Mednoe Memorial Complex, Russia

Mednoe Memorial Complex, Russia

In the Tver region north of Moscow where people of diverse nationalities lived together, thousands of Russian and Polish prisoners were killed by Soviet Communist Secret Police (NKVD) in mass executions during the 1940s. Many of these citizens and prisoners of war were arrested in the wake of a new law prohibiting association with foreigners, viewed as threats to national security. At the height of this hysteria, some citizens turned against each other and identified "suspicious" people to the authorities, only later to become victims themselves. All victims were buried at a mass burial site in the town of Mednoe. Today, the Mednoe Memorial Complex delves into this intricate history and the difficult experience of individuals under totalitarian regimes by providing memorial exhibits, public events and activities that commemorate the victims and explore issues of political repression. For more information on Mednoe Memorial Complex, contact Elena Obrastsova at [email protected]