Who We Are and What We Do — About Memorial
Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre provides free assistance to everyone whose rights are violated by the Russian state. We monitor and document human rights violations and offer legal assistance and informational support to political prisoners and those facing political persecution, refugees and migrants, LGBTQ+ people, and other vulnerable groups.
If you need help, please contact us at [email protected]
Background
Memorial is one of the first human rights organizations to emerge in post-Soviet Russia. In the late 1980s, members of the Memorial organized several actions in defense of human rights and in support of political prisoners. By the autumn of 1989, these initiatives led to the formation of the Memorial Society’s Human Rights Group, and in 1991 the Memorial Human Rights Centre was established.
For more than 30 years, Memorial Human Rights Centre worked in areas affected by armed conflict, provided legal and humanitarian assistance to refugees in dozens of regions across Russia, and documented violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Liquidation. Nobel Peace Prize
In 2022, a Russian court issued an unlawful decision to liquidate the Memorial Human Rights Centre and International Memorial. We consider the proceedings to have been unfair and the decision to dissolve both organizations to be politically motivated. A detailed longread about the court case is available here (in Russian).
The liquidation decision entered into force on 5 April 2022. On 7 October 2022, Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, together with Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties. We learned about the Nobel Prize while we were in court — on the same day the authorities ruled to confiscate Memorial’s premises and transfer them to the state.
Establishing Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre
Despite the liquidation and continued pressure from the Russian authorities, on 14 June 2022 supporters of Memorial Human Rights Centre created a new association — an interregional public organization without state registration as a legal entity — Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre. We continue our work.
For more than 30 years, Memorial Human Rights Centre worked in areas affected by armed conflict, provided legal and humanitarian assistance to refugees in dozens of regions across Russia, and documented violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Liquidation. Nobel Peace Prize
In 2022, a Russian court issued an unlawful decision to liquidate the Memorial Human Rights Centre and International Memorial. We consider the proceedings to have been unfair and the decision to dissolve both organizations to be politically motivated. A detailed longread about the court case is available here (in Russian).
The liquidation decision entered into force on 5 April 2022. On 7 October 2022, Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, together with Belarusian human rights defender Ales Bialiatski and the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties. We learned about the Nobel Prize while we were in court — on the same day the authorities ruled to confiscate Memorial’s premises and transfer them to the state.
Establishing Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre
Despite the liquidation and continued pressure from the Russian authorities, on 14 June 2022 supporters of Memorial Human Rights Centre created a new association — an interregional public organization without state registration as a legal entity — Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre. We continue our work.
What We Do
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Provide free assistance to everyone whose rights are violated by the Russian state
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Defend those subjected to political persecution and unlawful repression
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Support members of vulnerable and socially marginalized groups
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Promote the humanization of the penitentiary system
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Promote compliance with international humanitarian law in armed conflicts
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Document mass human rights violations in Russia and by the Russian authorities
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Support human rights groups and participants in the international human rights movement
- Carry out educational activities in the field of law
Support & Follow
You can greatly help us continue providing free legal assistance and documenting human rights violations by making a donation.