The Nobel Peace Prize for Memorial

Members of the Polish EPP Group delegation in European Parliament have started today to collect the signatures under the proposal of nomination of Russia-based association Memorial for the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Memorial conducts research, describes and documents the cases of political persecution that took place in the USSR under the communist rule. The association created an international network which tries to restore the memory and the dignity of tens of thousands of victims of political repression. The association also describes and makes public the breaches of peace and human rights that are taking place nowadays in a number of post-Soviet states. Many people and organisations are using these information", said Krzysztof Lisek.

The head of the Polish delegation Jacek Protasiewicz recalled that at the same time the association is helping political prisoners, refugees and national and ethnic minorities in different parts of the former Soviet Union. Its employees and activists in Moscow and other centers are being constantly harassed and persecuted.

"In spite of the difficulties and threats the activists of Memorial are fulfilling their mission firmly and effectively. They unite people with different worldviews, nationalities and ages around the idea of peace, freedom and human dignity, regardless of the price they have to pay for it. Memorial and its activists have been for decades our memory about what we do not want to remember, a warning against what we do not like to think of, a conscience for all of those not reacting to the humiliation of another human being", said Róża Thun.

The nomination of Memorial must be submitted to the Nobel Committee by the end of January 2014. The campaign to collect signatures under this nomination will be coordinated by Róża Thun and Krzysztof Lisek.