Russian human rights organization: criminal case against Memorial member

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against a leading member of the defunct Russian human rights organization Memorial following a raid on it. The man “discredited” the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, it said.

The authorities in Russia have opened criminal proceedings against a leading member of the human rights organization Memorial. In a message published on Telegram, Memorial said Oleg Orlov was being prosecuted for “public activities aimed at discrediting” Russian forces in Ukraine. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

According to Memorial, the police had previously searched the homes of at least nine of their members or their relatives, including Orlov and the organization’s chairman Jan Ratschinski. Several of them were then taken to a police station.

Moscow accuses Memorial of lying

According to the information, this happened in the course of the proceedings opened against Memorial at the beginning of March for “rehabilitating National Socialism”. The Russian authorities have accused the organization of including the names of three Nazi collaborators in their list of victims of Soviet repression. In addition, the Russian Attorney General’s Office accuses Memorial of using its work to portray the Soviet Union as a “terrorist state” and to spread lies about the country.

Memorial keeps a list of political prisoners in Russia. Many of them are classified by the authorities as extremists. Moscow accuses Memorial of supporting “participation in terrorist and extremist organizations”.

Founded in 1989, the organization documented the crimes of the former Soviet Union for 30 years by collecting documents, organizing exhibitions and pressuring the state to accept its responsibilities. At the same time, Memorial campaigned for the defense of victims of human rights violations in Russia.

Disbanded in 2021, awarded Nobel Prize in 2022

Memorial is recognized as the largest and oldest independent human rights organization in the country. She is committed to dealing with political persecution and Stalin’s terror as well as the rehabilitation of those affected. The members of Memorial are also committed to protecting human rights, for example in the North Caucasus or on the Crimean peninsula.

The organization was disbanded in 2021 on orders from Russian authorities for allegedly violating laws. Memorial had declined to use the controversial title of “foreign agent.” A year later, the human rights activists were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.