14:57, 4 October 2016

"International Memorial" recognized as a foreign agent

A plate on the bulding of the "Memorial" office. Photo http://ruspolitics.ru/article/read/zajavlenie-pravozacshitnogo-centra-i-rossijskogo-obcshestva-memorial.html

The Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has included the International Historical, Educational, Charitable and Human Rights Society "Memorial" in the register of foreign agents.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after an unscheduled inspection held in March 2013, the Moscow Prosecutor's Office demanded from the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" to get registered as a foreign agent. The NGO treats as mistaken the conclusions of the Prosecutor's Office, which found in political nature in the NGO's activities. The NGO has unsuccessfully tried to challenge the claim of the Prosecutor's Office in court. In September 2013, the HRC "Memorial" was fined for lack of appropriate markings on publications, belonging to the "International Memorial".

Members of the "Memorial" treat the MoJ's decision as illegal and intend to appeal against it.

Initially, the main task of the "International Memorial" was to preserve the memory of political repressions in the country. At present, the NGO represents a community of dozens of organizations in Russia (including those in Southern and Northern Caucasus), Belarus, Germany, Italy, France, Kazakhstan, Latvia, and Ukraine, engaged in research, human rights, and educational activities.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.