Russian public prosecutor's office calls for the dissolution of the NGO Memorial

The Russian Supreme Court will have to rule on the fate of the NGO Memorial on November 25.

© REUTERS / Maxim Shemetov

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The general prosecutor's office appealed to the Supreme Court to obtain the liquidation of the NGO Memorial, specializing in the defense of human rights and the memory of the victims of Soviet repression. 

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Appearing on the list of "foreign agents" since 2014, Memorial is accused by the general prosecutor's office of having repeatedly violated the obligation placed on it to present itself as such in all its publications, including on social networks, reports our correspondent in Moscow, 

.

For its part, the NGO considers that it is a " 

 " to destroy it, recalling that it had from the start denounced the law on "foreign agents.

As designed to crack down on independent organizations.

In recent months, the Russian authorities have steadily increased the pressure on NGOs, independent and opposition media, classifying them as such.

This designation, which recalls that of "

enemy of the people

"In the Soviet era, targets in vague terms those who receive"

 "and carry out" 

", recalls the NGO in its press release.

► See also: Freedom of expression stifled in Russia

But the NGO, founded in particular by dissident Andrei Sakharov during perestroika, is the oldest and most emblematic human rights organization in Russia. This earned him significant support. Nikolai Svanidze, member of the Russian presidential council for civil society and human rights, thus qualified the request of the general prosecutor's office as "

". He also explained that he would take care of this matter without being able to vouch for the whole council. It remains to be seen whether he will have enough clout to oppose conservative circles and win his case.

Memorial

was founded in 1989. It is the oldest and most emblematic human rights organization in Russia, which has earned it significant support.

In 2015, the Supreme Court refused to dissolve Memorial, dismissing an appeal brought by the Russian Ministry of Justice.

It is due to examine the appeal of the general prosecutor's office on November 25.

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