"The defense of human rights in Russia has not disappeared. They would have liked to destroy Memorial, but they can't," renowned Russian dissident Oleg Orlov told Le Monde, amid the crowd gathered on Sunday, November 17, near Potsdamer Platz in Berlin. Wrapped in thick jackets, several hundred exiled Russians came to voice their opposition to Vladimir Putin's regime and the war in Ukraine.

Orlov, co-chair of Memorial, the non-governmental organization co-recipient of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize and banned by Russian authorities, has lived in Berlin since his release in August 2024 following a prisoner swap. The protest was initiated by the three main figures of the Russian opposition in exile: Yulia Navalnaya (widow of dissident Alexei Navalny), Ilya Yashin, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, who were also released this summer. According to the police, 1,800 people marched through the streets of the Mitte district in central Berlin, ending at the Russian embassy.

"Many people in Europe do not understand that Putin's victory in Ukraine would be a defeat for Europe itself," laments Orlov. Asked about Chancellor Olaf Scholz's controversial call to Putin on Friday, November 15, to discuss peace conditions in Ukraine, the Russian dissident responded, "It all depends on the objective of that conversation. If it was to maintain pressure on Putin, it's a good thing. If it's just to appease the aggressor, it's counterproductive. The conditions for peace can only be decided with the Ukrainians' agreement."

"No to war," "Together against Putin," "Russia will be free," shouted the demonstrators in Russian. Among the procession was a delegation from France, including members of the Russie-Libertés organization. The goal of the demonstration was to remobilize the Russian opposition, weakened since activist Navalny's death in prison in February 2024, and also very divided, especially on the issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine.

"We don't expect anything from this protest regarding the conflict's outcome. But psychologically, it's important to know there are Russians who continue to oppose this war and defend democracy," said Leonid Golub, who immigrated to Bavaria with his wife, Maria, in the summer of 2022. Originally from Saint Petersburg, they left their country when they realized they could no longer express their dissent. Both are scientists, physics researchers, who found employment at the University of Regensburg. Maria emphasizes how important Berlin's engagement was for the release of prisoners this summer. "It was a strong signal. We want to show that we continue to support the thousands of prisoners held in terrible conditions."

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