Amnesty International has condemned the Russian authorities’ decision to designate the prominent human rights organization Memorial as “extremist” and ban its activities, calling it a direct attack on civil society and human rights work. Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Regional Director, said Memorial has spent nearly four decades documenting state repression, historical abuses, and ongoing human rights violations in Russia and conflict zones, while also defending political prisoners and victims of past and present injustices.
He warned that branding Memorial as “extremist” effectively criminalizes human rights work itself, as even sharing or referencing the organization’s materials could now lead to prosecution unless its banned status is acknowledged. He also criticized the move as an attempt to erase Memorial’s extensive archives and silence one of Russia’s most respected civil society institutions, which was co-awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.
Amnesty International has urged Russian authorities to immediately reverse the decision and allow Memorial and other human rights groups to operate freely in line with international legal obligations. The organization stressed that the ruling represents a dangerous escalation in the crackdown on independent voices in the country.
The decision follows a closed Supreme Court hearing on 9 April 2026, where the Ministry of Justice’s request to label the “International public movement Memorial” as extremist was approved, effectively banning all affiliated organizations. Memorial, founded in the late Soviet era, has faced increasing state pressure for years, including being labeled a “foreign agent,” targeted under restrictive laws, and forced into liquidation or designation as an “undesirable organization” in various forms.
