Statement by OVD-Info: Solidarity is stronger than repression

Today, the Russian state declared Meduza undesirable. Yesterday it liquidated the Moscow Helsinki Group. The day before yesterday, they took away all the premises in Moscow from the Sakharov Center. This is another powerful round of pressure on civil society and independent media.

Alas, the turn is not the first and not the last. Even before the war, in the spring and summer of 2021, the authorities switched in their repressive practices from containing civil society to destroying it. This avalanche is accelerating before our eyes - now it has again covered the largest and most influential human rights and media projects. And it is clear to us that this avalanche will not stop.

Why is this happening? Because, contrary to popular belief, Russian civil society is alive. And it still greatly interferes with the political and militaristic plans of the Kremlin. Yes, the most powerful wave of repressions of 2021–2022 severely undermined social forces, but it failed to destroy civil society. This one can't either. But the authorities will try. Including, assigning different statuses to all living things, hoping to kill public solidarity and create an exclusion zone around their opponents.

This must be resisted - together and in solidarity. Both Sakharnitsa, MHG, and Meduza are our long-standing partners. Together we did and did a lot. And we are confident that we will do even more. Friends, we are with you!

Peace will come. Progress is unstoppable. Human rights are above all.