Statement on the interrupted screening of Agnieszka Holland’s Mr Jones organised by the Memorial Society and the Polish Institute in Moscow
15.10.2021
On 14 October, the Polish Institute in Moscow and the Moscow Memorial Society organised the screening of Agnieszka Holland’s Mr Jones (a 2019 film about the Soviet genocide against Ukraine, which won the Golden Lions at the Gdynia Film Festival).
During the event, which took place at Memorial’s office, an unidentified group of people barged into the hall screaming and shouting. After approximately 10-15 minutes in the room, the intruders left in a hurry. After next 5-10 minutes, the police arrived. The film screening was completed despite the interruption. The questioning of persons present in the room took several hours.
No Polish citizens were physically injured in the event.
The MFA headquarters and the Polish Embassy in Moscow has been in contact with the organisers.
Perpetrated during the screening of a film about genocide, the attack on the seat of an organisation which has greatly contributed to Polish-Russian relations and historical memory is yet another very sad example of the way institutions that promote historical memory are treated.
The MFA will take appropriate action.
Łukasz Jasina
MFA Spokesperson