The Gulag History Museum in Moscow has been shut down. Authorities claim the closure is due to fire safety violations. Critics argue the move is politically motivated.
No Issues a Year Ago
City officials announced the closure on Wednesday, November 13. They stated that “fire safety breaches” posed risks to visitors, according to Ziare.
However, Moscow government sources say inspections earlier this year found no such issues. The decision reportedly came after pressure from senior Kremlin officials and members of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
The museum, established in 2001, highlights Soviet repression through exhibits and artifacts. It recently hosted a memorial event for victims of Stalinist purges on October 30.
The event, called “Prayer of Remembrance,” replaced a public gathering that was denied permission due to COVID-19 restrictions. Observers believe this memorial may have provoked the Kremlin.
Downplay Soviet-Era Atrocities
Russia has been working to downplay Soviet-era atrocities in recent years. This trend has intensified since the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin has sought to rehabilitate Joseph Stalin’s image. Stalin, once widely condemned as a brutal dictator, is now portrayed more favorably in some state narratives.
Employees at the museum were shocked by the sudden announcement. They were informed on the same day the closure was made public. Moscow city officials provided no timeline for reopening.
Elizaveta Likhacheva, director of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, criticized the closure.
She called it “a nonsense approaching a crime,” echoing Stalin’s own words.
No further comments have been made by city officials or the museum’s administration.
The closure raises concerns about the future of preserving historical memory in Russia. For many, the Gulag History Museum served as a crucial reminder of the country’s dark past.
