On the Designation of “Memorial” as an Extremist Organization

Statement by the Board of the International Memorial Association

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 organization with such a name exists. However, given the repressive practices of Putin´s regime, there is little doubt: the “defendant” in the lawsuit was described so vaguely and indistinctly not by negligence, but quite deliberately. Such a designation will create the basis for subsequent repression in Russia against any Memorial-related organizations, their members, and supporters.

Russian authorities have long used accusations of “extremism” to crack down on civil, political, cultural, and social initiatives that the government considers inconvenient. It is hard to imagine a greater absurdity than accusing Memorial of extremism—a globally recognized community awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for its work. For nearly forty years, Memorial has investigated and studied the history of Soviet state terror and political persecution, opposed national, religious, and social hatred, and defended 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, given the current state of Russian “justice,” if the “Memorial movement”—whatever the Ministry of Justice may mean by this—is destroyed in the best traditions of Stalin’s “Great Terror,” the study of which Memorial researchers have significantly contributed to.

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We understand that only one outcome is likely: Memorial will be declared an “extremist movement.”

We understand that the case against Memorial is yet another attempt to intimidate all those who disagree in the country and to force civil society into silence.

We are certain that this will not succeed — Memorial-related and other civil society organizations that are being destroyed in Russia will continue their work outside its borders.

Memorial will outlive the Putin regime and one day will be able to return openly to Russia.

April 9, 2026