Кто поддержал «Мемориал» после признания «экстремистской организацией»

I am appalled by the Russian authorities’ designation of Memorial, one of the oldest and most prominent human rights organisations in the country, as an “extremist” organisation – effectively criminalising critical human rights work.

This decision is part of a broader, unsettling pattern in which the Russian authorities are applying laws intended to combat extremism to prosecute individuals or organisations under the guise that they are associated with vaguely defined extremist “movements” or groups.

Since the beginning of the war against Ukraine in 2022, the Russian authorities have accelerated their assault on fundamental freedoms with the systematic dismantling of what remains of independent civil society.

In the repressive toolbox targeting civil society, the government has deployed methods like massive designations of organisations as ‘undesirable’ or ‘foreign agent’, along with the instrumentalisation of national security and public safety legislation to target lawyers, journalists, anti-war activists and human rights defenders. A key part of the government strategy has been to abuse anti-extremism and counter-terrorism provisions by designating civil society organisations as ‘extremist’ or ‘terrorist’, and bringing criminal charges, including extremism and terrorism-related, against their members or anyone associated with them, including victims of human rights violations.

To date, over 343 organisations have been labelled as ‘undesirable’, while more than 1,173 entities and individuals have been designated as ‘foreign agents’; 830 organisations and 20,813 individuals have been placed on the ‘list of terrorists and extremists.’

In a new wave of escalation, several key Russian human rights organisations have been targeted. On 9 April 2026, the Ministry of Justice requested the designation of Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the ‘International Memorial Movement’ , as an ‘extremist organisation’ in a closed Supreme Court hearing. This reflects a deliberate and calculated strategy to spread fear among the Russian people and deprive them from independent information, human rights defence, advocacy and legal assistance. The move follows the liquidation of two Memorial organisations under the ‘foreign agents’ law and for the ‘rehabilitation of Nazism’ in December 2021 and the designation of the ‘International Memorial Association’ as ‘undesirable’ on 17 February 2026. If granted, the designation would expose individuals and organisations associated with Memorial to criminal liability, including imprisonment.

On 8 April 2026, six activists from the youth movement Vesna received 8-12 years of imprisonment for alleged participation in an ‘extremist organisation.’ The charges arise from their opposition to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Vesna was designated an ‘extremist’ organisation by the St. Petersburg City Court on 6 December 2022, after previously being labelled a ‘foreign agent.’

This strategy of repression has also targeted the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The organisation was labelled ‘extremist’ and designated a ‘terrorist organisation’ by the Supreme Court on 27 November 2025. Similarly, the Anti-War Committee of Russia was designated ‘terrorist’ on 2 March 2026. Public support for either organisation is criminalised. In October 2025, the Federal Security Service (FSB) opened criminal cases against 23 members of the Anti-War Committee on charges of ‘terrorism.’

Indigenous human rights defenders have also been targeted. On 7 June 2024, the Supreme Court designated the non-existent ‘Anti-Russia Separatist Movement,’ encompassing 55 Indigenous and minority organisations, as ‘extremist.’ On 22 November 2024, the ‘Post-Russia Free Nations Forum,’ along with 172 alleged affiliates—including Indigenous organisations—was labelled ‘terrorist.’ Among them was Aborigen Forum, an informal network of Indigenous defenders from 14 regions across the North, Siberia, and the Far East.

On 17 December 2025, Daria Egereva and Natalia Leongardt were arbitrarily detained and charged with participation in a ‘terrorist organisation’ for their involvement in Aborigen Forum. Egereva also appears to have been targeted in reprisal for her engagement with the UN.

We condemn this deliberate strategy of using ‘extremism’ and counter-terrorism frameworks to dismantle civil society, criminalise and imprison human rights defenders, and target those seeking their support.

Russian authorities must immediately halt proceedings against human rights defenders and anti-war critics and release all those arbitrarily detained for their peaceful human rights work. We are profoundly alarmed by such blatant abuse of counter-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation to criminalise peaceful expression and anti-war positions, leading to the total destruction of civil society in Russia. This practice cannot be tolerated and must end.

We are deeply concerned by the latest step in Russia's relentless effort to erase Memorial, one of the world's most highly respected human rights organisations and a laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize and of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

It is alarming that the hearing is being held behind closed doors, and neither the text of the judgement nor the grounds on which it rests will be accessible to the public or to the parties concerned. The mere fact that this case has been classified as top secret removes any resemblance to legitimate and fair judicial proceedings. The hearing carries all the hallmarks of persecution conducted under the cover of law.

