THE MUSEUM of Crimes and Victims of Communism was opened in Bratislava on Friday, November 16, by activists from the civic association Nenápadní hrdinovia (Inconspicuous Heroes). Although many politicians mentioned this initiative during the celebrations of the November 17 Revolution, in the end only two Slovak politicians contributed to it: Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) MEP and former foreign minister Eduard Kukan, and MP Erika Jurinová of Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO).
The SITA newswire discovered that Kukan gave €200 and Jurinová €50. Kukan opined for SITA that people should face the past in a brave and honest way.
“The things that happened must be acknowledged. We should do everything to make sure it is not repeated; and it is crucial to encourage such a stance in younger generations,” Kukan said, adding that the museum could play an important role toward this end.
Jurinová said that the idea of establishing such a museum immediately caught her interest.
The museum is located in the St Elizabeth’s College of Health Care and Social Work on Námestie 1. mája in Bratislava and operates in a trial run until March 2013.
