The story of Vabamu begins with the story of Olga Kisler-Ritso, who was born in 1920 in Kyiv, Ukraine. After losing her mother and having her father imprisoned in a Siberian labour camp by the Bolsheviks, 2-year-old Olga and her 7-year-old brother Aadu were sent to Estonia by their uncle. There, in her father’s homeland, Olga found stability with the Ollik family who adopted her.
Olga studied medicine at the University of Tartu and graduated as a medical doctor in 1944.
That same year, as Soviet forces occupied Estonia, she joined tens of thousands of Estonians who fled their homeland in search of safety. By 1949, Olga had resettled in the United States, where she built a successful career as an eye surgeon and earned recognition as a leading specialist in her field.
When Estonia regained its independence in 1991, Olga wanted to give something back to her homeland to make sure that the crimes committed during Estonia’s recent past would never be repeated. And thus, the idea of creating the Museum of Occupations Museum, later renamed Vabamu, was born.
Museum of freedom
Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom is located in the heart of Tallinn and its permanent exhibition, “Freedom without Borders”, tells the story of occupation, resistance, freedom, and recovery. Through powerful personal accounts and immersive displays, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by generations past – and the persistence and strength it took to reclaim freedom.
In addition to the main building, Vabamu operates the KGB Prison Cells in Tallinn’s Old Town. The exhibition, “Locked Up Stories: The KGB in Estonia”, located in the former headquarters of the Estonian branch of the KGB, tells the stories of the Soviet terror apparatus and the resilience of its victims.
Vabamu museum hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions, through which topics such as Estonia’s digital state, the feminist movement, and the role of civil society in supporting Ukraine are explored. Vabamu’s team is currently developing a major new exhibition on the Estonian diaspora that will open in January 2026. “Global Estonians” will share the remarkable histories of Estonian communities established around the world.
Engaging youth
Vabamu’s youth programme NoVa engages students in dialogue and encourages them to think about the meaning and value of freedom, democracy, and security. If you know teenagers eager to understand the world around them, direct them to NoVa’s engaging online study bites and courses. For example, “Disinformation Strategies Spanning Generations”, a new course developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, teaches students to become savvy information consumers.
NoVa also organises in-person educational activities at Vabamu, such as bringing together high school students with people deported to Siberia as children in the 1940s. “This was a very emotional experience for me,” said one student participant after attending such a gathering. “It made me think about the past and the future, the resilience of humankind, and the ability to overcome trauma. The personal stories of survival helped me realise the immense impact of the deportations and the importance of learning from the past.”
Beyond these initiatives, NoVa empowers the youth to lead their own activities. In autumn 2024, high school students organised a mock US presidential election at Vabamu to learn how the American electoral system works. The event drew over 160 teens for a lively evening where participants took on the roles of candidates and voters from across the United States. A similar event will be held this autumn on e-voting in Estonian local elections.
Globally connected
Vabamu’s mission is to keep Estonia free – plain and simple. To support this, Vabamu has created Global Conversations, a multi-faceted effort aimed at strengthening Estonia’s international connections so it will never be alone again.
At the heart of Global Conversations is Vabamu’s long-standing partnership with Stanford University, which facilitates the exchange of students and scholars between Estonia and the United States. What began with just a few students has grown into a vibrant programme that helps future leaders form lasting ties with the region. It is heartwarming to see how, upon returning home, many Stanford students become informal ambassadors for Estonia, sharing their experiences with enthusiasm.
Vabamu also builds bridges between Estonia and the world through initiatives like Estonia’s Friends International Meeting and its partnership with CDL-Estonia, an international startup mentorship programme. Through its concierge service, Vabamu welcomes international delegations with tailored programmes that showcase Estonia’s industries, innovations, and digital success story. In these ways, Vabamu makes Estonia bigger, stronger, and more connected worldwide.
