Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Political Repressions in Russia Date in the current year: October 30, 2025

October 30 is the anniversary of the first observation of Political Prisoners Day in 1974. Prisoners of the Mordovia and Perm labor camps organized a hunger strike and lit the candles in commemoration of the innocent victims of the political repressions.

Political prisoners started organizing hunger strikes annually. Since 1987 the activists started supporting the prisoners by organizing mass demonstrations. After the collapse of the Soviet Union October 30 officially became Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Political Repressions in Russia.

Various mourning events are held on this day, including special classes at schools, ceremonies of laying wreaths and flowers at the monuments of the victims of political repressions.

Other post-Soviet countries, including Ukraine and Kazakhstan, also have alike days of remembrance, but they fall on other dates.