Friends of the Sybir Memorial Museum Day is a special annual celebration – an opportunity to express gratitude to all individuals, institutions, and partners who provide outstanding support to the Sybir Memorial Museum. Their involvement, whether through professional collaboration, organizational assistance, or personal commitment, helps preserve the memory of those deported to Sybir.
The statuette presented to the Friends of the Museum is a symbolic keepsake carved from white marble, reminiscent of a block of ice – an immediate reference to the distant Siberia. At the same time, it represents durability, resilience, and strength, echoing the steadfast spirit of the Sybiraks and all those devoted to the Museum’s mission of preserving the memory of Sybir.
Guests were welcomed by Professor Wojciech Śleszyński, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum:
– I am delighted that we can meet here today. For us, all of you – whether you represent politics, public service, education, culture, or our dearest Sybiraks – are our Friends today. Once a year, we try to express our gratitude to three people who cooperate with us and help shape the Sybir Memorial Museum. Without their support, the Museum would not have achieved such remarkable success. I always say that this is your place – our shared Museum.
The event was attended by numerous guests, including representatives of the Polish Parliament, the regional and municipal authorities of Białystok, members of the Białystok City Council, representatives of Sybirak associations, the diplomatic corps, uniformed services, the education sector, universities, and cultural institutions.
Among the speakers was Rafał Rudnicki, Deputy Mayor of Białystok, who said:
– Without your involvement and hard work, this institution would not be what it is today. It is a unique place on the map of our city, our region, and our country – a place that nurtures the memory of those who endured the inhuman land and who have always cared deeply about preserving that memory. This was precisely the purpose behind establishing the Sybir Memorial Museum – to create a living testimony to the experiences of all those who were on Sybir. And so that we may continue to pass this memory on, ensuring that no one will ever have to suffer there again – he concluded.
Krzysztof Truskolaski, Member of the Polish Parliament
The first person honored this year was Krzysztof Truskolaski, a Member of the Polish Parliament. It was through his initiative that in 2023 the Sybir Memorial Museum was nominated for the 2024 European Museum of the Year Award – the most prestigious competition for European museums, comprising several distinguished categories. The Sybir Memorial Museum received the 2024 Council of Europe Museum Prize and was also shortlisted for the European Museum of the Year Award. As a result of these recognitions, in 2025 the Sybir Memorial Museum had the honor of hosting the EMYA2025 conference and award ceremony in Białystok.
In his speech, Krzysztof Truskolaski expressed his gratitude, saying:
– This is a truly moving moment. Although I often speak at various ceremonies, today I find myself short of words. I will say, perhaps a little boldly, that I have felt like a friend of the Sybir Memorial Museum since its very beginning – even before receiving this beautiful statuette. Now that I have been officially named a Friend of the Museum, it is indeed a great moment in both my personal and professional life. The Sybir Memorial Museum has always been close to my heart – it still is, and always will be. In 2024, the Sybir Memorial Museum reached the top tier among European museums, and we should all be proud of that. I hope our Museum will continue to grow and that we will keep winning further distinctions in European and global rankings – he said.
Leszek Różański, President of the Association of Sybiraks in Siemiatycze
The second person honored was Leszek Różański, President of the Association of Sybiraks in Siemiatycze. On June 20, 1941, he was arrested together with his family and deported to the settlement of Sherstobitovo in the Pudino District. He returned to Poland in April 1946. In 1988, he became one of the co-founders of the Association of Sybiraks in Białystok. He later established local branches of the Association in the city and county of Siemiatycze. Today, the Siemiatycze branch of the Association of Sybiraks has been active for 35 years, and Leszek Różański has received numerous honours in recognition of his efforts to commemorate patriotic and civic values, uphold national and independence traditions, and preserve the memory of the Polish Golgotha of the East.
He remains deeply engaged in the activities of the Sybirak community in our region and actively participates in events organized by the Sybir Memorial Museum.
– I am surprised to receive such an honor. I am a Sybirak. At the age of two, I found myself in Siberia. I returned in 1946, went to school, completed my studies, and since then I have been involved in helping other Sybiraks. I consider it my duty – emphasized Leszek Różański as he accepted the award.
Ernest Wyciszkiewicz, PhD, Director of the Juliusz Mieroszewski Centre for Dialogue
The Friend of the Museum Award was also presented to Ernest Wyciszkiewicz, PhD, Director of the Juliusz Mieroszewski Centre for Dialogue.
Wyciszkiewicz, PhD, is a specialist in contemporary Russia and Polish-Russian relations. Since 2011, he has co-directed, and since 2016 has led, the Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding, which – following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine – was transformed into the Juliusz Mieroszewski Centre for Dialogue. Since 2021, the Sybir Memorial Museum has closely cooperated with the Juliusz Mieroszewski Centre for Dialogue in running the popular science website Świat Sybiru (The World of Sybir), which, in September this year became a finalist in the Historical Event of the Year 2024 competition in the Education category. The Centre’s scholarly work – particularly in researching and presenting history – closely aligns with the mission of the Sybir Memorial Museum. This shared purpose allows both institutions tocollaborate in a complementary and mutually enriching way.
Wyciszkiewicz, PhD, expressed his gratitude for the award, emphasizing that he accepted the title of Friend of the Sybir Memorial Museum with great emotion.
– It is a great honor to receive this distinction from an institution that so consistently and sensitively tells the story of Polish men and women deported to the East. In our joint efforts, we have always been guided by the same goal – to give voice to testimonies, to connect research with education, and to link history with empathy and responsibility for words. I believe that this combination of scholarly rigor and sensitivity ensures that the memory of Sybir remains alive, meaningful, and important for future generations. I see today’s distinction as a commitment to continuing our cooperation – he concluded.
The celebration of Friends of the Sybir Memorial Museum Day was highlighted by a concert by Marek Kubik and his band.
