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Russia Tightens Access to Soviet-Era Repression Files

New rules restrict access to files about repression. Researchers worry about the impact on historical research and public information.

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on the desk the papers and the files are kept. on the right side people are sitting in a uniform...
on the desk the papers and the files are kept. on the right side people are sitting in a uniform and on the left a person is standing. behind him there is a chair. at the back of the room us army rdecom is written on the wall.

Russia Tightens Access to Soviet-Era Repression Files

Russian archival agencies have tightened access to files related to Soviet-era repression, according to recent developments. The changes, implemented by the Federal Archival Agency (Rosarchiv), affect regional archives and have drawn attention from researchers.

In a significant shift, Rosarchiv has ordered regional archives to control the release process of sensitive files. This change, effective from March 20, closes access to documents with restricted information. The move has been confirmed by regional archives in Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, and Kostroma regions, which are now only issuing materials about repressed people to close relatives.

Researchers have noticed this trend for some time. Mikhail Sheinker, a researcher from the 'Last Address' project, observed that requests for files from regional FSB departments must now go through the Central Archive. Sergei Zhuravlev, deputy director for scientific work at the Institute of Russian History, suggests that 'sensitive information' could include accusations of espionage, data on 'Banderovtsy' or 'Forest Brothers', and personal files of party workers who received punishments. The process of copying cases and requesting archival cases has also become more formalized and lengthy, leading to increased waiting times.

The changes in archival access policies have raised concerns among researchers. While the reasons behind these changes remain unclear, the tightened control over sensitive files suggests a shift in the Russian government's approach to its historical records. The impact of these changes on historical research and public access to information is yet to be seen.

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