Russia is in the process of transforming the Gulag History Museum, initially established to document the forced labor camp system under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, into a facility dedicated to the memory of the German crimes during World War II. The museum plans to rebrand itself as a 'museum of memory' focused on commemorating the victims of genocide against the Soviet people, and it aims to address 'all stages of Nazi war crimes.' The Gulag History Museum was founded in 2001 and was closed in November 2024 due to purported fire safety issues. Prior to its closure, the museum served to remember the millions who were imprisoned in forced labor camps across the country between 1918 and 1956, laying bare a dark chapter in Soviet history. The new focus points towards a shift in narrative that emphasizes Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany, reflecting changes in the country's commemorative culture under President Vladimir Putin. Under Putin's leadership, the memory culture of Russia has suffered, with a growing tendency to prioritize a narrative that aligns with state ideologies. This transformation of the Gulag History Museum is indicative of a broader trend where historical interpretations are recontextualized to foster a specific nationalist agenda, impacting how both domestic and international audiences perceive Russia's historical narrative and its present-day identity.