The paper will focus on the three very different processes of truth and justice in post-Soviet Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. More specifically, my focus will be on the three international Historical Commissions (HCs), established simultaneously in 1998 in all three countries, and their role in these processes. Though set out with the similar task to research crimes against humanity under both the Soviet and the Nazi regimes during 1940-1953, the Baltic HCs turned out to proceed in very different ways regarding their composition, operational modes and long-term effects on the process of coming to terms with the past. In my paper I will, first, evaluate the work of these three commissions and their impact of justice and societal reconciliation. For this I will develop an analytical framework that identifies four distinct dimensions of reconciliation as well as six factors that influence the possible outcome in each of these dimensions. In a second step I will locate the Baltic HCs in the wider field of transitional justice and in the context of Baltic transition to democracy. In this context the particular international composition of all three HCs will be considered as a rather unique feature that represents a new nexus between the domestic and international dimensions of retroactive justice in Europe. The dual (domestic/international) focus of the Baltic HCs revealed much conflict - both within the commissions (inter-action between national and international members) and in relation to outside actors. To various degrees it also proved a decisive factor for the long-term effects of the Commissions. In concluding I will draw some important lessons for future truth-seeking endeavours, in particular in the post-Communist and post-Soviet region.
