President Lech Kaczynski has decorated the most merited historians from the National remembrance Institute (IPN) with high state distinctions.

Head of the President’s Office Piotr Kownacki said this is a manifestation of president Kaczynski’s support for the Institute and its activity. Kownacki added that the gesture is also a sign of acceptance for the work of IPN director Janusz Kurtyka, who is among the group of over twenty honored historians.

The Institute of National Remembrance was created in December 1998 to study cases of actions undertaken against Polish citizens by the former post-war regime and to act as caretaker of archives secured from various communist era services. The IPN also investigates war crimes committed on Poles.

Recently, the Institute has come under strong criticism in connection with two publications by historians affiliated with it alleging that Lech Walesa, the legendary Solidarity leader and former president of Poland, had been involved in collaboration with communist secret police.