As activists in Russia commemorated the tens of thousands of people executed during the Great Terror of Soviet leader Josef Stalin, new polls show that 50 percent of Russians believe they may see similar political repressions again in their lifetime -- while a growing number of people believe there is too much "negative talk" about Stalin's rule.
Twenty-five years ago, Memorial began as a group of Soviet-era dissidents seeking to document and remember the victims of political repression. Today it is one of Russia's flagship human rights organizations.
The trial of three members of Russia's dissident punk group Pussy Riot continues to make international headlines. But other young Russians detained for taking part in an antigovernment protest in May are battling charges that could land them in prison for 10 years.
The Russian State Duma has passed a controversial bill to impose fresh restrictions on nongovernmental organizations that receive foreign funding. NGOs say the new guidelines will have dire consequences on ordinary Russians who depend on their work for everything from health care to environmental protection.
When Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin voiced rare support for public protests two days ahead of planned May 31 demonstrations, there was hope that they would be met by an equally rare peaceful response by the authorities. But today, one activist remains hospitalized after police detained nearly 200 protesters during violent crackdowns on rallies across the country.
The arrests at a regional Russian newspaper on charges of publishing articles in return for money surprised many in a country where the practice is common. But some say the detentions could actually be linked to the newspaper's stinging criticism of local authorities.
![A woman walks past graffiti saying "Foreign agents [love the] USA" on the building used by the Memorial Human Rights Center in Moscow in November 2012.](https://gdb.rferl.org/b375904e-1286-4216-943b-342b5902375d_w100_r1.jpg)
![A woman walks past graffiti saying "Foreign agents [love the] USA" on the building used by the Memorial Human Rights Center in Moscow in November 2012.](https://gdb.rferl.org/b375904e-1286-4216-943b-342b5902375d_w66_r1.jpg)
