The Day of Remembrance in Petrozavodsk

1 November 20173 November 2021 / editors (JC)

On Monday, 30 October 2017, the Karelian capital Petrozavodsk marked the annual Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Political Repression. At the city’s Zaretskoe Graveyard and then at Krasny Bor access to the microphone was limited to those who talked about spiritual values, Holy Russia and forgiveness. Your correspondent observed how official Karelia strove … Continue reading The Day of Remembrance in Petrozavodsk

The view from above (29 October 2017)

31 October 201717 December 2020 / editors (JC)

Two last shots of Sunday's unofficial commemoration, "Restoring the Names". Someone took these and many other photos from the viewing platform of the toy shop Detsky Mir across Lubyanka Square (see https://www.facebook.com/Memorial.International/?hc_ref=ARRrH5pwXB-ynweSTfLoh5aK8Fk6QbY_9HGh--pFEZODZ3krh5kAP4Sstx-Ym4P7-oY) Behind the hoardings stands the pre-Revolutionary Polytechnical Museum, where lectures were read and poetry recitals were given — by Vladimir Mayakovsky and Osip … Continue reading The view from above (29 October 2017)

Remember Sandarmokh & the Imprisoned Historian of the Terror

27 October 201718 February 2018 / editors (JC)

"It is exactly 80 years since the killing by quota began of Ukrainian, Russian and other prisoners from the notorious Solovki Labour Camp," writes HALYA COYNASH for the website of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. "From 27 October to 4 November 1937, 1,111 prisoners were executed by the NKVD, including 289 Ukrainian writers, playwrights, … Continue reading Remember Sandarmokh & the Imprisoned Historian of the Terror

Analysis of photos not ready — next hearing, 29 November

25 October 201715 August 2025 / editors (JC)

The latest hearing in the case of Yury Dmitriev took place on Wednesday 25 October although all had been warned on Tuesday that there would be no judicial hearing on 25th. The court decided that the hearing would resume on Wednesday, 29 November 2017. The reason for this postponement was that the expert assessment of … Continue reading Analysis of photos not ready — next hearing, 29 November

“Abandon all hope …”

18 October 20179 December 2020 / editors (JC)

For decades the killing fields of the Stalin regime remained unmarked and abandoned, the only clues to their presence being that all the trees were of the same age, unlike a natural forest or grove, and the distinctive outlines of the burial pits, though these were fast disappearing beneath the undergrowth ... People knew or … Continue reading “Abandon all hope …”