Novosibirsk Police Refuse to Open Case Over Missing Memorial Plaque
The police in Novosibirsk refused to open a criminal case over the disappearance of a plaque from a foundation stone of a planned monument to victims of state terror, citing lack of witnesses. The plaque, which had been installed in 2019 with approval from city authorities, was removed in late April 2026, and officials stated they would not restore it due to the involvement of the banned 'Memorial' organization.
Consensus
- The plaque with the inscription 'Here a monument to victims of state terror will be erected, whose graves or places of mass burial are unknown' was removed from a foundation stone in Narimskiy Park in Novosibirsk.
- The removal occurred in late April 2026.
- The Novosibirsk police refused to open a criminal case under Article 214 of the Criminal Code (vandalism) due to lack of witnesses or identifiable suspects.
- The city administration confirmed the plaque was removed without authorization.
- The city administration stated it does not plan to restore the plaque because its installation was initiated by 'Memorial', which is designated as an extremist organization in Russia.
- The foundation stone was originally placed in 2019, with the project approved through public hearings and inclusion in the monument registry.
- The planned monument was intended to honor victims of repression, specifically those executed at the NKVD prison across the street from the park.
Points of divergence
- The police also refused to open a case regarding a false report made against activist Roman Malozemov. — mediazona
- City officials plan to demolish the foundation stone itself, citing park beautification as the reason. — tg_horizontal_russia
- The article links the incident to a broader national trend of removing memorials related to repression, citing similar actions in Tomsk and Vorkuta. — tg_horizontal_russia
Coverage (2 sources)
- Police in Novosibirsk refused to file a case over the disappearance of a plaque with a memorial stone for victims of state terrorism — Медиазона
- Novosibirsk police failed to find the person who removed the plaque in memory of the repressed — 7х7 — Горизонтальная Россия