International Cooperation – Our Shared History

The Sybir Memorial Museum engages in an international dialogue concerning not only Soviet crimes, but also those committed by other totalitarian regimes. It actively seeks areas of cooperation with museums and institutions addressing the subject of totalitarian crimes in various parts of the world. The study of these crimes demonstrates that, regardless of location or historical period, the repression carried out by oppressive regimes against their own citizens and the populations of neighbouring states exhibits many similarities.

The aim of the Sybir Memorial Museum is to go beyond the practice of presenting historical issues exclusively within the context of a single state or nation, while overlooking the broader international perspective. It is essential to view history from a broader perspective, one that allows us to recognise both universal and recurring mechanisms as well as exceptional events.

Forced displacement, used throughout history by those in power as a tool of repressive domestic policy and, at times, economic policy, should be the subject of in-depth, collaborative research.

The Sybir Memorial Museum analyses the activities of museums, academic and cultural institutions on almost every continent. Anyone who researches and disseminates knowledge about both the crimes and the fates of their victims is a potential partner worthy of attention. The contacts already established – primarily in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, but also in North America and Australia – confirm the value of exchanging knowledge and experience.

Importantly, the activities of the Sybir Memorial Museum are also analysed in detail and highly regarded abroad. The history of Soviet crimes is proving to have a universal dimension.

Actively developing international cooperation allows us to continually improve the ways in which knowledge is communicated, so that it is more understandable and accessible to audiences around the world.