Russian Court Orders Closure Of Country’s Oldest Human Rights Group

Judge Alla Nazarova ordered the closure of Russian Memorial International and its regional branches after the opposite side accused the organization of failing to mark its publications with a label of “foreign agent,” the tag for groups that receive funds from overseas.
Even in the current receding circumstances with Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship, the ban was shocking to register.
With that said, the recent blows to democracy and freedom of speech are also concerning.
The jail sentence of Alexei Navalny, known for giving severe criticism on the ruling government of Putin, is not an out of a blue incident. In a region of absolute power, criticism would be handled this way only.

Why the Russian Memorial is so important

Memorial, also known as The International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society, serves as a landmark to prestigious center for research and commemoration of Stalin’s crimes and the defense of human rights.
Andrei Sakharov’s persistent efforts resulted in the proclaimed institution that symbolized post-Soviet democratization in 1989. Moreover, the Memorial provides chronicled Stalin-era repressions providing more than 3 million names and invaluable records of his merciless punishment.

The Public procession and US attention on the matter

“Disgrace! Disgrace!” supporters started shouting after the ruling in the court, and many of them were detained.
Dozens of these supporters gathered outside the courthouse in freezing temperatures to protect the Russian Memorial’s heritage.
The prosecutors during the hearing on Tuesday quoted on the Memorial
“creates a false image of the USSR as a terrorist state and denigrates the memory of World War II.”
International supporters were quick to come in support of the Russian Memorial.
John Sullivan, the United States ambassador, spoke of the incident as “a blatant and tragic attempt to suppress freedom of expression and erase history,”
In support of the Russian Memoriam, the Auschwitz Memorial tweeted, “A power that is afraid of memory will never be able to achieve democratic maturity.”

Why is the Russian Memorial so important?

Memorial, also known as The International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society, serves as a landmark to prestigious center for research and commemoration of Stalin’s crimes and the defense of human rights.
Andrei Sakharov’s persistent efforts resulted in the proclaimed institution that served as a symbol of symbolized post-Soviet democratization in 1989. Moreover, the Memorial provides chronicled Stalin-era repressions providing more than 3 million names and invaluable records of his merciless punishment.

The Public procession and US attention on the matter

“Disgrace! Disgrace!” supporters started shouting after the ruling in the court, and many of them were detained.
Dozens of these supporters gathered outside the courthouse in freezing temperatures to protect the Russian Memorial’s heritage.
The prosecutors during the hearing on Tuesday quoted on the Memorial
“creates a false image of the USSR as a terrorist state and denigrates the memory of World War II.”
International supporters were quick to come in support of the Russian Memorial.
John Sullivan, the United States ambassador, spoke of the incident as “a blatant and tragic attempt to suppress freedom of expression and erase history,”
In support of the Russian Memoriam, the Auschwitz Memorial tweeted, “A power that is afraid of memory, will never be able to achieve democratic maturity.”