April 19, 2026

In Tomsk, a monument to victims of political repression was demolished. Today, Russia observes the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People by decision of the authorities

In Tomsk's Square of Remembrance, the Stone of Sorrow and other memorial stones installed in memory of repressed Lithuanians, Latvians, Poles, Estonians, and Kalmyks were dismantled. This is reported by 7x7 and "Govorit NeMoskva". The Tomsk Mayor's Office stated that the square was fenced off after a local resident reported a "probability of garage collapse." Activist Anton Isakov stated that the version seems implausible, as the distance from the square to the garage is over 50 meters. Later, the mayor's office deleted the post without explaining the reasons. "Apparently, they considered the story about the falling garage too absurd," wrote Ksenia Fadeeva, former head of Navalny's headquarters in Tomsk. The square is still guarded by the police. Security forces prohibit photography and ask to delete already taken pictures, as well as record passport data of those who come to the square. The Square of Remembrance was opened in 1992 on the initiative of the city administration and "Memorial," which last week was declared an "extremist organization." The foundation stone was laid in 1989. At the end of last year, Vladimir Putin signed a law establishing April 19 as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People in Russia.