MCC liquidates HRC "Memorial"*

The Moscow City Court (MCC) has ruled to liquidate the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"*.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at a session of the MCC, the prosecutor accused the HRC "Memorial"* of participating in protest movements, and treated the lists of political prisoners as disinformation of citizens, after which he demanded to liquidate the HRC. The prosecutor's office has shown the true nature of its claims against the HRC "Memorial"*, Alexander Cherkasov, the chairman of the board of the HRC, has stated.

The liquidation lawsuit was lodged by the Moscow City Prosecutor's Office, which stated that the HRC "Memorial"* had justifies extremism and terrorism. The MCC began considering the lawsuit demanding to liquidate the HRC "Memorial"* on November 23. On December 23, the defence's motion asking to interrogate the authors of the expert examination in the HRC's case was dismissed, as well as the demand to interrogate the founders of the HRC and the witnesses from Northern Caucasus declared by the defence. This indicate the MCC's unwillingness to impartially delve into the essence of the case, human rights defenders have noted.

On December 28, the Russian Supreme Court (SC) ruled to liquidate the "International Memorial" and its regional branches. The SC's decision is politically motivated, it will be appealed against, the advocates have stated. The liquidation of the "International Memorial" is evidence of the suppression of the freedom of speech and a departure from the common European values, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the OSCE Chairman and the US Ambassador to Russia have stated.