In a significant move that underscores the intensifying clampdown on civil liberties in Russia, the country’s Supreme Court has effectively outlawed the operations of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning rights group Memorial, amidst ongoing tensions related to the war in Ukraine.
In a separate development, the offices of Novaya Gazeta, a prominent independent newspaper in Moscow, were raided by police. The paper’s chief editor, Dmitry Muratov, a Nobel laureate in 2021, noted that their legal representatives were barred from entering the premises during the raid.
The Supreme Court’s action followed a confidential hearing initiated by the Justice Ministry, which sought to classify “the Memorial international civic movement” as an extremist entity, thereby prohibiting its activities in Russia.
Memorial responded by clarifying that such an entity does not exist but warned that the decision could lead to a crackdown on its initiatives, participants, and supporters.
Legacy of Advocacy and Recognition
Memorial, a stalwart in the Russian human rights landscape, was honored with the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. This accolade came in the context of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine and was shared with Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski, then imprisoned, and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties.
In a statement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee criticized the actions against Memorial as an attack on core values of human dignity and freedom of expression, urging Russia to halt its harassment.
Denis Krivosheev of Amnesty International described the ruling as an effort to target and criminalize human rights advocacy.
Established in the late 1980s, Memorial aimed to commemorate victims of Soviet-era political repression and has since expanded into a network spanning Russia and beyond.
Previously labeled as a “foreign agent,” Memorial has faced increased governmental scrutiny and significant fines for purported breaches of the law. By December 2021, Russian authorities mandated the closure of its principal branches: the human rights center and International Memorial.
Despite these obstacles, Memorial persisted, establishing an international branch in Geneva in 2023, which Russia later deemed “undesirable.” In early 2024, co-chair Oleg Orlov was sentenced to prison for his opposition to the Ukraine war, though he was later released in a prisoner exchange.
Mounting Challenges for Memorial
The extremist label further complicates the situation for Memorial, with engagement in such activities punishable by imprisonment under Russian law.
Jan Raczynski, who led the now-dissolved International Memorial, expressed surprise at the Ministry’s petition and lamented the parallels to past repressions studied by the organization.
Raczynski voiced concerns about the anxiety among Russians who have benefited from Memorial’s work, emphasizing the group’s longstanding opposition to violence.
According to Tass, the Supreme Court justified its decision by characterizing Memorial’s efforts as anti-Russian and harmful to national integrity and values.
Memorial denounced this characterization, asserting that the case is an attempt to silence dissent and pledging to continue its activities abroad until it can return to Russia.
Novaya Gazeta Under Fire
Following the police action at Novaya Gazeta, Interfax reported a criminal investigation related to alleged illegal data collection. The case purportedly involves journalist Oleg Roldugin, with the newspaper noting that his residence was also searched.
Novaya Gazeta has faced increasing pressures since the onset of Russia’s full-scale Ukraine invasion, with its website blocked, media license revoked, and many journalists relocating to form the banned Novaya Gazeta Europe.
Muratov, who still resides in Russia, was named a “foreign agent” by authorities.
The newspaper’s origins trace back to Gorbachev’s Nobel Peace Prize funding in 1990, leading to its establishment in 1993.
