We are a community of independent deputies striving for a free, peaceful, prosperous Russia in all its diversity.
We, deputies, many of whom have been forced to leave Russia due to the beginning of full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and increased repression, unite to speak out against Putin’s authoritarian regime and for the democratisation of the country.
Our values are freedom, democracy, human rights, equality before the law, the priority of individual interests over the interests of the state, mutual respect, non-violence, equal participation of everyone in making common decisions.
We proceed from the assumption that each of the deputies (current or former, in Russia or abroad) who are members of the association has the political capital and credibility to express the opinions of their fellow citizens. We have not lost touch with our compatriots, we know and understand what is happening in the regions of Russia, what Russians feel and what they need for a quiet and dignified life in their country. Our fellow citizens inside the country do not have the opportunity to speak out openly because of political repression in Russia – we are ready to be their voice.
We believe that the Putin regime must stop its aggression against Ukraine and withdraw troops from all occupied territories to the internationally recognised borders of the Russian Federation. War crimes must be investigated, the perpetrators must be brought to justice, and compensation must be paid to the victims of military aggression and political repression.
We stand for strong local self-government with broad powers (financial, lawmaking), true federalisation and decentralisation of state power, and expansion of the range of elected public offices.
Our goals are:
● To contribute to ending Russia’s aggression against its neighbours, including Ukraine;
● Support Russian civil society;
● Protect the rights and interests of Russians, both those in Russia and those forced to emigrate for political and conscientious reasons;
● Facilitate dialogue between civil society in Russia and the international community.
Our diversity, desire for consensus and lack of a clear leader guarantee the democratic nature of the organisation. Our collegial decision-making format and horizontal structure reflect the equal nature of our association of deputies.
We unite to create a significant socio-political force and contribute to a peaceful democratic Russia of the future; a Russia that is friendly and safe for its citizens, neighbours and the world.