Victims of Stalin's repressions were remembered in 101 cities around the world
The memory action "Restoring the Names," dedicated to the victims of Stalinist repression, was held in 101 cities around the world this year. It was reported that independent commemoration events took place in Russia as well, for the first time since the banning of the "Memorial" organization.
Victims of Stalinist repressions remembered in 101 cities around the world
According to DW, the action was organized in a number of countries on the eve of October 29 — the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressions. The official website of the event provides a list of 101 cities where the action was held on or before October 29 this year.
In Germany, memorial events were held in 15 cities. Among them are Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Bremen, and Bielefeld.
According to RFI, the action in Paris was organized by the "Memorial France" association. Participants gathered in front of the monument to the Parisians who died in the First World War in the Ménilmontant park.
In Russia, official permission to hold the "Returning the Names" action has not been granted since 2020. Measures against the coronavirus were cited as the reason for this.
RFI notes that after the liquidation of the international "Memorial" society in 2021, pressure on independent initiatives aimed at preserving historical memory intensified. Nevertheless, the action continued in other countries, and people in Russia also continue to look for ways to remember the victims.
According to The Insider, independent memorial actions were held in Russia this year for the first time since "Memorial" was banned. Such events took place in Irkutsk Oblast, Kirov, and Veliky Novgorod.
On October 30, such events are also planned to be held in St. Petersburg, Kopeysk in Chelyabinsk Oblast, and Tolyatti in Samara Oblast.
Diplomats from Sweden, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Poland, and other countries visited the Solovetsky Stone monument located on Lubyanka Square in Moscow. According to RusNews, no one from the US Embassy attended the event this year.
The "Returning the Names" action was first organized by the international "Memorial" society in 2007. On October 29 of that year, those gathered in front of the Solovetsky Stone in Moscow read out the names of people repressed, including shot, by the Soviet state.
Since then, the reading of the names of the victims has been held annually, both in person and remotely. The organizers also broadcast the events live via the internet.
According to information on the action's website, in 2025, "Returning the Names" events were held in 150 cities around the world.