The Republic of Poland consequently condemns all forms of repressions, including those against the independent historians. The multi-year court proceedings in criminal matter that ended today with a guilty verdict and condemnation of Yury Dmtitriev to 3.5 years of penal colony constitute another manifestation of the war on historical memory that has been waged by Russian highest authorities. Thanks to meticulous work carried out by the leader of the Karelian branch of the Memorial society it became possible to commemorate the victims of executions committed in Sandarmokh and Krasny Bor. However, there are many indications that these services in revealing the crimes of the Stalinist regime unfortunately led to the persecution of the Russian historian.

Numerous representatives of Academia, civil society, as well as ordinary citizens from Russia and beyond gave their support to Yury Dmitriev. It is a matter of serious concern that the sentence delivered today will have negative ramifications on the already limited academic freedom in the Russian Federation, and that the hidden motive behind it was to intimidate independent scholars who bravely defy the official narrative concerning the Communist crimes.

 

MFA Press Office