Organized by the Ukrainian Institute in Germany, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Berlin, the Polish Institute Berlin, and the embassies of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Germany, as well as the Lithuanian Culture Institute, the event was financially supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Over the course of two days, the symposium provided a transnational platform for dialogue on how contemporary societies confront the legal, political, and cultural challenges posed by these monuments. Participants explored the ways in which Soviet-era memorials continue to shape collective memory and political discourse, while also discussing their potential instrumentalization in current geopolitical conflicts and disinformation campaigns.

The program included panel discussions, lectures, and case studies offering comparative insights into the legal, historical, and cultural approaches different countries have developed to address the totalitarian past. Special attention was given to international experiences, highlighting lessons that Germany and other European nations could draw from approaches already implemented in dealing with the legacy of Soviet rule.

The event served as a prelude to Berlin Freedom Week (8–15 November 2025), reinforcing the importance of historical memory, open dialogue, and interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing Europe’s complex heritage.

• https://de.ui.org.ua/en/symposium-echoes-of-empire-soviet-monuments-and-the-machinery-of-disinformation-in-berlin-2/
• https://www.prisma-ukraina.de/veranstaltungen/detail/symposium-echoes-of-empire-soviet-monuments-and-the-machinery-of-disinformation
• https://berlin-freedom-week.com/en/event/pre-event-symposium-echoes-empire-soviet-monuments-and-machinery-disinformation