The law, proposed by lawmakers of the State Duma (the lower house of Russian parliament), came into effect on January 1, Duma.ru website posted this Wednesday.

Other regulations allowing non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving the memory of the victims of the Soviet genocide to obtain social organization status will also come into effect as of this year.

This will enable these NGOs to apply for state and municipal support, including housing and financial assistance.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin noted, “Our duty is to preserve the memory of the heroism of our grandparents and great-grandparents, who saved the entire world from the Nazis. And to prevent others from forgetting the truth about the Nazi atrocities and the heroism of the Soviet people.”

The parliamentary leader stated that an estimated eight federal laws were passed last year to preserve and protect historical memory and perpetuate the heroism of those who made our lives possible.

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