Memorial International was one the oldest human rights NGOs in Russia and the umbrella organisation of the Memorial network – a movement that arose during Perestroika. Its main task is the awakening and preservation of the societal memory of the severe political persecution in the recent past of the Soviet Union. In the winter of 2021/22, Memorial International was formally liquidated by Russian authorities. Due to their ban in Russia and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine which Memorial has always condemned, Memorial relocated parts of their activities abroad to work in exile. In recognition of their work, Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2022. On 16 May 2023, 15 Memorial institutions from 11 countries founded a new International Association Memorial in Geneva. This new association aims to integrate efforts and expertise of its members and to work on the legacies of Soviet terror in a European context.

From 1999 to 2021, the history competition “A Person in History: Russia in the XX century” (formerly referred to as “Man in History”) was organised by the following institutions: Memorial International, Russian State Humanitarian University, and the Russian Academy of Education. More than 45.000 Russian students took part in the competition and critically researched their local and family history. The liquidation of Memorial International by Russian authorities in the winter of 2021/2022 led to the halt of the competition.

In spring 2023, a Pilot Education Programme, renamed to “A Person in History: (Post-) Soviet Experience” was launched by Zukunft Memorial e.V. situated in Berlin, Germany. It is aimed at young people interested in Russian or Soviet History and/or with a Russian family background. The history competition is open for two age groups: teenagers between 14 and 15 years, and young adults between 16 and 19 years. Participants should be based outside Russia. The working language of the competition is Russian, however, fluency is not required.