On April 9, 2026, the Supreme Court of Russia designated the International Public Movement “Memorial” as an extremist organisation.
The lawsuit was heard in a closed session, and the case was classified as “top secret.” The lawyer was not allowed to participate in the proceedings.
This unlawful decision marks a new stage of political pressure on Russian civil society.
The organisation named in the court’s ruling does not exist. We do not even know what this fiction is accused of: the case is secret, and it has been impossible to review the state’s claims until today.
However, it cannot be ruled out that Putin's repressive regime may now target supporters and participants of various Memorial organisations.
As of today, the Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre is ceasing all activities directly within Russia. We have no employees, members, or volunteers in Russia. We do not accept donations from Russian bank cards, as this could put our donors at risk.
Outside of Putin’s Russia, the Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre will continue its work, regardless of any repressive decisions by Russian state authorities.
Council of the Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre
https://memorialcenter.org/en/news/on-the-designation
“Memorial” will outlive the Putin regime and one day resume its work openly in Russia
https://memorialcenter.org/en/news/memorial-will-outlive
Today, April 9, 2026, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation will begin considering a lawsuit filed by the Russian Ministry of Justice to designate the “international public movement Memorial” as an extremist organization.
No organisation with such a name exists. But given the repressive practices of the Putin regime, there is no doubt: the vague and indistinct designation of the “defendant” in the lawsuit was not due to negligence, but rather deliberate. This will create the preconditions for subsequent repression in Russia against any “Memorial-affiliated” organisations, their participants, and supporters.
Russian authorities have long used accusations of “extremism” to crack down on undesirable civil, political, cultural, and social initiatives. It is difficult to imagine a greater absurdity than accusing “Memorial, a world-renowned organisation awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for its work, of extremism.
For nearly forty years, “Memorial” has been investigating and studying the history of Soviet state terror and political persecution, speaking out against ethnic, religious, and social discord, and defending human rights and freedoms.
The case against the “Memorial movement” has been classified as “top secret.” The trial will be held behind closed doors.
It would not be surprising for today’s Russian “justice system” if the “Memorial movement,” whatever the Ministry of Justice means by that, will be destroyed in the best traditions of Stalin’s “Great Terror,” the study of which Memorial researchers made a significant contribution to.
We recognise that there is only one possible outcome: “Memorial” will be declared an “extremist movement.”
We understand that the case against “Memorial” is yet another attempt to intimidate all dissenting voices in the country and silence civil society.
We are confident that they will not succeed-the “Memorial” along with other civil organisations that are being destroyed in Russia right now will continue their work beyond its borders.
“Memorial” will outlive the Putin regime and one day resume its work openly in Russia.
