MOSCOW, October 29 (RAPSI) - The European Union is concerned about the possible closure of the Memorial non-governmental human rights organization. ”We are alarmed that Memorial could be shut down by a Supreme Court decision,” Vygaudas Usackas, the Head of the EU delegation to the Russian Federation told Interfax on Wednesday.

Among other things, Memorial assists in exonerating the victims of the Stalinist purges. Its Memorial Center, which primarily monitors the human rights situation in the North Caucasus, is listed among NGOs with foreign agent status.

On November 13, the Supreme Court will review a Ministry of Justice lawsuit to abolish Memorial. The Ministry of Justice claims the organization has violated several provisions of Russian law. Earlier, the Ministry of Justice Press Service said Memorial had been given time to correct the violations prior to the Supreme Court trial.

Memorial Executive Director Yelena Zhemkova said the NGO would ask the Supreme Court to review the Ministry of Justice lawsuit on November 6-7.

A federal law was adopted in November 2012 requiring all NGOs engaged in political activity and receiving foreign funding to register as “foreign agents” or face fines of up to 500,000 rubles (approx. $14,200).