Memorial disbanded: “A very bad signal”

For more than 30 years, the Russian organization Memorial has been campaigning for the politically persecuted and for coming to terms with the Soviet era. That bothers the Kremlin. A court has now decided to dissolve it, but Memorial wants to fight back.

Less than an hour after the Supreme Court in Moscow withdrew to deliberations, the judge read out the verdict that many had expected: The prosecution’s motion was approved, “Memorial International” was liquidated – along with its regional departments and other structural offshoots. The pronouncement of the verdict took less than two minutes.

“Very sad, very depressing”

For Memorial attorney Marija Ejsmont, it was the predictable finale of the trial. “It’s very sad, very depressing what happened today,” she said. “As of today, an organization is being dissolved that has been giving people back their names, their dignity for decades. People who have been killed, destroyed and betrayed by their own state. Memorial brings their fates from the archives, their names are read out. One such Dissolving the organization is of course a very bad signal. “

The 50 supporters who gathered in front of the courthouse in the morning see it similarly. Memorial was the only organization she could turn to, explains Iraida Sergeyevna: “I wanted to find out what happened to my relatives a long time ago, and only Memorial helped me, nobody else – no matter where I asked. “

Allegation: support from abroad

For three decades now, Memorial has dealt with coming to terms with the Soviet era and, above all, the Stalinist terror, making it one of the most renowned and oldest human rights organizations in Russia.

In his plea, Attorney General Alexej Zhjafarow accused Memorial of painting a false image of the Soviet Union through this very activity and of trying to force the victorious nation of World War II to be ashamed of its history. “It’s because someone pays for it – and that’s the real reason Memorial fights so hard against being openly labeled a foreign agent.”

Because that’s what the prosecution was actually about: Because Memorial receives money from abroad – including from foundations and research institutes – it was added to the register of “Foreign Agents” in 2016. A status that the organization must provide information about in each of its publications – also retrospectively.

Memorial wants to appeal

Memorial staff also admit that this was neglected in some places. Critics like the opposition politician Grigory Jawlinsky complain that it is supposed to be the reason for the closure of the organization, says something about the state of the Russian rule of law.

“That is an absolutely political decision,” says Jawlinsky. “The elimination of adversaries, the opposition, all those who are trying to strengthen Russia’s image by explaining its history. I believe that this is a crucial step on the way from today’s authoritarian regime to a modern totalitarian one.”

Memorial’s members and supporters don’t want to give up just yet. Lawyer Genri Resnik said that they would appeal and exhaust all legal options. This also includes a lawsuit before the European Court of Human Rights.