The Moscow city government has announced the permanent closure of the Gulag Museum, an institution dedicated to the history of the Soviet concentration camp system for the past 25 years. In its place, a new exhibition will be established that focuses on the 'Nazi crimes' during World War II, specifically highlighting the events of the 'Great Patriotic War', as the conflict between the USSR and Nazi Germany is referred to in Russia.

The new museum is set to educate the younger generations about the atrocities committed during this period, framing it as a form of 'patriotic education' aimed at instilling a sense of historical consciousness among the youth. The Moscow Department of Culture clarified that the exhibition will address 'all the stages' of the Nazi crimes, thereby potentially positioning this historical narrative within a contemporary political context, relevant to current Russian sentiments towards both history and nationalism.

This shift from a focus on Soviet repression to the crimes of Nazi Germany raises questions about the portrayal of history in Russia and the broader implications of such a nationalist narrative. It suggests a tendency to redefine historical memory in a way that may diminish the focus on Soviet-era injustices while emphasizing themes of victimization and heroism in the face of perceived external threats, reflecting the current political climate in Russia.