EP calls for sanctions against Russian officials against Memorial

Russia’s Supreme Court has filed a lawsuit against Memorial over the organization’s failure to adequately identify itself as a “foreign agent” in its publications, including social media. The Prosecutor General’s Office has demanded the liquidation of the organization.

Already in 2016, the Ministry of Justice included the “Memorial” in the list of foreign agents.

EU lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of a non – binding resolution condemning “repeated persecution and recent politically motivated attempts to close the Memorial”.

The resolution called on the Russian authorities to “immediately drop all charges against the Memorial and to ensure that the Memorial can continue to carry out its important work safely without state interference”.

The resolution called on Brussels to impose sanctions on Russian officials involved in the illegal repression of the Memorial and the trial of the organization and its members.

The lawsuit in the Russian Supreme Court is the biggest threat to the existence of the Memorial since its inception. The lawsuit began on November 25, but was adjourned until December 23 on Tuesday.

At the start of the lawsuit, activists asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene, but Putni said in his human rights council that the Memorial was working for “terrorist and extremist organizations.”

“Memorial” has existed for more than 30 years. It was created in 1989 by Soviet dissidents, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov.

The “memorial” includes a list of political prisoners, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose affiliates were closed this year.