Russian Ministry of Justice Moves to Liquidate Moscow Helsinki Group
Human rights defender Eva Merkacheva announced on her Telegram channel that the Russian Ministry of Justice has filed a lawsuit aimed at liquidating the Moscow Helsinki Group. She noted that the group had already received a formal notice. Merkacheva questioned the timing, suggesting the action echoes past efforts against the group and joking about the possibility of court intervention, while affirming her skepticism about the development.
The case was filed with the Moscow City Court on December 20. A hearing date had not been set at the time of the report. The court noted that the claim had just come to light and that its acceptance and scheduling would be decided in due course.
The Ministry of Justice characterized the Moscow Helsinki Group as a Moscow regional body, arguing that its work should be confined to that jurisdiction and not extend to other regions of the federation. Merkacheva argued that MHG representatives have appeared in other areas within the framework of partnerships, helping in select cases there. She stressed that this did not imply the organization was conducting separate events beyond its home territory.
“Strong Activity Report”
Boris Altshuler, a member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, said he had read the claim and believed it could be interpreted as a summary of the group’s active efforts. He described the document as a lengthy statement from the Department of Justice, presenting an overview of the group’s vigorous activities over the past three years. He acknowledged that the organization operates across the entire Russian Federation and that such breadth is commendable. He added that the Department of Justice views this activity as at odds with the statute, which could lead to liquidation of the group.
Unscheduled Oversight
Vyacheslav Bakhmin, co-chairman of the group, told a publication that the Moscow Helsinki Group might disappear from the legal landscape in the spring. He suggested that tighter control was anticipated and that the current development points in that direction. Bakhmin said the members would try to challenge future court orders, but he did not hold out much hope, noting that judicial practice rarely reverses such decisions. An unplanned inspection had been conducted at the organization at the prosecutor’s request for about a month. Based on the results, MHG raised concerns about alleged violations of statutes and legislation. Bakhmin argued that while the accusations were not presented as malicious, they marked the first time the group faced such charges. He believed the alleged violations had been addressed, arguing they were not serious enough to warrant liquidation.
History of MHG
The Moscow Helsinki Group traces its origins to May 12, 1976, when it began as the People’s Group Promoting the Implementation of the Helsinki Accords in the USSR. The group was led by Soviet physicist and dissident Yuri Orlov, a corresponding member of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences. From the outset, the KGB monitored its activities. Between 1976 and 1982, eight members were arrested, and six more were compelled to leave the USSR, including Lyudmila Alekseeva, who would later lead the organization after returning to Russia in 1993. She became head of MHG in 1996 after rejoining the organization.
In 2002, Alekseeva joined the Human Rights Commission under the President of Russia, which later became the Human Rights Council. The 2012 law on foreign agents affected the group, leading to a withdrawal of foreign sponsorship. In 2014, funding constraints forced MHG to scale back many activities. In recent years, the group has relied on government support and contributions from foundations and businesses, including the Presidential Endowment Fund and the Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation.
On July 20, 2017, Alekseeva celebrated her 90th birthday. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited her home that day to present flowers and a commemorative plaque. Alekseeva passed away on December 8, 2018, drawing hundreds to the farewell at the Journalists’ Assembly. After her death, Vyacheslav Bakhmin, Valery Borshchev, and Dmitry Makarov became co-chairs of MHG.