At Nordic Right, we are committed to advocating for and upholding human rights across the Nordic Region and beyond. We stand as a beacon for the values of freedom, justice, and dignity. It is with deep concern that we condemn the ongoing suppression of historical remembrance and the blatant disregard for human rights that we witnessed on October 29 in Russia.
Russian citizens gathered to commemorate the victims of Soviet repression in an annual event organized by the Memorial human rights group. However, this solemn occasion was marred by the heavy-handed actions of the Russian government, which has grown increasingly repressive under President Vladimir Putin. The Memorial human rights group, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization, has itself been banned and shut down, silencing a powerful voice for human rights in Russia.
Against a backdrop of mass killings and arrests, the significance of honoring each individual life lost to repression becomes all the more poignant. It is imperative, even today, for various reasons, to preserve the memory of the victims of Soviet state terror. This event coincides with Russia’s traditional Remembrance Day For The Victims Of Political Repression, which was officially sanctioned by the authorities in 1991, following the fall of communism.
Since 2006, Memorial has organized the “Returning Of The Names” event, where people read out the names of victims of repression under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. However, the authorities have denied permission for this event since 2020, effectively obstructing the public from paying their respects and honoring those who suffered under the Soviet regime.
In Moscow, the commemoration took place under the watchful eyes of security forces at the Solovetsky Stone memorial on Lubyanka Square, where police cordoned off the square in the morning hours. It was a stark departure from previous years when the event took place more freely. Memorial’s co-chairman, Oleg Orlov, and diplomats, including the U.S. and U.K. ambassadors, joined in solemn remembrance, even as the authorities restricted gatherings to three people or fewer, a restriction that many perceive as a mockery of the victims’ memory.
We strongly condemn the actions taken by the Russian government in suppressing this important event. The right to remember and honor the victims of political repression is a fundamental human right. This denial of a fundamental right reflects a dangerous disregard for the principles of freedom and democracy.
Nordic Rights echoes the sentiments of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who stated, “The European Union honors the victims of political repression in Russia and commends those who continue to work on the remembrance of past victims and against attempts to manipulate and erase the historical memory of political repression in the country.”
The shutdown of Memorial in November 2021, citing the “foreign agents” law, was an insult to the memory of the victims of Soviet gulags, as recognized by Amnesty International. Memorial, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, has fought tirelessly for human rights and democracy. The dismantling of organizations like Memorial is an irreplaceable loss for the Russian people and for all of Europe.
We call upon the international community to stand in solidarity with those who seek to remember and honor the victims of political repression. It is essential that we safeguard the memory of those who suffered and sacrificed under oppressive regimes and work collectively to uphold human rights, freedom, and democracy.
