The symbolic token awarded by the Sybir Memorial Museum to its Friends is a marble block reminiscing of a block of ice or snow and evoking associations with Siberian cold. It symbolizes durability, support, and solid foundations for the museum’s future development, supported by its Friends. The museum bestows this statuette upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional support and dedication to its mission.
The guests were welcomed by Professor Wojciech Śleszyński, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum:
“Every year, we honor extraordinary individuals who are immensely important to our museum. The symbolic memento awarded by the Sybir Memorial Museum to its Friends is a statuette in the form of a block of white marble, resembling a block of ice or snow, evoking the Siberian experience. It refers to the times our museum tells about. This is the sixth time we gather to present these statuettes to exceptional individuals, the Friends of our museum,” he said.
Numerous guests attended the event, including Jarosław Dworzański, Deputy Chairman of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Sejmik; Rafał Rudnicki, Deputy Mayor of Białystok; Marek Tyszkiewicz, Białystok City Councilman; Professor Elżbieta Smułkowa, the first Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in the Republic of Belarus; Fr. Dr. Piotr Petkiewicz, representing H.E. Jakubb, Orthodox Archbishop of Białystok and Gdańsk; and a large group of Sybiraks led by Jolanta Hryniewicka, President of the Białystok Branch of the Association of Siberian Deportees.
The first of the honorees was the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Poland Alim Karabayev.
HE Alim Kirabayev was born on April 16, 1972, in Almaty. He is a graduate of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. He completed a research fellowship in the United States and advanced training courses for structural unit managers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the Institute of Diplomacy of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1997 he started his diplomatic service as an adviser to the Department of European Countries and later as an attaché in the Department of Multilateral Cooperation. He served as a secretary to the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Egypt and Japan, a secretary in the UN Affairs Department, Counselor of the Department of Europe and America, and Chief of Staff to the Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Since March 2020, he has been the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Poland, holding the rank of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Counselor of the Second Class. H.E. Alim Kirabayev also grands his its honorary patronage of the works and sessions of the Polish-Kazakh Historical Commission. The commission inaugurated its activities on June 6, 2022, at the Sybir Memorial Museum, and, thanks to his personal involvement, has become an international forum for research cooperation, contributing to expanding knowledge about Poles deported to the East and the relations between the Polish and Kazakh nation.
The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Poland Alim Karabayev, expressed his gratitude for the statuette with the following words:
‘It is a great honor for me to be here today within the walls of the Sybir Memorial Museum, a place that deeply symbolizes the bond between generations and preserves the memory of challenging yet significant moments in history. I want to thank you for the recognition and for the statuette that was presented to me today. For me personally, it is not only a great honor but also a symbol of the warm relations between our nations. When we talk about Kazakh-Polish relations, we cannot help but recall the historical moments that have connected our peoples. The tragedy of deportations, which brought hundreds of thousands of Poles to the land of Kazakhstan, was a test for the Polish nation, but it also sparked a history of mutual understanding and cooperation between our peoples. Your compatriots, facing difficult conditions, found not only a shelter but also support from Kazakhs. Poles preserved their traditions, language, and religion, creating cultural centers and associations that contributed to the creation of Kazakhstan’s multicultural heritage. Today, Polonia is an active social group that unites people and helps strengthen the ties between Kazakhstan and Poland. Thanks to the Polish community, these ties are being made through bilateral projects and initiatives aimed at preserving historical memory. I would particularly like to highlight the role of the Kazakh-Polish Historical Commission, co-chaired by Professor Wojciech Śleszyński in this regard. The Commission’s work helps us not only deepen our knowledge of the past but also build bridges of friendship and mutual understanding between our countries. Receiving this award, I would like to emphasize that it is my duty as a diplomatist to promote dialogue, mutual understanding, and preservation of the values that unite us rather than divide us. Thank you for this honor! May memory and friendship continue to unite us,” he said.
