Memorial Center of the History of Political Repression “Perm-36”

The single in Russia museum of the history of political repression “Perm-36” includes the preserved and reconstructed buildings of the camp (correctional labor colony) for political prisoners where during the Soviet era the dissidents, nonconformists, active fighters for the human rights in the Soviet Union, the opponents of the communist regime, the protagonists for national independence of enslaved people – politicians, public figures, writers, scientists – people whose ideas and efforts have contributed to the downfall of the misanthropic regime were held in the harsh conditions, suffered and died. “Perm-36” was included to the international coalition of the Museums of Conscience which consist of the museums from the dozens of countries around the world which has broken with their totalitarian past.

The main aim of the Museum is to retain the unique complex of buildings of the former political labour camp. In its completed form the Museum will contain all the everyday, production and auxiliary structures, as well as the restored labour camp “komandirovki” (camp outposts in the forest) of Stalin times.

The Museum has material on the history of the repressions and resistance to the communist regime, and computer databases are being created – with lists of prisoners of the Perm GULAG of the 1930s – 1950s, victims of repression in the Perm region over all the years of Soviet rule, and prisoners of the Perm political labour camps between 1972 and 1991. On the site of the Museum there are annual international academic conferences and many visits.

The complex was created in 1994 by the Perm Regional Branch of the “Memorial” Society and the Perm Regional Administration. The museum is in the village of Kutchino in the Chusovoi district.