Poland’s Foreign Ministry condemned a Russian court’s decision to designate the Memorial organization as “extremist” on April 9th, citing suppression of historical truth.
Polish Foreign Ministry Responds to Ruling
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the court’s decision is “further evidence of how Russia confronts its uncomfortable past – by silencing those who have the courage to speak about it openly and truthfully.”
The Ministry emphasized that the legacy of Memorial is being “cynically criminalized” by Russian authorities.
Memorial’s Contributions Highlighted
The Ministry underscored Memorial’s contributions to historical research, as well as its work protecting human rights and civil liberties in Russia. It expressed disappointment that this legacy is being criminalized.
The Ministry stated it believes the ruling, like other actions by Russian authorities aimed at removing truthful historical representations from public space, will not erase the memory of victims and perpetrators.
Call for Action
The Ministry called on Russian authorities to abandon politically motivated prosecutions, cease persecution of independent media, and immediately release all political prisoners.
International Obligations and a Return to the 1930s
The Ministry appealed for adherence to Russia’s international obligations regarding the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech and association, and the right to a fair trial.
The Ministry noted that the atmosphere in contemporary Russia regarding respect for human rights and civil liberties is increasingly reminiscent of the 1930s.
Imprecise Labeling by Russian Supreme Court
The Russian Supreme Court designated “International Public Movement Memorial” as “extremist.” However, no organization associated with the Memorial Human Rights Centre – one of Russia’s most respected civil society organizations – bears that specific name.
Memorial activists believe the Russian Ministry of Justice deliberately used the imprecise name to allow authorities to apply the Supreme Court’s decision to all organizations and projects they consider affiliated with Memorial.
Previous Suppression and Nobel Recognition
In 2021, Russian authorities liquidated two main structures of Memorial – the human rights center and the organization researching Soviet totalitarian crimes. These were previously designated as “foreign agents” in 2014 and 2016, respectively.
In 2022, Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work on human rights, alongside Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties.
