22 January marks the 160th anniversary of the January Uprising. This was the largest armed struggle for independence of the peoples of the former Commonwealth against Russian rule. The Uprising had a unique symbol, a tripartite coat of arms depicting the Polish Eagle, the Lithuanian Pahonia, and the Ruthenian Archangel Michael. The fight against the common enemy united all parts of society, regardless of wealth, religion, gender or age, and laid the foundations for building modern nations. The memory of this heroic struggle helped the heirs of the Commonwealth to maintain their national identities at a time of Russian oppression that followed the uprisings, and to rebuild their statehood in the 20th century. The Uprising stirred the conscience of the whole of all Europe. As a gesture of solidarity, volunteers from Italy, France and Hungary, among others, joined the insurrectionists in Poland. Many of them laid down their lives “for your freedom and ours.”

In the context of Russia’s continuing invasion of Ukraine, the anniversary of the January Uprising is taking on a new dimension. Just as 160 years ago and today, the nations living on the lands of the former Republic must defend themselves against Russia’s military, political, and economic aggression. The Uprising’s legacy is still relevant, as reflected in the Joint Declaration by the Presidents of Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania at the Second Lublin Triangle Summit in Lviv on 11 January. Its signatories, referring to the 160th anniversary of the January Uprising, protested against Russia’s “tyranny and oppression.”

 

Łukasz Jasina

MFA Spokesperson