The second honoree was Ryszard Janosz, President of the Wrocław Branch of the Association of Siberian Deportees.
Ryszard Janosz was born on April 14th, 1940, in Kostopil in the Eastern Borderlands. His father was an officer in the Polish Army with the rank of second lieutenant, stationed in Kostopil. The entire family avoided deportation to Siberia in February and April 1940, but in June 1940, Mr. Ryszard, along with his two older sisters, Danuta and Halina, his parents, and grandmother, were deported to the Omsk region and later to the poselok of Załomnaja. They left the settlement two years later with Anders’ Army. Mr. Ryszard’s father fought at Monte Cassino and Ancona and was killed on July 17th, 1944. The rest of the family moved through the Middle East to Uganda, where they stayed until 1947. Upon returning to Poland, Mr. Ryszard completed a military school and, in 1993, was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. Mr. Ryszard has been involved in the activities of the Association of Siberian Deportees since 1989 and, since 2022, has been the president of the Wrocław Branch of the Association. For years, he has participated in numerous initiatives promoting the memory of Polish Siberia. Thanks to Mr. Ryszard’s openness and dedication, we managed to strengthen the ties with the Sybirak community in western Poland, and the Wrocław edition of the Sybir Memorial Run has been successfully organized and conducted.
The award on behalf of Ryszard Janosz was accepted by Jolanta Hryniewicka, President of the Białystok Branch of the Association of Siberian Deportees.
“I have the enormous privilege of receiving the statuette of the Sybir Memorial Museum’s friend. The statuette is a tribute and expression of appreciation for the Sybirak community. When I received my statuette two years ago, I was moved like I am today. Thank you very much for your understanding and for recognizing the work of the president in Wrocław. I hope that this cooperation will be continued. Thank you very much on his behalf,” she said.
Roberto Molle, President of the Association of the Battle of Monte Cassino, Center for Science and Research was also awarded with the statuette.
Roberto Molle was born on July 3rd, 1964, in Terracina. He holds a degree in law and is also a historian, the author of numerous articles and books about the Battle of Monte Cassino. He is the Director of the “Museo Vivo della Memoria”, a former scientific director of the “Museo Historiale” in Cassino, a member of the committees for the 70th and 75th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino, and the coordinator of the historical-scientific committee for the 80th anniversary of the battle. He has collaborated in the production of documentaries about the battle and co-created radio programs dedicated to the Winter Line. He is currently involved in the topic of the Winter Line at the “Liberation Route Europe” Foundation, serves as the President of the Association of Museums “Italy War Route”, and is a honorary member of the American Association of the 36th Reserve Infantry Division in Austin, USA. He has been awarded the “Medal of Remembrance” by the the Republic of Poland and is an honorary member of the “Polish II Corps Museum Foundation at Monte Cassino. He is also a member of the Expert Committee on the Battle of Monte Cassino and a member of the Parliamentary Group at the Senate of the Republic for the “Path of Memory: Valorization and Cultural-Tourism Development of Military History.” Thanks to Mr. Roberto, in 2019, the Sybir Memorial Museum collection was enriched with 19 valuable artifacts found on the battlefield of Monte Cassino. Today, some of these items are part of the permanent exhibition of the Sybir Memorial Museum and serve as significant elements illustrating the paths of deportees to Poland through the Middle East and Italy.
Claiming his prize, Roberto Molle expressed his gratitude with the following words:
“I would like to thank the museum management staff and all the council members for the great honor bestowed upon me. I visited the museum when it was still under construction, and I was able to appreciate the tremendous dedication, preparation, and commitment of those who designed and then brought it to life. The Association of the Battle of Monte Cassino and the Center for Science and Research, which I have the honor to lead, strive to keep alive the memory of the events that took place 80 years ago – the memory of all the soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. This is a memory that must be honored and passed on to future generations. Thank you very much for the recognition I received today,” he concluded.
Music during the event was provided by teachers and students from the Ignacy Paderewski High School of Music in Białystok.
