Awarded: Memorial International receives Theodor Heuss Award

Memorial International has received the prestigious Theodor Heuss Award for its long-standing commitment to human rights, the rule of law and coming to terms with state repression in the former Soviet Union. Chairman Jan Rachinskii, Executive Director Elena Zhemkova and Dr. Irina Scherbakova, a founding member of the Board of Directors, accepted the award on May 7 in Stuttgart.

The largest and oldest independent human rights organization in Russia was officially founded in 1992. Originally started with the aim of coming to terms with the mass crimes of the Soviet regime, Memorial International quickly developed into a staunch fighter for human rights and the rule of law. 

In 2021, the organization was liquidated by a court order - a decision that the Foundation EVZ, as a long-time partner, strongly rejects and condemns to this day. However, the forced dissolution does not prevent Memorial from continuing to work for its self-given mission: Just in time for the "Victory Day" celebrations in Moscow on May 9, Memorial is calling for a digital demonstration on a virtual Red Square under the slogan "Peace protest instead of military parade."

The time and place are anything but random. The Red Square was already the site of protests against the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. "Many of our members have repeatedly demonstrated in Moscow's center despite all the risks - and have had to pay for it with arrest, persecution and heavy fines, or go into exile. Free expression of opinion is de facto no longer possible in Russia. We would also like to draw attention to this with this action," emphasizes Dr. Irina Scherbakowa.