US condemns dissolution of Russian NGO Memorial

The United States stands in solidarity with all oppressed as they exercise their right to freedom of expression, said Secretary of State Blinken.

A Russian court has ordered US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken Dissolution of the internationally prestigious human rights organization Memorial Rule. “The closure of the international memorial comes after a year in which the space for independent civil society, the media and pro-democracy activists in Russia has shrunk rapidly,” a statement quoted Blinken in a statement Wednesday evening.

The United States stands in solidarity with all those persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly. Via Twitter, Blinken urged the Russian authorities to end the crackdown on human rights activists.

“One of the oldest and most respected organizations”

The US Secretary of State described Memorial as “one of the oldest and most respected scientific and human rights organizations in Russia”. “For three decades, researchers at the International Memorial have worked tirelessly to find the names and stories of millions of victims of Soviet repression and to advocate for historical justice,” he said in his letter.

The organization’s dissolution ordered by Russia’s highest court on Tuesday is by far the worst blow to the Russian human rights movement to date. Given President Vladimir Putin’s public criticism of Memorial, the ruling was not surprising. Human rights activists have long complained of growing authoritarian tendencies and the persecution of opponents in Russia.

(APA/DBA)