Poland celebrates 20th anniversary of first semi-free vote, with Walesa, Havel in focus

GDANSK, Poland — European leaders on Thursday hailed Poland’s first semi-free vote as an inspiration for movements that brought down regimes across the Soviet bloc, saying on the election’s 20th anniversary that it helped pave the way for a reunited Europe.

Regaining freedom: Poland celebrates anniversary of its bloodless revolution of 1989

WARSAW, Poland — It began in Poland at the ballot box: A season of revolutions that toppled communist regimes from Berlin to Bucharest was set in motion 20 years ago this week by the first semi-free elections ever to take place in the Soviet-dominated eastern bloc.