Russia Designates Nobel-Winning Memorial Human Rights Group As Extremist

Russia's Supreme Court designated Memorial as an extremist organization in a closed-door hearing.

“Reacting to the news that the Russian authorities have arbitrarily designated prominent human rights group Memorial as “extremist” and banned its activities in the country, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Regional Director, said: “For close to 40 years, Memorial’s tireless commitment to documenting past and ongoing repression in Russia has ensured that violations against millions of people are not forgotten”

Amnesty International

The ruling targets the Memorial international public movement, which has no formal legal entity.

Amnesty International

The court justified the ban by claiming Memorial's activities are markedly anti-Russian.

The extremist label allows authorities to pursue criminal charges against anyone cooperating with Memorial.

Memorial's Human Rights Center announced it would cease all direct operations within Russia.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed deep alarm at the designation.

The lawsuit was heard in a closed session and classified as top secret.

Memorial had not been formally notified and learned of the case through press reports.

Folha de S.Paulo

The group's logo is to be considered an extremist symbol.

The specific entity named does not formally exist.

Russian authorities previously dissolved Memorial's legal entities in early 2022.

Amnesty International warned that sharing Memorial's materials may be prosecuted.

Memorial was founded in 1987 to document Soviet-era repression.

“Russia brands Nobel Prize-winning rights group Memorial 'extremist' Moscow (AFP) – Russia's Supreme Court labelled the Nobel Prize-winning human rights group Memorial "extremist" on Thursday, making it easier for authorities to prosecute its supporters and those who work with it”

France 24

It was put on a foreign agents register in 2015 and liquidated in 2021.

The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.

The EU's delegation called the decision a politically motivated blow.

Amnesty International described the move as criminalizing human rights work.

Memorial's co-chair was jailed in 2024 and released in a prisoner exchange.