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Russian Court Orders Prominent Rights Group to Shut Down 


A judge of the Russian Supreme Court delivers the verdict during a hearing to consider the closure of the human rights group International Memorial in Moscow, Dec. 28, 2021.
A judge of the Russian Supreme Court delivers the verdict during a hearing to consider the closure of the human rights group International Memorial in Moscow, Dec. 28, 2021.

Russia’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Memorial, the country’s most prominent human rights organizations, must shut down.

Prosecutors had accused Memorial of failing to properly mark its publications under its designation as a foreign agent.They also said the group denigrated the former Soviet Union and rehabilitated “Nazi criminals.”

Memorial rejected the accusations as being politically motivated, and its leaders have pledged to continue their work.

A supporter of the human rights group International Memorial holds a placard reading 'We will live forever' outside a court building during a hearing of the Russian Supreme Court to consider the closure of International Memorial in Moscow, Dec. 28, 2021.
A supporter of the human rights group International Memorial holds a placard reading 'We will live forever' outside a court building during a hearing of the Russian Supreme Court to consider the closure of International Memorial in Moscow, Dec. 28, 2021.


The group rose to prominence through work to document crimes during the time of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, and more recently spoke out against efforts to repress critics of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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