Exiled Russians Rally Against Putin in Berlin

In Berlin, hundreds of exiled Russians gathered to protest against Russia's war in Ukraine and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. The demonstration, led by prominent opposition figures such as Yulia Navalnaya, Ilya Yashin, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, aimed to reinvigorate the fragmented Russian opposition abroad. Supporters marched from Potsdamer Platz to the Russian embassy, chanting slogans like "No to war" and "Down with Putin." Organizers expected around 3,000 participants, using the protest as a measure of the opposition's influence overseas.

The demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, Putin's removal from office, and his indictment as a war criminal. This protest occurred nearly a thousand days after the war's onset in February 2022. The death of prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Russian penal colony dealt a severe blow to dissidents. However, the release of Yashin and Kara-Murza in a prisoner exchange with the West renewed hope among exiled Russians.

Participants traveled from across Europe to unite against Putin's aggressive policies and political repression within Russia. Yulia Navalnaya, continuing her husband's resistance from exile, played a significant role in organizing the rally. The event highlighted the desire for a unified opposition capable of challenging the Kremlin's authority. Demonstrators carried banners proclaiming "No Putin. No war" and called for "victory in Ukraine" and "freedom for Russia." As Berlin hosts a significant Russian exile community, the protest underscored the enduring struggle against authoritarianism and the hope for a democratic future.