If the Supreme Court upholds the claim brought by the Ministry of Justice, any individual associated with the International Memorial Movement will be liable to criminal prosecution, risking sentences of up to 10 years' imprisonment. The mere dissemination of Memorial's materials will become a criminal offence. In effect, the Russian authorities would be criminalising the documentation of Russia's own human rights abuses.

This is the latest in a series of escalating legal measures against Memorial: the liquidation of its core organisations under the "foreign agents" law in 2021, followed by the "undesirable organisation" designation earlier this year. The same extremist designation mechanism was used in 2023 to criminalise the entire LGBTIQ community in a single ruling and is part of the systematic crackdown on civil society organisations, human rights defenders, the independent media and journalists, lawyers and the political opposition.

We call on the Russian authorities to withdraw this claim without delay, to bring this judicial harassment to an immediate halt, and to disclose in full the grounds cited by the Ministry of Justice in its submission to the Supreme Court. We express our full and unwavering solidarity with Memorial's staff, lawyers and partners – both within Russia and abroad – as they continue their essential work despite grave personal risk.

The European Parliament remains fully vigilant and will not be silent on this matter. We will continue to speak out clearly and to use every instrument at our disposal to ensure that those responsible are held to account.

The fact that the Russian Supreme Court, following a closed-door hearing of 9 April 2026, designated "the Memorial international civic movement” as an extremist organisation is yet another show of how Russia tends to confront its inconvenient past: by silencing those who are brave enough to speak about it openly and truthfully. For decades, Memorial's activity enabled restoring the memory of the victims of Soviet terror, including the victims of the Katyn Massacre.

Poland continues to value the group’s contribution to uncovering and promoting the truth about what happened in Katyn. This sentiment was reflected for example in awarding Memorial with the Pro Dignitate Humana Prize of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2012. What is more, one of the organisation’s founders and its long-time chair Arseny Roginsky was honoured with the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland as well as (posthumously) with the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland was also awarded to Nikita Petrov—Memorial’s deputy chairman, historian, and researcher of the period of Stalinist repressions. We also appreciate Memorial’s efforts for the protection of human rights and civil liberties in Russia.

We are disappointed at the organisation’s legacy being cynically criminalised by the country’s authorities. At the same time, we remain convinced that this ruling, along with other measures taken by Russia’s authorities to erase the public presence of institutions and symbols that bring the true story of repression to light, will not manage to bury the memory of both the terror’s victims and its perpetrators.

On the same day that Memorial, one of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, was labelled an extremist organisation, the offices of “Novaya Gazeta,” whose editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov had also been honoured with this prestigious award, were subjected to a several-hours-long search conducted by Russian investigating authorities.

The day before, in yet another politically motivated trial, six activists from the “Vesna” Youth Movement were sentenced to long prison terms. The movement had also been designated as  extremist by the Russian authorities in 2022. Anna Arkhipova, Yan Ksenzhepolsky, Vasiliy Neustroev, Pavel Sinelnikov, Valentin Khoroshenin, and Evgeniy Zateev were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 years and 2 months to 12 years.

The Republic of Poland strongly opposes all forms of human rights violations.

We call on Russian authorities to drop the practice of politically motivated trials, cease persecution of independent media, and immediately release all political prisoners.

We also urge the Russian Federation to meet its international commitments regarding the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the right to a fair trial. Unfortunately, the climate in modern-day Russia with regard to respect for human rights and civil liberties is increasingly resembling the 1930s.

France strongly denounces the Russian Supreme Court’s designation of a supposed “international public movement Memorial”, classed as an “extremist organization”. France recalls that it has always commended the role played by Memorial, which was dissolved in 2021, in fighting for human rights in Russia and for protecting the memory of the victims of Soviet-era repression.

France also denounces the heavy prison sentences handed down to members of the Vesna movement, deemed “extremist” by the Russian authorities, Anna Arkhipova (12 years in prison), Yan Ksenzhepolsky (11 years), Vasily Neustroyev (10 years), Pavel Sinelnikov (7 and a half years), Yevgeny Zateev (6 years 2 months) and Valentin Khoroshenin (6 years 2 months).

France calls on the Russian authorities to comply with their international obligations as regards guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and rights, release all persons held for political reasons and immediately, unconditionally abandon the legal proceedings begun against them.

Today’s decision to brand Nobel Peace Prize laureate Memorial as extremist is yet another example of the systematic repression of civil society in Russia. The decision is a loss not only for human rights, including freedom of expression in Russia, but also for Russians’ access to their history and documentation of Soviet repression.

