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Memorial

Memorial (Мемориал) was founded in the late 1980s during the Glasnost era to document and preserve memory of Soviet political repression — labour camps, executions, and mass deportations. It evolved into Russia's most respected human rights organisation, documenting abuses in Chechnya and other conflict zones, maintaining databases of political prisoners, and providing legal support to victims of state violence.

The Russian Supreme Court ordered the liquidation of the International Memorial Society in December 2021, citing violations of foreign agent laws. Memorial continued operating internationally. In April 2026, a further escalation: the Russian Supreme Court designated Memorial an "extremist organisation," effectively criminalising any association with it inside Russia under threat of lengthy prison sentences.

Memorial won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 (jointly with Ukrainian and Belarusian human rights organisations).

Current status

Memorial continues operating through its international chapters. The largest active chapter is Memorial Germany (memorial.de), based in Berlin. The Russian domestic organisation is formally liquidated and the extremist designation makes associated activity inside Russia a serious criminal risk.

Note on scope

Memorial's Russian domestic organisations have been formally liquidated and its work inside Russia criminalised. It is listed here under Russia because that was the origin and primary focus of its work. International chapters — particularly Memorial Germany — continue operating and are accessible via the link below.