EU4Dialogue conducts international workshop on Soviet Terror in Moldova

A workshop on the memory and history of Soviet terror for 50 local and international historians was held on 6 November, in Avdarma village, Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, Republic of Moldova.

This event was organised by the EU-funded Project EU4Dialogue Component 1 in cooperation with the Institute of History of the Moldova State University and the National Museum of History of Moldova. This activity is part of a long-term dialogue process among historians from the South Caucasus and Moldova.

In Avdarma, historians engaged in the EU4Dialogue-facilitated scientific conference that focused on the outcomes and recommendations of the high school course “Communist Totalitarian Regime: Repression and Resistance Movement” taught in Moldovan schools. Participants of the conference shared their experiences on teaching history and memory in post-totalitarian societies. This collaborative effort aims to enhance understanding and education about the past.

The week-long discussions and programme included a showcase of the results of archaeological research conducted at the site of mass executions during the Great Terror (1937-1938) in Tiraspol, at the site of the Vladimir Bastion, where the NKVD prison operated.

“This week’s activities allow us to deepen and strengthen dialogue among historians from South Caucasus and Moldova. By working together, we can foster a culture of memory that contributes to reconciliation and upholds democratic values in our societies,” said Tanja Tamminen, Team Leader of EU-funded Project EU4Dialogue, Component 1.

The Scientific conference brought together teachers and researchers from Chisinau, Comrat, and Tiraspol, along with EU4Dialogue participants from the South Caucasus, and historians from Lithuania and Poland. The event included educators, high school students, civil society representatives, and museum professionals, all invited to partake in meaningful dialogue about history and its lessons for the present.

“The purpose of this event is to facilitate the exchange of experiences for the development of democratic values in the Republic of Moldova, to create a culture of memory, and to strengthen cooperation between the academic community and civil society. It allows us to honor the victims of the past and ensures that future generations are aware of these important lessons,” said Ignat Cazmali, historian.

The EU-funded project ‘EU4Dialogue: Supporting Understanding Between Conflict Parties’ is the first component of the broader EU4Dialogue Programme. It aims to facilitate dialogue and enhance understanding across divides by conducting studies, organising events, training, and workshops at various levels and in diverse settings for participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the Republic of Moldova. Implemented by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. in partnership with IDIS Viitorul (Republic of Moldova), IDP Women Association “Consent” (Georgia), Institute for Mediation, Counselling, Development (Germany), and Cowater International (Belgium). The project runs until July 2025.

Media inquiries: Anna Moghilda, Key Expert 2, Deputy Team Leader, EU4Dialogue Project, Component 1, E-mail: anna.moghilda@EU4Dialogue.eu or Mobile: +373 68 982 479.

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