Latvia expresses its deepest regret over the decision by the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia to file a lawsuit with the Supreme Court concerning the liquidation of the International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society, International Memorial, and the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office bringing an action before the Moscow City Court and demanding the liquidation of the Human Rights Centre “Memorial”.
“Memorial”, established by the Nobel Prize holder, Andrei Sakharov, and its centre is one of the oldest and most important non-governmental organisations in Russia, which has been engaged for several decades in the monitoring of human rights violations, research and documentation of Stalinist crimes, and perpetuating of memory of victims to political repression. The association has also contributed significantly to revealing historical truth, restoring human dignity and justice, as well as providing considerable support for the protection of human rights in the present-day society and raising awareness among the public. The NGO has become one of the cornerstones of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Russia.
Charges brought against the Memorial association can be rated as politically motivated. That is yet another attempt to silence the organisation which is standing up for truth and human rights, and the activities of which do not comply with the official approach by Russian authorities and their attempts of rewriting history and the wish to fight the diversity of opinions. For several years now, the two organisations have been assigned the status of a “foreign agent”, and their members are being subject to serious pressure on the part of authorities thereby seeking to impede their activities.
Regrettably, the persecution of “Memorial” is not a one-off incident. It is part of a campaign pursued by authorities against freedom of expression in Russia through a sustained pressure and repression against civil society, non-governmental organisations, independent media and the political opposition with its different opinion. We call on Russian authorities to reconsider this decision and stop putting pressure on civil society and independent media.
On 22 November, to express solidarity with “Memorial” and to voice support for its continued activities, the Ambassador of Latvia to the Russian Federation, Māris Riekstiņš, visited the International Memorial association for a meeting with its Chairman of the Board, Jan Raczynski and member of the Board, Sergei Krivenko.