SCROLL
Why did Russia fail to make the transition to democracy?
How was freedom of speech in Russia gutted?
How long will the Russian dictatorship last?
How has Putin been able to stay in power for so many years?
YEARS
Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the world has been asking these and many other questions more often and more urgently.
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BEFORE
Can these questions be answered?
We are confident that we can answer them, in part.
In 2023, Memorial Human Rights Centre celebrates thirty years (or a little more) as an organization. Post-Soviet Russia has been around for nearly the same amount of time. We have seen our country transformed from a Soviet dictatorship into a nascent democracy, and back again into a dictatorship.
Memorial began defending human rights much earlier, of course. We take April 1993, when the organization’s charter was adopted, as our starting point.

In April 2022, the Russian authorities legally dissolved Memorial Human Rights Centre. The Centre’s supporters have established a new organization — Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre.
30 YEARS
Can these questions be answered?
We are confident that we can answer them, in part.
In 2023, Memorial Human Rights Centre celebrates thirty years (or a little more) as an organization. Post-Soviet Russia has been around for nearly the same amount of time. We have seen our country transformed from a Soviet dictatorship into a nascent democracy, and back again into a dictatorship.
Memorial began defending human rights much earlier, of course. We take April 1993, when the organization’s charter was adopted, as our starting point.

In April 2022, the Russian authorities legally dissolved Memorial Human Rights Centre. The Centre’s supporters have established a new organization — Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre.
30 YEARS
+
Memorial was not only involved in the crucial events in recent Russian history and witnessed them. We described and documented this history as it was happening, and now we have many stories to tell.
This website
is the platform
where we will publish the stories
We intend to answer the critical questions about post-Soviet Russia in cooperation with independent media, human rights activists, experts, and members of civil society. We will try to explain how and why the current regime emerged. We will show how civil and human rights in Russia were gradually demolished, how Russians themselves rejected these rights, and how those who fought to defend them were persecuted
we have to tell
30
before
years
the project
this is why
we are launching
By 7x7:
SPOT THE DIFFERENCES
Seven quotes from Afghan War veterans reminiscent of war in Ukraine propaganda
By 7x7:
FROM VARANGIANS TO LOCALS
How Moscow controls regional politics
By Cherta:
THEY DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ANYONE
How Russia abandons political and LGBT refugees seeking protection
By Cherta:
IMPRISONMENT AFTER RELEASE
How foreigners find themselves behind bars due to lost documents
Human Rights Defence Centre presents the project
30 Years Before
Russia’s past, present and future: lectures, discussions, debates, art
Dates
Location
26–28 April 2024
Paris, France
Memorial
Co-organizer
Mémorial-France
Read more
Our first story looks at
why the Russian army has committed war crimes in Chechnya, Syria, and Ukraine over the past thirty years
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La dictature en Russie est-elle éternelle?

Comment la liberté d'expression a-t-elle été détruite en Russie?

Pourquoi la Russie n'est-elle pas devenue une démocratie?

Comment Poutine s'est-il maintenu au pouvoir pendant tant d'années?

La dictature en Russie est-elle éternelle?

Comment la liberté d'expression a-t-elle été détruite en Russie?

Pourquoi la Russie n'est-elle pas devenue une démocratie?

Comment Poutine s'est-il maintenu au pouvoir pendant tant d'années?
PHOTO CREDITS: ALEXANDER NEMENOV, DMITRI BELYAKOV, PAVEL DOROGOY, OMAR SANADIKI, DMITRY BORKO
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La dictature en Russie est-elle éternelle?

Comment la liberté d'expression a-t-elle été détruite en Russie?

Pourquoi la Russie n'est-elle pas devenue une démocratie?

Comment Poutine s'est-il maintenu au pouvoir pendant tant d'années?

La dictature en Russie est-elle éternelle?

Comment la liberté d'expression a-t-elle été détruite en Russie?

Pourquoi la Russie n'est-elle pas devenue une démocratie?

Comment Poutine s'est-il maintenu au pouvoir pendant tant d'années?
PHOTO CREDITS: ALEXANDER NEMENOV, DMITRI BELYAKOV, PAVEL DOROGOY, OMAR SANADIKI, DMITRY BORKO
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get in touch with us
Subscribe
HRDC Memorial is committed to processing information in accordance with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)