Russian Supreme Court’s decision to brand Nobel Peace Prize laureate Memorial as extremist is another example of the systematic repression of civil society and human rights in the Russian Federation.

Estonia expresses full solidarity with those who fight for historical truth and justice. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, we will continue to protect and promote human rights, freedom of speech, and individual liberties.

The Russian Supreme Court’s decision to label Nobel Peace Prize laureate Memorial as an extremist organization is yet another incomprehensible and drastic step of repression against fundamental freedoms and accountability in Russia and beyond.

The designation of the “International Public Movement Memorial” by the Russian Supreme Court as “extremist organisation” is a loss for the preservation of the memory of the victims of Soviet repression, and yet another worrying development for civil society in Russia.

I denounce the Russian Supreme Court’s designation of Memorial as an “extremist” organization. 

For decades, Memorial has been and remains a bastion of historical truth and human rights protection. Yet another example of the systematic repression of civil society in Russia.

In Putin’s Russia, history has become a battleground. Commemorating Soviet-era repression is deemed “extremist”. We condemn today’s decision against Memorial and stand with its relentless work for truth, memory and human rights in Russia and beyond.

We condemn Moscow’s absurd decision to label Memorial, one of the world’s most respected human rights groups and winner of the Nobel Prize, as “extremist.” Memorial has spent decades documenting repression and defending truth. The Russian people deserve better.

Russian authorities should lift this punitive designation on Memorial and support civil society, not seek to dismantle it. By designating Memorial ‘extremist,’ Russian authorities essentially outlaw human rights work. This is yet another low blow in the Kremlin’s staggering assault on civil society. Memorial and other Russian rights groups now need the support of the international community more than ever.

The Human Rights Center Viasna has learned that on April 9, 2026, the Supreme Court of Russia banned the Memorial movement, a historical and human rights organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, and branded it an "extremist organization." 

This absurd decision was made at the request of the Ministry of Justice, registered on the court's website on March 27, in record time. At the same time, it was announced that the authorities want to label the non-existent Memorial International Public Movement an extremist organization.

The Supreme Court ruled that "the movement's activities are extremist in nature and pose a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and ensuring the integrity and security of the Russian Federation, while discounting historical, cultural, spiritual, and moral values, inciting social and religious hatred."

There are a variety of organizations called Memorial, which work in different areas: the history of Soviet repression, the protection of human rights, and opposition to various forms of discrimination. These are many independent organizations with different mandates, work methods, and people. 

But obviously, there is no mistake. The authorities have already used this convenient wording about non-existent "international social movements" to ban a wide range of undesirable phenomena: "LGBT", "anti-Russian separatist movement"...

The secret decision was made at a closed meeting based on accusations unknown to either the accused or the public regarding a non-existent international organization.

Dictatorial regimes are united in their anti-democratic practices:

On August 23, 2023, the Human Rights Center Viasna was designated an "extremist group" by the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. The Lukashenka regime thus criminalized the legal activities of human rights defenders of Viasna. Putin has now done this to Russian human rights defenders. Dictators mutually adopt repressive practices. However, the regime's attacks against human rights defenders have not stopped the activities of our organization.We express our solidarity with Russia's oldest human rights organization and urge our Russian colleagues to strengthen their human rights work in Russia. 

By banning Memorial and raiding Novaya Gazeta, the Kremlin is accelerating its war on truth and history.

These are not isolated incidents, but part of a systematic dismantling of Russia's civil society -- one that has unfolded over more than two decades of Vladimir Putin's rule and intensified dramatically since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

For close to 40 years, Memorial’s tireless commitment to documenting past and ongoing repression in Russia has ensured that violations against millions of people are not forgotten. These include the victims of Stalin’s GULAG, unlawful acts and human rights abuses in conflicts in Chechnya, Georgia and Ukraine, and the arbitrary detention of hundreds of the Kremlin’s critics and political opponents today. A frontline human rights organization, Memorial has bravely defended human rights in the face of horrific reprisals, including the persecution, detention and killing of its staff.

By labelling Memorial as ‘extremist,’ the authorities are not just targeting one of Russia’s oldest civil society organizations and co-winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, they are criminalizing human rights work itself. From now on, liking or sharing Memorial’s social media and other materials, and any reference to them in publications without mentioning the organization’s ‘extremist’ status, may be prosecuted as a criminal act. These blatant attempts by the Kremlin to ban Memorial and erase its extensive archives of human rights violations from the public domain are deplorable.

The Russian authorities must immediately reverse this outrageous decision and ensure that Memorial and other human rights groups can operate freely in line with Russia’s obligations under international human rights law.