August 23rd is the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, also known as the Black Ribbon Day. It was observed across Europe and Croatia where several commemorative ceremonies were organised.
Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Josip Leko, along with the Veterans’ affairs minister Predrag Matić and the chairman of the Croatian Helsinki Committee Ivan Zvonimir Čičak lit candles at the two sites that commemorate the victims of totalitarian regimes in Zagreb’s eastern outskirts.
Speaking at the Gračani memorial for the 134 victims of communism perpetrated in 1945 Leko said that the crimes and horrifying consequences of all totalitarian ideologies of the 20th century dictate a dignified and impartial stance towards the victims of those ideologies.
Ceremonies were also held on Goli otok and island of Sveti Grgur which both served as prisons for men and women during the Yugoslav communist regime. Vladimir Šeks, who represented the Croatian president, said that all political prisoners who suffered and died under these repressive systems will never be forgotten. He also stated that Remembrance Day must serve as a constant reminder that such crimes must never happen again.
