Russia's Supreme Court bans human rights movement Memorial

Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday recognized the human rights movement Memorial as an extremist organization and banned its activities in the country.

"The Supreme Court of Russia has ruled that the motion to recognize the International Public Movement Memorial as an extremist organization is to be granted, and its activities on the territory of the Russian Federation are to be prohibited," the court said in a statement.

The ruling is subject to immediate enforcement, it added. The hearing was held behind closed doors, without press or public attendance.

The International Public Movement Memorial was established in 1992 in Moscow and was added to the register of foreign agents in 2016.

In 2021, the Moscow City Court, acting on a lawsuit by the prosecutor’s office citing violations of foreign agent regulations, ordered the liquidation of the human rights center of the same name.

Later, the Supreme Court also revoked the international organization Memorial’s registration over similar violations.