The Moscow authorities have announced the opening of a new Museum of Memory, which will focus on the genocide of the Soviet people and Nazi war crimes, to replace the previously closed Gulag History Museum. This decision follows the abrupt closure of the award-winning Gulag History Museum over alleged fire safety violations, a move that many believe was influenced by high-ranking Kremlin officials and the FSB security service. The new museum aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Nazi war crimes during the Great Patriotic War, a period during which an estimated 27 million Soviet citizens lost their lives.

This transition marks a significant shift in how Russia intends to memorialize its past, particularly with regard to the traumas of World War II and the Soviet experience under Nazi Germany. The Museum of Memory is being established under the direction of Natalia Kalashnikova, who also leads the Smolensk Fortress museum, and is expected to reflect the state's narrative on these historical events. The reopening of the museum is set for later this year, indicating a rapid acceleration in developing this new cultural institution.

The closure of the Gulag History Museum, which had played a vital role in educating the public about the Soviet era's repressions, raises concerns about the implications for historical discourse in Russia. Critics worry that replacing it with a museum focusing on state-endorsed narratives might lead to a controlled interpretation of history that aligns with the Kremlin's political agenda, potentially stifling a more nuanced understanding of Russia's complex past.