Everyone should have their own website in memory of the victims of political repression

Mikhail Doliev: and maybe the list will be supplemented...

On the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repression, a memorial website was opened, where names, photographs, and documents related to teachers and students of Astrybvtuz (now Astrakhan State Technical University) who were repressed in the 30s were opened.

Monument to teachers and students - victims of political repression in the park of ASTU:

The creator of the site, Marina Mitaleva, has long been interested in what kind of cube-monument is installed in the ASTU park, past which students walk.

The fact is that when this monument was opened in 1995, there was a lack of money and a lack of information. The monument is very minimalistic, it is a small cube through which a deep crack has passed. In the 90s, not all the names of teachers and students of Astrybvtuz who were subjected to political repression were known, research activities were still underway, not everything is known to this day, and the FSB archive is closed for general use. I think it is for this reason that the main attribute of memory was not installed - a memorial plaque with a list of victims executed and repressed. Therefore, the monument is somewhat faceless, nameless, and this is sometimes played upon by those who say that “the victims were insignificant.” And were there any at all? Well, in the future there is a good reason to complete what has been started, to supplement the memorial with a list of victims, thereby bringing the work of perpetuating the memory of the victims to its logical conclusion. And most importantly, take measures to prevent political repression. In addition, as you know, political repressions in our country continue... and perhaps the list will be added...

Let me remind you that in January 2021, three students were expelled from ASU, a university located in the neighborhood, for participating in an anti-government rally. What is characteristic is that half of Astrakhan, including teachers and students of ASTU, took part in that rally on January 23, 2021. But only ASU students were subjected to repression and expulsion from the university. But near the ASU there is no memorial sign to the victims of political repression. Who knows, maybe the monument stone near the former Astrybvtuz is having an impact?

What prompted Marina Mitaleva to create her memorial website? Firstly, she herself is a graduate of ASTU and walked past this monument throughout her studies. Secondly, Marina takes an active life position. Thirdly, Marina constantly emphasizes that the site was created “with the support of the Summer School of Journalism and Sociocultural Research by Boris Nemtsov.” Three years ago, Marina Mitaleva went to a summer school of journalism, where she presented her project for a future memorial website. Interestingly, Marina Mitaleva is among the few graduates who studied at Boris Nemtsov’s Summer School of Journalism and Sociocultural Research who brought their project to life.

Marina Mitaleva in 2021 was also one of the initiators of installing the “Last Address” sign on the house from where Nikolai Nikolaevich Milovidov, a teacher at Astrybvtuz, was arrested and subsequently shot.

Marina Mitaleva attaches a memorial plaque to the “Last Address” of Nikolai Milovidov:

One of the pages of the site is dedicated to the memory of Milovidov . Nikolai Milovidov was among the 33 “spy and sabotage groups,” headed by the director (rector) of Astrybvtuz Andrei Zinovievich Shuba . Nine people from this group were shot, two died during interrogation, the rest were sentenced to various terms. After 1956, all members of the “group” were rehabilitated.

It is noteworthy: not a single Astrakhan media outlet wrote about this.