In Russia, the iconic NGO Memorial is more than ever threatened with dissolution. A pillar of civil society, tireless defender of human rights, memory of the Gulag, symbol of post-Soviet democratization, the organization is today accused of having violated a controversial law on “foreign agents.” ”
The prosecution therefore calls for its ban. While claiming to consider Memorial with “respect”, Russian President Vladimir Poutine also accuses him of defending extremists and of having wrongly classified collaborators of the Nazis as victims of Stalinist repressions. His trial opened in November at the Supreme Court of Russia. It will resume on December 28th. In the meantime, the fate of Memorial remains unresolved. Why is the NGO disturbing the Russian authorities? And what will happen if the courts decide to ban it?
Decryption with:
Anne the Huérou, teacher-researcher atParis Nanterre University, sociologist, specialist on Russia
Alain Blum, historian, director of studies atEHESS, vice-president of Memorial France