Memorial was recognized as an extremist organization

The Supreme Court recognized the human rights movement Memorial and its regional branches as an extremist organization, a Beware News correspondent reported from the courtroom.

The case regarding the recognition of Memorial has been classified as “top secret,” representatives of Memorial itself said . According to them, the organization with the name that appears in the lawsuit does not exist. Probably, the vague wording in the case will make it easier to prosecute memorial projects, their employees and supporters of the movement, Memorial suggested.

After the decision to recognize Memorial as extremist comes into force, interaction with the movement and providing it with financial assistance will be subject to criminal prosecution. Reposting project publications and using its symbols can also become reasons for initiating a criminal case.

The trial took place behind closed doors. Representatives from France, the Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden attended the meeting. Earlier it became known that lawyer Leonid Solovyov was not allowed to participate in the trial and was removed from the courtroom.

In December 2021, the Memorial Human Rights Center and International Memorial were legally liquidated in Russia.

Later, the movement was accused of misinforming Russians and forming a false opinion about the state with the help of a list of political prisoners, as well as distorting historical memory with the help of a “false image of the USSR.” In February, Memorial was recognized as an “undesirable” organization.