Exiled Russian Opposition Rallies in Berlin Against Putin and War in Ukraine

In a powerful display of resistance, Russia's exiled opposition marched through Berlin, demanding an end to the war in Ukraine and the liberation of political prisoners. Led by Yulia Navalnaya, the rally focused on the recent death of Alexei Navalny and called for accountability for President Putin.

Thousands of Russian opposition supporters gathered on the streets of Berlin to protest against President Vladimir Putin's regime and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who tragically died in a Russian prison, spearheaded the march. Navalny's supporters contend that the Kremlin was responsible for his demise, a claim that the Russian government vehemently denies.

Participants prominently displayed blue and white Russian opposition flags and Ukrainian flags, vocally chanting slogans such as "no to war" and "Putin is a killer." Many members of the Russian opposition have found themselves in exile following the Kremlin's severe crackdown on dissent, leading to the incarceration of hundreds, if not thousands, of political adversaries.

Among the key demands voiced by the protesters were the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, the prosecution of Putin for war crimes, and the release of all political prisoners in Russia. With Ukraine central to their cause, the march culminated at the Russian embassy in Berlin, a focal point of their grievances.

Oleg Orlov, a co-chair of Memorial, a Nobel Peace Prize-recipient organization committed to human rights, joined the protest after being released from Russian detention as part of a recent prisoner exchange. Displaying a banner demanding "Victory for Ukraine, Defeat for Putin, Freedom for Russia," he emphasized the need for continued arms supplies to Ukraine, asserting that Putin's victory would spell prolonged suffering for the Russian people.

At the rally, Vladimir Kara-Murza, also released from imprisonment and having endured solitary confinement, referred to the embassy as “a spy nest of Russia” and spoke of the hopes of restoring its purpose in a post-Putin future.

A young IT professional named Anastasia, who fled Russia in March 2022 owing to her opposition to the war, expressed that it was “impossible to protest in an authoritarian state,” making this rally a crucial platform for dissent. It serves as a significant reminder of the ongoing struggles for freedom and democracy in Russia, as its exiled citizens seek solidarity and hope for a better future.