The Memory Project is a team of legal practitioners and researchers committed to preserving the memory of grave human rights violation that occurred in the North Caucasus during the armed conflicts spanning from 1994 to 2009. In our work, we draw upon open data from human rights organizations, conduct independent research, and work with firsthand accounts and other available information sources.
A crucial aspect of our Project is to shed light on the issue of abductions and enforced disappearances during armed conflicts. According to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, such disappearances are deemed as crimes against humanity with no statute of limitations. Throughout the armed conflict in the North Caucasus (1994–2009), enforced disappearances emerged as one of the most prevalent forms of human rights violations that persists to this day. The Memory Project seeks not only to document the circumstances of these crimes but also to create a platform to support the relatives of the missing.
Given the current political climate in Russia, it is unlikely there is going to be significant progress in the investigation of disappearances. Therefore, the Memory Project seeks to preserve the memory of these events and inform Russian society about these crimes. We strive to support the families of missing people in preserving their narratives and the memory of their loved ones. As an illustration of this, our website features the “Gallery of Memory”, that serves as a memorial displaying the names of 330 missing persons along with accounts detailing the circumstances of their abductions.
Another significant focus of the Memory Project is to honor the memory of the victims of Stalin’s deportations. The Project particularly aims at gathering and analyzing the firsthand accounts of survivors who endured this terrible period. We believe this effort holds particular significance given recent attempts to rehabilitate Stalin and his regime. The Memory Project actively monitors and seeks to engage in initiatives aimed at preventing attempts to whitewash Stalin’s legacy and praise officials responsible for the mass death and suffering endured by thousands of citizens, particularly those representing the repressed peoples of Russia. We are confident that preserving historical truth is essential in preventing the recurrence of such tragedies in the future.