Moscow’s Gulag History Museum announces sudden temporarily closure due to ‘fire safety violations’

Moscow’s Gulag History Museum announced Wednesday that it’s temporarily suspending operations starting November 14 due to “fire safety violations.”

“As a result of an inspection by specialists from the Center for Construction Expertise, Research, and Testing [of the city of Moscow], fire safety violations were identified. According to their report, these violations pose a threat to visitors’ safety and comfort and must be addressed,” reads the statement on the museum’s website.

The museum did not say when it will reopen. The Russian authorities have not commented on the closure.

A source from Moscow’s Culture Department told the Moscow News Agency that the closure is linked to a ventilation chamber from the city’s metro system located on the museum grounds. The source said that “fire or smoke could negatively impact the functionality of the Moscow metro’s ventilation system.”