Press Release, 12.11.2024

Photo: The Memory memorial in Chelyabinsk / Photo from open sources

Yaroslav Shcherbakov, Chairman of the Chelyabinsk branch of Yabloko, achieved this by sending multiple appeals to the regional public prosecutor’s office. The city authorities will have to remove two decommissioned anti-aircraft missile systems S-75 they installed by the monument of mothers grieving over their sons who died in the World War II. In addition, the city administration promised to repair the memorial cemetery by May 2025.

The Memory memorial, together with the fraternal cemetery of soldiers who died from wounds in the Second World War in hospitals in Chelyabinsk, is a cultural heritage site. The monument symbolises the grief of the mother, wife, sister, and bride of a soldier who died in the war. About 200 soldiers are buried in the cemetery.

According to the order of the State Committee for the Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites, the placement of weapons and their replicas of any types and troops within the boundaries of the territory of this site is prohibited.

However, until recently, two decommissioned anti-aircraft missile systems S-75 were installed near the monument.

In May 2024, Yaroslav Shcherbakov sent an appeal to the regional public prosecutor’s office, indicating that the cemetery has been closed to visitors for the fourth year because it was under conservation, and the territory had not been improved since 2000.

Based on the results of Shcherbakov’s appeal, the public prosecutor’s office issued a remedial action order to the Chelyabinsk Mayor’s Office for improper maintenance of the Fraternal Cemetery of soldiers who died from wounds in the Second World war in Chelyabinsk hospitals.

In June 2024, the leader of the Chelyabinsk Yabloko, Yaroslav Shcherbakov, once again contacted the public prosecutor’s office, this time focusing the supervisory authority’s attention on the condition of the monument to grieving mothers and the military equipment located nearby. The public prosecutor’s office issued another remedial action order to the mayor’s office.

After this, the Chelyabinsk administration announced that the military equipment would be moved to the Victory Garden, and the memorial would be restored by Victory Day, 9 May, 2025.