Democratic Memory
This page documents the two official recognitions of Olmo Gómez Aldaz as a victim of Francoism for the removal and adoption without consent that he suffered in 1971: the Declaration of Recognition and Personal Reparation issued by the Government of Spain on 19 February 2026 and the Gogora Resolution dated 6 July 2026.
The Gogora resolution, issued by an autonomous body of the Basque Government, expressly applies the category established in Article 4.2.l of Basque Law 9/2023 on Historical and Democratic Memory: minors removed from their biological parents and delivered for adoption without their parents’ consent.
On this page
Two official recognitions
On 19 February 2026, the Government of Spain issued a Declaration of Recognition and Personal Reparation under Law 20/2022 on Democratic Memory. It declared that Olmo Gómez Aldaz had suffered persecution during the Franco dictatorship, that in 1971 he had been removed and adopted without the legitimate and free consent of his parents, and that he qualified as a victim.
On 6 July 2026, Gogora issued a second administrative resolution recognising him as a victim of the military coup and the Franco dictatorship under Basque Law 9/2023 on Historical and Democratic Memory.
The second recognition does not replace the first. It adds an independent recognition by a different public authority and applies a legal category tailored to this case: minors removed from their biological parents and delivered to adoptive parents without the consent of the former.
Previous path
In 1971, Olmo Gómez Aldaz was removed and adopted without the legitimate and free consent of his biological parents. The alteration of filiation was incorporated into the civil registry as if it were a lawful and definitive situation, giving it an appearance of legality and preventing institutional scrutiny for decades. His biological identity was annulled and erased.
This situation began to reverse through personal investigation, genetic evidence, and judicial proceedings that culminated in the dual filiation rulings delivered in 2024 and 2025. Those rulings formally declared his biological identity and recognised the coexistence of biological and adoptive filiation with full civil effects.
However, those rulings addressed filiation. They did not recognise victim status or administratively classify the facts under democratic memory legislation. Specific applications were therefore submitted to the Government of Spain and to Gogora.
The book DOGA 2025: The Battle for My Identity documents the personal, historical and legal path supporting the conclusion that the events of 1971 were not an isolated episode, but part of a wider context of rights violations during the dictatorship.
Government of Spain
The Declaration of Recognition and Personal Reparation was issued on 19 February 2026, signed by Minister Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez and entered in the Registry of the Directorate-General for Victim Support and Promotion of Democratic Memory.
Declaration of Recognition and Personal Reparation
“it has been established that […] he suffered persecution for political and ideological reasons during the Franco dictatorship.”
“in 1971 he was removed and adopted without the legitimate and free consent of his parents.”
“his circumstances qualify him as a ‘victim’ under Article 3.1 of Law 20/2022.”Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez
Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory
19 February 2026
File: 523-950967
DRRP. Book 1 – Number 4918
Gogora · Basque Government
The Resolution dated 6 July 2026 of the Director of the Institute for Memory, Coexistence and Human Rights, Gogora, recognises Olmo Gómez Aldaz as a victim of the military coup and the Franco dictatorship.
The resolution is specifically based on Article 4.2.l of Basque Law 9/2023 on Historical and Democratic Memory. It is therefore not merely a general recognition: it expressly places the facts within the legal category of minors removed and delivered for adoption without the consent of their biological parents.
Gogora Resolution
“Minors who were removed from their biological parents and delivered to adoptive fathers and mothers without the consent of their parents.”
“To recognise Mr Olmo Gómez Aldaz as a victim under Article 4.2.l of Law 9/2023 of 28 September on Historical and Democratic Memory of the Basque Country.”Alberto Alonso Martín
Director of the Institute for Memory, Coexistence and Human Rights
Resolution dated 6 July 2026
Electronically signed on 8 July 2026
Combined scope
There are now two official, independent and compatible recognitions. The Government of Spain recognises the persecution, removal and adoption without consent under Law 20/2022. Gogora recognises victim status by applying the specific category in Article 4.2.l of Basque Law 9/2023.
Both acts complete the judicial path that restored biological filiation, but they do not replace the court rulings or annul the adoption by themselves. Nor do they establish criminal liability.
The Gogora resolution also expressly states that the recognition is compatible with other forms of recognition or reparation, but does not constitute a basis for public-authority liability or, by itself, give rise to financial or professional compensation.
Personal and legal meaning
The dual filiation rulings established who Olmo Gómez Aldaz was and legally restored his biological filiation, even though the adoption remained in force.
Democratic memory recognition addresses a different question: what happened and how public institutions formally characterise those events. Two public authorities now recognise that he was the victim of a removal and adoption without consent carried out during the Franco dictatorship.
The Gogora resolution adds an essential degree of precision: it not only recognises general victim status, but directly applies the legal category created for minors removed from their biological families and delivered for adoption without consent.
Official PDF documents
Declaration of Recognition and Personal Reparation issued by the Government of Spain on 19 February 2026.
Government of Spain declaration (PDF)
Gogora Resolution dated 6 July 2026 recognising Olmo Gómez Aldaz as a victim. The public copy conceals the national identity number; the document can be verified using the official locator printed on its pages.