Activists near courthouse angered by decision to liquidate HRC “Memorial”*

Activists who gathered in front of the Moscow City Court met the decision to liquidate the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Memorial”* with shouts of “Shame!” and “Shame on you”. The police forces are accumulated near the court building.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that today, the Moscow City Court has pronounced a decision to liquidate the HRC “Memorial”*. A public prosecutor accused the HRC “Memorial”* of participation in protest movements and called the lists of political prisoners the disinformation of citizens.

The activists who gathered near the Moscow City Court are chanting “Shame!” and “Shame on you!” A lot of journalists, including foreign ones, have gathered in front of the courtroom.

The activists have learned that court marshals are expelling the HRC’s advocates from the courtroom.

The decision of the Moscow City Court to liquidate the “Memorial”* angered the activists who gathered in front of the building. “The court decision will be challenged, I am sure. We must not give up,” a member of the support group emphasized.

Dozens of people, including young people and elderly people, came to the courthouse to support the HRC “Memorial”.

“I followed Oyub Titiev’s case. It is clear that the criminal proceedings against him were a consequence of his human rights activities. Then prominent human rights defenders stood up for him. Today, it is hardly possible to protect anyone, as courts do not care about the law,” teacher Svetlana Yurievna said.

On December 28, the Supreme Court of Russia pronounced a decision to liquidate the “International Memorial”* (the International Historical, Educational, Charity and Human Rights Society “Memorial”) and its regional divisions. The advocates called the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) of Russia politically motivated and announced the intention to appeal against it.

*The organization has been put by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on the register of foreign agents.