected all parts of Europe — from Finland in the north to Moldova in the south.”

Arūnas Bubnys, PhD, expressed his gratitude for the invitation to participate in the Peloton:

“Let us remember the deportations and the Nazi and communist terror that also struck the Baltic countries, including Lithuania. We live in a time when Russian imperialism once again threatens our region. History is not only important but deeply relevant — it is our duty to pass it on to the younger generation.”

At exactly 5:00 p.m., participants set off toward the first stop — the Detention Center on Kopernika Street. There, they were greeted by an exhibition of historical photographs and a talk by Piotr Bosko, a Sybir Memorial Museum staff member, about the history of this facility. A special attraction was the “Czornyj woron” — the colloquial name for the prison vans and ambulances used in the Soviet Union and other communist states during the Stalinist era to transport detainees. Vehicles of this type were also used to carry victims of the Katyn Massacre. The replica on display was one of three created by the Automotive and Technology Museum in Otrębusy for Andrzej Wajda’s film Katyn.

The second stop of this year’s Peloton was the Podlasie Border Guard Unit on Bema Street, where participants listened to Piotr Popławski, PhD, Head of the Educational and Cultural Projects Department at the Sybir Memorial Museum, who spoke about the site’s history dating back to the late 19th century.

The third and final stop was the former Borowski family home at 36 Mazowiecka Street, where Maria Borowska, granddaughter of deportees to Siberia, shared the dramatic story of her family’s exile.

Finally, the group arrived at the Sybir Memorial Museum, where they were met by representatives of the Białystok branch of the Association of Siberian Deportees, led by Jolanta Hryniewicka. At the Monument to the Heroic Mothers of Siberian Deportees, flowers and candles were laid in remembrance of all those exiled.

“Our meeting has a special meaning. It is not just a sporting event or a shared ride, but a journey through history. For years, the truth about Soviet repression and crimes was distorted and blamed on the Germans, even during the Nuremberg trials. It is our duty not only to remember the victims of those events but also to speak the truth about them — with dignity and respect. The ride you took part in is a beautiful act of remembrance. By covering these kilometers, you paid tribute to all who gave their lives for a free Poland. Thank you for being here today and for ensuring that the memory of those tragic events lives on,” said Jolanta Hryniewicka, President of the Białystok Branch of the Association of Siberian Deportees.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in such great numbers. The final Memorial Peloton of this year will take place in Chișinău, Moldova, on August 30th. See you there!