Press Release, 01.12.2021

Photo: Logo of International Memorial

Municipal deputies from the Ryazan branch of the Yabloko party Konstantin Smirnov, Maria Rakcheyeva, and Anatoly Kivva signed a petition initiated by the Moscow Association of Independent Deputies against the liquidation of the Memorial human rights society, the country’s oldest human rights organization, one of the founders of Memorial was Acad. Andrei Sakharov.

“Condemnation of massive political repressions and any violations of human rights is the basis of the modern civilised world. In the countries that have survived the catastrophe of totalitarianism, it is especially important to preserve historical memory and engage in human rights activities. In the territory of the former USSR and beyond, this mission has been fulfilled by Memorial for a long time. For 35 years, its employees have done a tremendous job, collected outstanding research materials, created a museum and a library, and Memorial has conducted many brilliant research, educational and human rights programmes,” the petition runs.

Deputies note that the attempt to liquidate the International Memorial and the Memorial Human Rights Centre serves as an application for the restoration of totalitarianism in the country.

It should be noted that on 8 November, the Moscow Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a lawsuit with the Moscow City Court to liquidate the Memorial Human Rights Centre and the International Memorial Society, indicating that the organisation allegedly “justifies extremism and terrorism”.