Readings around the world to honour victims of Soviet terror in 20th annual Returning the Names event

On 29 October, people in cities around the world will gather to read aloud the names of victims of Soviet state terror as part of Returning the Names, an annual remembrance event, organisers have announced.

The initiative includes both large, public events and small gatherings in homes and at memorials.

“We don’t know when circumstances will change and Russian society will be able to talk openly about the state’s crimes,” an activist with Returning the Names said in a press release. “That’s why it’s important to keep doing this work. Every name of a terror victim that is spoken aloud gives agency back to a person whom the state tried to erase from memory.”

Returning the Names has been held every year since 2007, always on 29 October — the eve of the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners. Last year, events took place in 150 cities.

This year, Returning the Names will also hold a livestream, featuring around 12 hours of readings from various cities around the world, with historical context and stories interspersed. More information is available on the initiative’s website.