Arseny Roginsky, one of the founders of the Memorial society and Chair of the Board at International Memorial, has passed away today.

We have lost a true man and an expert of unique significance. It is the end of an era not only for the Memorial, but also for the Russian and European public. DRA is bereft of a close friend and colleague who accompanied our work from the very start.

Arseny in many ways defined the Memorial’s essence and character. We mourn together with his family, his friends and colleagues. We wish for the sake of us all that the Memorial, an organisation of utmost importance, will keep its inherent fortitude and persevere in spreading its values of enlightenment, genuine interest in to individual people and in the past and the present, steadfastness in fighting for democracy, personal courage in the face of trials, - the values around which Arseny built his life.

Arseny’s commitment to disclosing the historical truth, particularly regarding the repressions of Soviet times, as well as his relentless defense of human and civil rights unequivocally demonstrate how tightly these two vectors of civic and intellectual activity are entwined. His life and work attest to his profound respect for other people, his awareness of the historical goals society has yet to tackle, and to his sense of personal responsibility for their achievement.