International “Memorial” was liquidated in Russia: Society: Russia: Lenta.ru
The Supreme Court of Russia liquidated the international historical, educational, charitable and human rights society “Memorial” (recognized in Russia by an NGO-foreign agent)… It is reported by RIA News…
The corresponding claim was filed by the General Prosecutor’s Office, the society received it on November 11. The reason, according to the department, was the repeated violation of the law on foreign agents. Memorial denies violations and believes that the case is political in nature and is aimed at destroying an organization that defends human rights and investigates political repression.
Memorial accused of rehabilitating Nazi accomplices
Prosecutor Aleksey Zhafyarov, during the court session, held on December 28, announced the society that it was speculating on the topic of repression.
Why now we, the descendants of the victors, are forced to watch the attempts to rehabilitate the homeland and Nazi accomplices. (…) Probably because someone is paying for it. And this is the real reason for the fierce rejection with which Memorial is denying the status of a foreign agent.
He added that over the past two years, Memorial has not applied to the department to submit a request to recognize someone as a victim of repression.
The International Society “Memorial” was founded in 1989, its goal – the study of political repression in the USSR. At the moment, it unites a number of regional and foreign organizations engaged in human rights, educational and research activities. In 2016, the Ministry of Justice introduced center in the register of organizations performing the functions of foreign agents. According to the law on foreign agents, organizations included in the register must make special marks on all published materials.
The Kremlin announced the problems of Memorial with the observance of Russian world news
According to a spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, the situation with the violation of the virus by Memorial is “a well-known fact.” He added that it is important for Russian President Vladimir Putin that any NGOs act in accordance with the law.
On November 23, Peskov announced that the issue of Memorial was not among the most important topics of the Kremlin edge. He also indicated that there is a position of the Prosecutor General’s Office on this issue, and is called upon to await the court’s decision.
Nobel Peace Prize winners Gorbachev and Muratov demanded to withdraw the lawsuit against Memorial
The extermination was opposed by former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov. According to them, the activities of “Memorial” for many years were aimed at restoring historical justice and preserving the memory of victims of the repressions, and the continuation of its work is in the interests of the country.
Related materials:
Writer, playwright and poetess Lyudmila Petrushevskaya refused the title of laureate of the State Program due to the planned liquidation of Memorial. According to her, she “is deprived of the memory of those convicted and executed, of those thrown under a truck and starving to death, of those tortured to death in Lubyanka and Kolyma.”
The Council of Europe and the European Parliament spoke out against the destruction of Memorial
In the Council of Europe called on abolish the law on foreign agents in Russia. According to the head of the Council of Europe Commission on Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic, the actions of the Russian authorities cause deep concern. In particular, she pointed out that the center was accused of acquitting extremists and terrorists because of its activities to support political prisoners. She called Memorial a symbol of the struggle for freedom, democracy and humanity in the post-Soviet space and beyond. Mijatovic noted that the removal of the human rights center would entail negative consequences both for the protection of human rights in Russia and for the country’s civil society.
European Parliament accepted the resolution on the Memorial case, condemning the Russian authorities to close down two legal entities of the human rights organization Memorial – International Memorial and the human rights center Memorial. MEPs also called for the immediate drop of all charges against Memorial and guarantees that the organization will continue to operate safely without government interference. The introduction of the EU foreign policy resolution to Josep Borell Borell on the introduction in relation to the Russians. involved in legal proceedings against Memorial and its members. The text was adopted by 569 votes to 46, with 49 abstentions.
