“The defense of human rights in Russia has not disappeared. They would have liked to destroy the Memorial, but they cannot. assures World the famous Russian opposition figure Oleg Orlov, in the middle of the crowd gathered on Sunday, November 17, near Potsdamer Platz, in Berlin. Wrapped in thick jackets, several hundred Russians in exile came to shout their opposition to Vladimir Putin’s regime and the war in Ukraine.
Orlov, co-president of Memorial, the NGO co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 and dissolved by Russian justice, has lived in Berlin since his release in August 2024, after an exchange of prisoners. The demonstration started at the request of the three main figures of the Russian opposition in exile, Yulia Navalnaïa, Ilia Iachine and Vladimir Kara-Mourza, also released this summer, brought together, according to the police, 1,800 people who marched through the streets of the Mitte district, in the center of Berlin, to the Russian embassy.
“Many people in Europe do not understand that Putin’s victory in Ukraine would be a defeat for Europe itself,” deplores Mr. Orlov. When asked about Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s controversial call to Putin on Friday, November 15, to discuss conditions for peace in Ukraine, the Russian opposition leader responded: “It all depends on what the objective of that conversation was. If it were to keep pressure on Putin, that’s a good thing. If it is just to calm the attacker, it is counterproductive. The conditions of peace can only be decided with the agreement of the Ukrainians. he articulates, in the bustle of the parade.
“You have to speak loudly”
“No to war”, “together against Putin”, “Russia will be free” The protesters sing in Russian. A delegation from France even arrived in the procession, surrounded by members of the Russia-Libertés association. The demonstration aimed to re-mobilize the opposition to the Russian regime, weakened since the death in prison of activist Alexei Navalny in February 2024, but also very divided, particularly around the issue of sending weapons to Ukraine.
“We do not expect anything from this demonstration about the outcome of the conflict. But psychologically it is important to know that there are Russians who continue to oppose this war and defend democracy. explains Leonid Golub, who has emigrated to Bavaria with his wife Maria since the summer of 2022. Originally from Saint Petersburg, they left their country when they realized that they could no longer express their opposition there. They are both scientists, physics researchers, and found employment at the University of Regensburg. Maria highlights that Berlin’s commitment to the release of prisoners this summer was an important moment. “It was a strong signal. We want to show that we continue to support the thousands of prisoners held in terrible conditions. »
You have 38.09% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
