Bucharest, Oct 16 /Agerpres/ - Mayor of Tulcea, Stefan Ilie awarded on Thursday the key of the city to historian Adam Michnik, one of the emblematic figures of Poland's anti-communist dissident movement, a former political prisoner and founding member of the Solidarity anti-authoritarian movement, this being the first event of this kind organized by the local authority in almost six years.

In his address to the ceremony, Adam Michnik recalled that he had repeatedly declared himself grateful for having served prison time in his native country and not in Romania, and expressed his emotion for being handed the key to the city located in the immediate vicinity of Ukraine.

Ukraine is today the country that opposes Putin's imperialism. We must know or remember what happened in our countries during the Bolshevik era. I have the feeling that Ceausescu resorted to an endless deception when in 1967, despite Moscow's desire, he did not break relations with Israel and didn't support the intervention in Czechoslovakia either. Back then we had the impression that he was leading Romania in a good direction, but, as my friend, Vladimir Tismaneanu correctly wrote, it was just Stalinism directed against Moscow, often even harsher than the Brezhnev regime. And it turns out that today, in many countries, we witness the revival of this specific populist nationalism which is largely financed by Putin and supported by fake news, and which becomes some sort of a Molotov cocktail with a grain of Bolshevism, lots of nationalism and corruption, historian Adam Michnik said during the event.

He referenced the Romanian-Polish relations since the beginning of WW II and advocated the continuation of support for Ukraine.

Poland has a lot to be grateful to Romania for. I thank the institutions in Tulcea for the support they provide Ukraine. Now, in Europe, this is a moment when we, all democrats must say 'we are all Ukrainians', because today Ukraine is not only defending itself, but also Poland, Romania and all of Europe, Michnik said.

With remarkable humility, the Polish historian said that he considers he does not deserve so many words, stressing that he was just lucky his entire life. He thanked the Municipality of Tulcea and said that he'll take the key with him 'to brag about it in Warsaw'.

Tulcea mayor Stefan Ilie emphasized the importance of the event given that, with the exception of King Mihai, in the last 35 years, the city has not had any other guest with such a powerful impact on the history of Europe.

You taught us the values of nuance and also, through your direct example, you taught us to have the courage to express our personal beliefs, no matter how unpopular this might make us. From your example we understood that truth is above momentary glory, of privilege, that our freedom is not complete until we have the courage to openly express our beliefs, regardless of the troubles such an adventure brings with it, said the mayor of Tulcea.

The Tulcea City Hall, in partnership with the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania and the Jewish Community of Tulcea, is organizing on Thursday evening at the Israelite Temple a conference-dialogue with Adam Michnik.

The event is part of a cultural initiative carried out together with the 'Ovidius' University of Constanta, the International Association of Romanian Journalists, the Constanta Casino and the Veridica.ro platform, that also saw Tulcea high-schoolers discussing fake news, disinformation and manipulation with journalists on Thursday morning. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Luisiana Bigea; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)