**Far-Right Group Disrupts Ceremony Honoring Victims of Stalinist Purges**
A disturbing incident occurred in Russia’s northwestern Karelia region, where a group of masked men wearing the insignia of the far-right nationalist group Russian Community attempted to disrupt a ceremony honoring victims of Stalinist purges. According to the Sova Research Center, this happened on August 5th.
The masked men arrived at the cemetery before the ceremony and began dousing participants with water while singing the patriotic Soviet song “Katyusha”. They also hung signs with the names of four foreign nationals who were killed fighting for Ukraine. This was clearly an attempt to dishonor them alongside the victims of the Stalinist purges.
Local observers tried to stop the masked men, but they threatened to get them imprisoned. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers present at the scene did not intervene. The Russian Community has not commented publicly on this incident.
**A Brave Act in a Hostile Climate**
Participating in the annual memorial event is an increasingly brave act in today’s Russia. Discussing the country’s past or present crimes can be viewed by authorities as a criminal act. This ceremony was particularly significant, as it honored victims of Stalinist purges who were executed at Sandarmokh forest.
**A Dark Chapter in History**
During Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin’s purges of the 1930s, over 9,000 people were executed in the Sandarmokh forest in Russia’s Karelia region. Local activists and historians have identified victims of over 60 nationalities, including 493 Ukrainians. This includes notable figures like theater director Les Kurbas, modernist author Valerian Pidmohylny, and poet and translator Mykola Zerov.
**A History of Suppression**
Local historian Yuri Dmitriev has led efforts to identify the thousands of people executed in Karelia during Stalin’s purges. He was arrested on charges widely believed to be politically motivated in 2016. Although acquitted in 2018, he was retried twice more and now faces a 15-year prison sentence.
**A Sign of Worsening Relations**
This incident highlights the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The far-right nationalist group Russian Community’s actions are likely to exacerbate these tensions and create an even more hostile climate for discussing sensitive topics in Russia.
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