“Among them are those who suffered political repression and also members of their families, and most of them are elderly people whose ranks are thinning,” the Memorial’s Executive Director Yelena Zhemkova told Interfax on Sunday.

Victims of political repression will be commemorated in Russia on Monday, October 30. This date was formerly observed as the Day of Soviet Political Prisoners.

Zhemkova complained that authorities have not been attentive enough to victims of political reprisals.

“The recent shift from social benefits to cash payments had an impact on the Law on the Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repression, passed 15 years ago, causing the victims’ living standards to fall. Matters related to social benefits for victims of political reprisals were relegated to regional authorities. Of course, those residing in Moscow and St. Petersburg are better off than in poorer regions. Therefore, ex-prisoners of the same concentration camp, who live in different regions, are entitled to different cash benefits,” Zhemkova said.

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