The Ministry of Internal Affairs to facilitate access to files of repressed persons in its archives
Press Release, 21.01.2025
Alexander Shishlov, head of the Yabloko faction in the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, has achieved a change in the inner instruction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which limited citizens’ access to archival documents related to their relatives repressed during Joseph Stalin’s period.
In December 2024, Alexander Shishlov approached the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a proposal to bring the departmental instruction “On the Organisation of Archival Work in the System of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia” into line with the Federal Law “On Archive-Keeping”. This step was taken at the initiative of citizens who faced unfounded demands to provide documentary evidence of their kinship with their repressed relatives in order to access the files, despite the fact that the 75-year period of personal and family privacy established by law for the requested files of repressed persons has long expired.
Deputy Interior Minister Vitaly Shulika reported in response to a Shishlov’s parliamentary inquiry, that the Ministry is currently developing a new order on the organisation of archival work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs system.
“The provisions of the draft order in the part concerning the requirements for the use of archival documents, created over 75 years ago and the period of secrecy of which have expired, will be brought into line with Article 25 Paragraph 3 of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 125 “On Archive-Keeping in the Russian Federation” dated 22 October, 2004,” the document runs.
The archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs contain documents of interest to millions of Russian families whose relatives suffered during collectivisation of farmers and political repression. These include, in particular, materials on those repressed administratively (special settlers, deportees, and labour army soldiers), as well as personal files and registration cards of GULAG prisoners.
“I hope that the preparation of a new order on the organisation of archival work in the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not be delayed, and administrative obstacles for the descendants of victims of Soviet repressions will disappear in the near future, they will be able to learn about the fate of their ancestors,” Alexander Shishlov noted.
ALEXANDER SHISHLOV
is head of the Yabloko faction in the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg
Posted: January 21st, 2025 under Freedom of Speech, Governance, History, Human Rights, Overcoming Stalin's Legacy, Yabloko's Regional Branches.