Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
by Gleb Zabelin
[Regnum] Relatives of those repressed can obtain almost all the surviving information about the fates of their loved ones, although some archival materials remain classified. Valery Fadeyev, Chairman of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights (HRC), told a Regnum correspondent this on October 30 at the Moscow Wall of Grief.
Here, in the square at the intersection of Sadovaya-Spasskaya and Sakharov Avenue, a flower-laying ceremony was held on the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Political Repression.
State Duma deputy Boris Chernyshov, head of the State Duma Committee on the Development of Civil Society, Public and Religious Associations, also participated in the event.
Flowers were already lying at the foot of the Wall of Grief before Valery Fadeyev approached the memorial. People of different generations had gathered there: the elderly, including relatives of those repressed, and young people gathered in small groups.
WHAT HAS BEEN PRESERVED IN THE ARCHIVES
A Regnum correspondent asked Valery Fadeev about the challenges faced by families of the repressed searching for documents about their loved ones, and how accessible archives are.
"As far as I understand, relatives of those repressed can obtain almost all the information about what happened to their ancestors," the Chairman of the Human Rights Council noted, and then explained why he was talking about almost all the information, not all of it.
"Some information is classified, for example, about the 'troikas.' You know, there was a concept called 'troikas.' Instead of holding a trial, they would convict the accused within a day, and the next day they would execute them. This information is classified."
The head of the Human Rights Council linked the restrictions, among other things, to ethical issues: "Some activists demanded that this data be made public. There are ethical considerations here, too. Is it right to disclose this information? Some of it is related to confidentiality."
It was also impossible to preserve all the information about the fates of those executed. "Not all of them have [information]. In some places, the archives have simply been lost. This is a problem," the head of the Human Rights Council noted.
Chairman of the Human Rights Council Valery Fadeyev and State Duma deputy Boris Chernyshov at the memorial to the victims of political repression.
And yet, according to Fadeev, during their search for information, relatives do not encounter any deliberate resistance: “It is impossible to say that someone is hindering relatives.”
According to the Law on the Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repression, adopted on October 18, 1991, family members of victims may review the criminal and administrative case files of their relatives and receive copies of the documents—with the consent of the rehabilitated person or after his death.
If the archives contain information about the time and cause of death, and the place of burial, this information must also be provided upon request.
However, access to some documents may be restricted. In March 2025, Rosarkhiv approved a procedure classifying certain archival materials as classified information with restricted distribution.
"DON'T ERASE FROM MEMORY"
The Wall of Grief, where the conversation took place, was erected nine years ago. The memorial, designed by sculptor Georgy Frangulyan, was unveiled on October 30, 2017. The state funded the construction, but private donations also played a significant role. Fadeyev recalled this, explaining why he considers the monument a people's monument:
"This memorial was built at the initiative of civil society. This issue was raised at the Human Rights Council about fifteen years ago. This memorial was built, in part, with public funds, as a fundraising campaign was launched for its construction."
Donations varied, from small amounts to substantial sums. "The maximum contribution was five million rubles, but there were also contributions of five hundred rubles and even one hundred rubles. Thousands of people donated for this monument. It's a people's monument," said Valery Fadeyev.
"It's not bad, but good, that the state is participating in this. In doing so, the state is showing that it has no intention of erasing these tragic pages from history," the HRC chairman added.
But the work isn't limited to erecting monuments. Shortly before October 30, Fadeyev said, a working group on perpetuating the memory of victims of political repression met. Among the issues discussed was a methodological seminar for regional public activists and museum directors, who could share experiences. No dates have yet been announced.
"Most of what was planned ten to fifteen years ago has already been accomplished, including this memorial. However, we will continue working on it for some time," Fadeyev noted.
The work of perpetuating the memory of the victims of repression is not limited to the creation of memorials.
The Human Rights Council continues to interact with regional museums and public organizations, helping to preserve historical evidence and discussing further work in this area.
At the state level, the foundation for this work is the Concept of State Policy for the Perpetuation of the Memory of Victims of Repression, adopted in 2015. This basic document, among other things, calls for improving legislation on the rehabilitation of victims of repression and the creation of new memorial projects.
Preserving documents is one aspect of his work. Teaching history is another. Fadeyev was asked whether enough space is devoted to the topic of repression in school textbooks.
"This topic is certainly covered in school textbooks. Nothing prevents history teachers from expanding on this topic if they wish. I don't see any problem," the head of the Human Rights Council emphasized. However, he believes the issue extends beyond just one topic: "Many of our schoolchildren know little about the Great Patriotic War. This, I believe, is a question of the overall quality of education."
WHY DOES THE WEST NEED THE SOLOVETSKY STONE?
The conversation at the Wall of Grief wasn't limited to history and archival matters. Journalists raised the issue of current controversies surrounding monuments. One of them concerns the Solovetsky Stone, which was erected on Lubyanka Square in 1990.
In December 2024, Fadeyev proposed moving the monument to the Wall of Grief: in his opinion, some of the protests at the monument had become politically charged. The Chairman of the Human Rights Council maintained his position, but urged caution: "There's no need to rush into making any kind of urgent decision."
Valery Fadeyev specifically addressed the participation of Western diplomats in commemorative events at the Solovetsky Stone. According to the head of the Human Rights Council, representatives of states supplying arms to Ukraine are exploiting the memory of the victims of Soviet repression for contemporary political purposes.
"Yesterday, diplomats from countries that are effectively at war with us came again. Western countries that supply weapons, intelligence, and so on. Why are they even coming there? You see, this is also politicking," Fadeyev said.
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