Russian opposition politicians, anti-war activists, civil society leaders and academics are gathering at the European Parliament on Tuesday for a high-level conference focused

on the future of democratic movements in Russia and the challenges facing opponents of the Kremlin.

The event marks the second edition of the Brussels Dialogue with Russian democratic actors, following the inaugural meeting held in 2023. Organised by the European Parliament with support from the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS), the conference aims to strengthen cooperation between Russian pro-democracy forces and European policymakers.

Participants include representatives of Russian civil society organisations, democratic activists, academics, EU institutions, member states and international partners. Discussions are expected to centre on the state of human rights in Russia, the impact of Moscow’s war against Ukraine, the spread of disinformation, and prospects for a future democratic transition.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will address attendees via video message during the opening session. Other keynote speakers include Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno, European Commissioners Andrius Kubilius and Marta Kos, and UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia Mariana Katzarova.

Prominent Russian voices will also take part, including human rights campaigner Svetlana Gannushkina, founder of the Civic Assistance Committee, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, the former editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta.

Across a series of panel discussions, participants will examine the long-term consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and explore pathways towards a just and sustainable peace. The conference is also intended to provide a rare forum for dialogue among the fragmented strands of Russia’s democratic and anti-war movements, many of whose members now operate in exile. Photo by Euku, Wikimedia commons.