On 13 December 2025, a ceremony was held at the former Mokotów Prison on Rakowiecka Street – now the Museum of Cursed Soldiers and Political Prisoners of the Polish People’s Republic on Rakowiecka Street in Warsaw. The Institute of National Remembrance was represented by its Deputy Presidents, Prof. Karol Polejowski and Prof. Krzysztof Szwagrzyk.
Commemorations began with a Mass for the victims of Martial Law. It was followed by a ceremonial appeal of remembrance in the main courtyard, accompanied by a solemn laying of flowers at the plaque dedicated to the victims of this tragic period.
13 December 1981 was supposed to be the end of Poland's dreams of freedom. But that did not happen, because over 9 million of our compatriots, members of Solidarity, filled with the spirit of freedom, instilled the conviction in the Polish nation that the fight for freedom must continue, noted K. Polejowski.
During the ceremony, the exhibition “Freedom is within us” was inaugurated. The exhibition was set in the historic prison pavilion where democratic opposition activists were interned after Martial Law was imposed. The exhibition portrays not only the essence of Martial Law, but also its tragic consequences. Moreover,the authors recall such events as the pacification of the “Wujek” coal mine, the brutal suppression of demonstrations in Warsaw, and the massacre in Lubin. The exhibition layout allowes visitors to see what everyday life was like for the internees and learn about the fate of those who were held in the Mokotów prison.
From 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., a diorama with elements of a historical show was presented in the inner courtyard next to the printing house. The event was attended by reenactors, and the participants could see military equipment from that period.