GPO's claims to "Memorial" threaten human rights defence in Northern Caucasus

The closure of the "International Memorial" and the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", which the Russian General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) insists on, will seriously damage the defence of human rights in Northern Caucasus. Important projects will stop, and people will lose hope for help, human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists assert. They called on law enforcers not to resort to repressive measures, warning that this will harm the power's image.

If the court satisfies the claims to liquidate the HRC "Memorial", this will have negative consequences for residents of Dagestan, Idris Yusupov, a journalist, believes. "It is enough to recall the case of Gasanguseinov brothers, the case of compensation for damage after a special operation in the settlement of Vremenny, and many others," he said.

Human rights defenders also dealt with the issue of the so-called "prophylactic registration" by helping to appeal against such registration in court, Mr Yusupov has added.

The HRC "Memorial" has been working in Northern Caucasus for a long time, and has helped many to defend their rights, Ziyautdin Uvaisov, the head of the "Patient Monitor" and "Housing and Utilities Monitor" projects, has stated. In particular, the HRC opposed torture and extrajudicial executions.

Valery Khatazhukhov, the chairman of the Kabardino-Balkarian regional human rights centre, has called the "Memorial" the main pillar of the human rights movement in Northern Caucasus. In his opinion, in Northern Caucasus, the court depends on law enforcers, and those on those in power.

In recent years, the actions of Russian authorities have continued repressing civil institutions, Magomed Mutsolgov, the head of the MASHR human rights centre, has stated.

The liquidation of the "Memorial" can lead to powerlessness of residents of Ingushetia and Northern Caucasus, Patimat Khashagulgova, an activist, believes. According to her story, at all times, Northern Caucasus has strongly resisted any injustice.

Ruslan Totrov, the political editor of the "OS-Nova" online media outlet, believes that the attempt to liquidate the organization fits into the logic of the current Russia political regime.