The Supreme Court of Russia ordered on Tuesday (28) that the human rights group Memorial International, one of the most respected in the country and known for its work in exposing abuses committed in the Stalinist era, be dissolved.
The decision came after a year of intense crackdown on the country’s opposition, when activist and blogger Alexei Navalni was arrested and many of his allies were forced to flee.
In early November, the Russian prosecution called for the group’s dissolution, accusing it of having “systematically” breached the obligations of its “foreign agent” status. Moscow also argues that it is enforcing laws to thwart extremism and protect the country from foreign influences.
International human rights groups condemned the decision, while John Sullivan, the US ambassador to Russia, called it “a tragic attempt to suppress free speech and erase history”. A spokeswoman for Germany’s Foreign Ministry also called the ruling “incomprehensible” and said it raised serious concerns.
With more than three decades of experience, Memorial International is the country’s oldest human rights group and was founded by Soviet dissidents, including Nobel Peace Prize winner and nuclear physicist Andrei Sakharov, who dedicated themselves to preserving the memory of millions of Russians who died or were persecuted in forced labor camps during the Stalin era.
“We combine what we call relevant human rights activities with historical studies and an understanding of Russia’s historical trajectory in the 20th century. , out of court.
The organization oversees an archive of victims of Soviet repression, a database that lists more than three million names — just a quarter of the total number, according to the institution’s estimates.
A prosecutor told the Russian court that the Memorial promoted what it called a false image of the Soviet Union’s “terrorist state” and added that “someone” was paying for these actions. Memorial International openly publicizes the fact that it receives external funding, with supporters from Poland, Germany, Canada and the Czech Republic.
The Russian court ruling says the organization repeatedly violated the “foreign agents” law. Created in 2012 and accused of smothering opposition in the country, the measure mandates that all organizations that receive foreign funding and engage in activities considered political to label themselves as “foreign agents”.
Authorities included Memorial International on the official list of “foreign agents” in 2015, which led to numerous restrictions on its activities. In the indictment, prosecutors claim that Memorial International violated rules by not identifying this information in its communications, including those posted on social media.
At the same time, in another court case, the Russian prosecutor is also calling for the dissolution of the Memorial’s Center for the Defense of Human Rights, another structure in the same network, responsible for a list of current political prisoners in Russia – which includes names like Nalvani. The Center is accused of “justifying terrorist activities”, according to The New York Times.
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