‘Soviet Genocide’ Museum to Replace Shuttered Gulag History Museum in Moscow - The Moscow Times
Moscow Times
February 20, 2026
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A museum dedicated to the "genocide of the Soviet people" and Nazi war crimes is set to replace Moscow's Gulag History Museum, which was abruptly closed over a year ago due to alleged safety violations. The new Museum of Memory aims to focus on World War II-era atrocities, including the estimated 27 million Soviet citizens who perished during the conflict. This shift comes as Russian authorities have increasingly sought to downplay past Soviet repressions, aligning with President Vladimir Putin's narrativeJustifying Russia's actions in Ukraine by invoking historical "denazification" efforts.
The closure of the Gulag History Museum, which chronicled the Soviet Union's forced labor camp system, was announced in November 2024 following inspections that reportedly found no safety issues. Critics suspect political motives, as authorities have been revising historical narratives to emphasize Soviet heroism while sidelining darker chapters. The new museum, led by Smolensk Fortress director Natalia Kalashnikova, seeks to cultivate a rejection of Nazism among younger generations, aligning with the state's broader propaganda efforts.
This move reflects a broader pattern of historical revisionism under Putin, particularly since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. By erasing or altering past atrocities, the governmentJustifies its actions and strengthens narratives of Russian victimhood, despite international criticism. This context is crucial for understanding how historical memory is weaponized in modern geopolitics.
The situation also highlights tensions between independent journalism and state control, as seen with The Moscow Times facing legal pressures for its reporting. These developments underscore the challenges to unbiased news in Russia, where narratives are increasingly shaped to serve political agendas.
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Originally published on Moscow Times on 2/20/2026