The return of the names • New Times • RIMA — Russian Independent Media Archive

The return of the names

On October 29, the action “Return of Names” in memory of the victims of political repressions was held in Moscow. At Solovetsky stone on Lyuban Square, people read out the names of those who were shot during the years of Soviet terror.

Oleg Orlov, a member of the Council of the Human Rights Center "Memorial", told The New Times, how the action took place.

“Compared to last year, there were more people. There were about 210-250 people in line. And in order to reach the end, people had to wait 2 hours. We gave read three names, however, some people read additional names, their relatives and ancestors, ”says Oleg Orlov. - Then, at the very end, we gave a tablet with only one name, so that as many people could read. In the first years, it happened that we, the organizers, went out two or three times to read the names so as not to interrupt the action, because it happened that there were almost no people. But in recent years, this has not happened. In the morning, there was already the turn of people, and we practically had no opportunity to read ourselves. ”

The human rights activist also said that a large number of people did not have time to read the names, because the action took place until 10 o’clock in the evening: “We had an idea to make a campaign round -the -clock, but there are difficulties with city authorities, approval for a longer period would have caused additional difficulties, so we ourselves made an application for a promotion from 10 to 22 hours.”

“In the past years, the police behaved quite friendly, showed sympathy, was interested, asked questions,” says Oleg Orlov. - In my personal opinion, this time there was alienation. Yesterday in the afternoon, one elderly lady after she read the names, made a question about the possibility of repeating repression in modern Russia. A police officer rose to the stage and said that he would stop the action if she continues. It is not clear to me how they would finish the action? Would they disperse us? "