Russian President Honors Victims of Communist Persecution

In Russia, Memorial Day for the victims of political persecution under the communist regime was commemorated last week, and President Dmitry Medvedev sent a clear message through his video blog at kremlin.ru.

[Dmitry Medvedev, Russian President]:
„Millions of people were killed as a result of terror and false accusations. Millions were deprived of all rights, even the right to be buried with dignity. For years their names were erased from history. But even until today one will hear these numerous killings being justified by superior state goals. I’m convinced that no development of the country – none of the country’s successes or ambitions – can be achieved through human sorrow and losses. Nothing can be put above a human life. There is no justification for the persecution.“

In recent years, Russian human rights defenders have been concerned that some politicians have attempted to justify Stalin’s persecution. Such tendencies are apparent in some newly published history textbooks.

[Dmitry Medvedev, Russian President]:
„We pay much attention to fighting the falsification of our history. For some reason we often think this is all about resisting attempts to review the results of the Great Patriotic War, but it is also important not to allow the restoration of historical truth to be used as a pretext to rehabilitate those responsible for exterminating their own people.“

According to data collected by Memorial–a human rights group–there were about 800,000 victims of political persecution under communist rule. These victims included the orphaned children of parents who were killed by the regime.

Experts estimate that the number of people victimized by the communist regime is in the tens of millions. Almost every family in the former USSR was affected.

Russians have various purposes behind their Memorial Day commemorations.

[Vladimir Zukovsky, Saint Petersburg Resident]:
„On October 30 I always come to this memorial site, light up a candle, and remember my grandfather, Ivan Zhulovsky, who was persecuted in 1937. It was not Stalin personally who killed my grandfather; it was the communist regime. We, obviously, will never forget that.“

[Galina Ivanova, Moscow Resident]:
„My relatives were also persecuted. We know the truth about repressive year 1937, through hearing about it. These were my far-away relatives, on my grandmother’s side, her brothers and sisters.“

[Igor Burakov, Saint Petersburg Resident]:
„There were many victims who did not bring glory to our motherland; it brought shame to our motherland“.

[Andrey Gavrish, Moscow Resident]:
“The word ‘persecution’ sends shivers down my spine. When you remember the millions murdered, it should be talked about – at least so this won’t happen again in any shape or form.”

Memorial Day–a day to remember the victims of political persecution–was established in Russia 18 years ago by then-president Boris Yeltsin.

NTD, Russia.

(NTDTV)