What is International Memorial

International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society «Memorial» (International Memorial) is a non-commercial organisation studying political repressions in the USSR and in present-day Russia and promoting moral and legal rehabilitation of persons subjected to political repressions.

Chair of the Board is Jan Raczynski.

International Memorial was founded in 1992 in Moscow. Its predecessor, Moscow initiative group Memorial, emerged in 1987 and gave rise to a number of regional organisations and groups. In 1989 they all united under the name of All-Union Voluntary History and Education Society Memorial (registered in 1990). Andrey Sakharov was one of the organisers and the first honored chair of Memorial Society.

Excerpts from the Statute of International Memorial

International Memorial is a non-governmental association, it does not aim at profit generation and does not distribute gained profit between its members.

Implementing its statutory objectives International Memorial acts in accordance with the legislation of the states on the territory of which organisations making part of International Memorial operate, and in accordance with the present Statute.

International Memorial realizes its activity on the territory of the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Ukraine and other states where members of International Memorial operate.

The activity of International Memorial is based on principles of voluntary participation, equality, autonomy and lawfulness.

Aims and objectives of International Memorial:

  • Promoting development of civil society and democratic state with the rule of law excluding the possibility of return to totalitarianism;
  • Participating in forming of public consciousness on the basis of values of democracy and law, overcoming of totalitarian stereotypes and asserting the rights of individuals in political practice and social life;
  • Participating in restoring historical truth and perpetuation of memory of victims of political repressions of totalitarian regimes.

To achieve these aims International Memorial

  • Reveals, publishes and critically interpretes the information on crimes and mass human rights violations committed by totalitarian regimes in the past and carrying direct or indirect consequences in the present;
  • Participates in restoring historical truth about the crimes of totalitarian regimes against humanity, illegal and terrorist governance methods, studies its reasons and consequences; promotes open access to sources of information (libraries, archives, museum fonds, etc.);
  • Promotes full and public moral and legal rehabilitation of persons subjected to political repressions, adoption of state and other measures aimed at reparation of damage incurred and provision of the necessary social benefits;
  • Promotes preservation of memory of victims of totalitarianism, erection of memorial sites, including monuments to victims of totalitarianism, as well as foundation of scientific, information and educational centers, archives, museums and libraries open to public;
  • Offers assistance to those repressed and members of their families in need, provides legal support to those repressed and members of their families;
  • Detects, declares and analyzes the information on human rights violations today;
  • Participates in elaboration and implementation of projects and programs aimed at preventing the restoration of totalitarianism;
  • Carries out peacemaking activities in interethnic and interfaith conflicts;
  • Promotes a free, open democratic society with the rule of law in those states where International Memorial missions are set up.