From 1935 until the early 1950s the bodies of those shot in Moscow prisons were cremated at the former Donskoe Monastery and, from time to time (mainly in 1937), some were interred there as well. The burials took place next to the crematorium. The cremated remains were buried in common pits and were referred to as “burials of uncollected ashes”. In the northern part of the graveyard there are three such burials: the first is dated “1932 to 1940 incl.”, the second “from 1943 to 1944 incl.” and the third “1945-1989”.

In August 1991 a granite plaque was placed on “Common Grave No. 1”. It reads, “Here lie the remains of the innocent tortured and executed victims of political repression, 1930-1942. May they never be forgotten!” In 1994 a pillar was placed on “Common Grave No. 3” with the inscription, “To those who fell victim of political repression, 1945-1952. May they never be forgotten!” Subsequently a great many collective and personal memorials, large and small, appeared in the graveyard. In the “Execution lists” of the Donskoe Monastery published by the Memorial Society in 1995 there are brief biographical notes on 5,068 people.