23 February 2025
Valery Fadeev dismissed rumours of the possible closing of the museum
Source: Agency for Social Information
On 14 November last year, the GULAG History Museum announced its temporary closure on its website after investigators discovered violations of fire safety regulations: ‘[The investigators’] conclusion states that [these violations] are a threat to the safety and wellbeing of visitors to the museum and must be rectified.’
At a meeting of the Presidential Council on Civil Society and Human Rights on 22 January 2025, its chair – Valery Fadeev – stated there were ‘no plans for the Museum’s closure.’
‘I had a discussion with the Moscow city authorities […]. All necessary measures will be taken very soon and the Museum will be reopened. We have no intention of closing it,’ Fadeeev said.
Fadeev added that he thought the Museum’s premises could be used for a meeting of the Interdepartmental Working Group on the Commemoration of Victims of Political Repression.
Apart from the temporary closure, the Museum has also seen a change in its leadership. In January, Roman Romanov was replaced as director by Anna Trapkova.
Translated by Oscar Seecharan
