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Berlin, Germany—November 18, 2024 – In a world where disinformation has reshaped narratives and destabilized societies, the Truth to Justice Conference seeks to confront the manipulation of truth head-on. Hosted by Vitsche, in collaboration with the Kyiv School of Economics, Center for Cultural Projects Arta Azi, and Ukrainian Institute in Germany, and supported by the German Foreign Office, this conference will take place on December 7, 2024, at Berlin’s renowned Silent Green cultural center. The event, which will also be available in livestream, aims to build resilience against the influence of russian disinformation and empower audiences with practical tools to counteract manipulation.

Around 20 speakers, among whom established propaganda researcher Peter Pomerantsev, russian and soviet imperialism scholar Prof. Dr. Botakoz Kasymbekova, and German diplomat and former NATO’s first chief of intelligence Dr. Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven will participate in discussions and workshops circling around two main topics of the conference:

  • Propaganda and Cognitive Resilience: Examining how cultural and historical contexts shape disinformation and exploring the role of memes and narrative manipulation in modern hybrid warfare.
  • Modern Instruments of Disinformation: Investigating digital-era tactics, such as social media algorithms, PsyOps, and russian PR strategies, and their impact on public perception.

From case studies from Ukraine and Moldova to examining of russia’s targeting of Germany, participants will engage with the latest insights on psychological operations, modern propaganda tactics, and the role of media algorithms and memes in amplifying false narratives. 

“Russian disinformation played a critical role in paving the way for russian aggression in Ukraine and the illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014. Today, similar tactics continue to undermine democratic values globally. This conference is a call to action to expose and counteract these manipulations, fostering a shared commitment to truth and justice.” — Iryna Shulikina

Event Details

For media inquiries, interview requests and accreditation, please contact:

Press Contact:

Truth to Justice Conference Team

 

Roman Selezinka
Email: press@truthtojustice.org
Phone: +49 1520454442
Website: www.truth-to-justice.org

Join us in standing up to disinformation—together, we can make a difference.

On November 17, 2024, Julija Nawalnaja, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Ilja Yashin are organizing a demonstration in Berlin, presented as an “anti-war protest.” However, Vitsche expresses deep concerns regarding both the unclear positioning of the organizers and the overall direction of this event.  

 

Our Main Criticism: Responsibility Cannot Be Placed Solely on putin

The organizers focus their rhetoric on portraying vladimir putin as the sole perpetrator of the russian war of aggression. This narrative ignores the deeply rooted problems within russian society and fails to address the essence of a democratic, oppositional approach. True responsibility requires not only holding one person accountable but also scrutinizing the societal structures and collective attitudes that enabled this war.

 

Iryna Domnenko, researcher and civil society activist, comments: 

 “Since 2014, Ukrainian society has hoped for anti-war protests and opposition leaders taking the lead in the fight against Putin. But now, in 2024, this is no longer enough. It neither stops Russian soldiers from killing Ukrainians nor deters the Russian population from supporting the military industry. It shows that these exiled politicians have no connection to Russian society and no influence to change the population’s mindset in Russia. Their target audience is outside of Russia, and this has no impact on the withdrawal of Russian troops or justice for Ukrainian victims.”

 

Moreover, the demonstration fails to deliver a clear message on crucial issues such as supporting Ukraine or critically addressing russian societal responsibility. In recent weeks, Julija Nawalnaja has repeatedly condemned the war but referred to it as “putin’s war” and expressed concerns of arms deliveries to Ukraine. Ilja Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza, in recent interviews, highlighted the impact of sanctions on the russian population, arguing that such measures disproportionately affect poorer social strata without achieving the desired political outcomes.  

 

“All these speeches and statements do nothing to help Ukraine win the war. On the contrary, they undermine the necessary reckoning with russia’s role and reinforce the narrative that putin alone is to blame, while society and opposition figures are absolved of any shared responsibility. This, in turn, obstructs the possibility of genuine change and a move toward democratic values.” – adds Vitsche CEO Iryna Shulikina.  

 

The ignorance to the use of russian state symbols on the demonstration – such as the use of the russian tricolor – further demonstrates a lack of understanding of the political context and engagement with German society and the Ukrainian community in Europe.  

The Eastern Europe historian Franziska Davies sums it up concisely in her commentary:

“The positioning of prominent Russian opposition figures regarding the war against Ukraine is highly problematic. Kara-Murza, Navalnaya, and Yashin all reinforce the narrative that only Putin is responsible for the war against Ukraine and absolve Russian society of any responsibility. Yet, it is obviously not only Putin who commits war crimes in Ukraine on a daily basis, but also the ‘ordinary Russians’ whom many Russian opposition figures see as victims rather than (co-)perpetrators. The solidarity of Yashin, Kara-Murza, and Navalnaya is primarily directed at an imagined innocent Russia and not at Ukraine, which has been attacked. This is evident in the fact that while they do call for the withdrawal of Russian troops (without a clear addressee for their demand), they do not advocate for increased arms deliveries to Ukraine or donations to the Ukrainian army. However, only strengthening the Ukrainian army can lead to a lasting and just peace in Ukraine.”

 

An Event for Self-Promotion

Nikolai Klimeniouk, an expert on Eastern European politics, summarizes:  

“This demonstration appears to be primarily aimed at consolidating the organizers’ support base and providing them with a platform. There is a lack of clear demands, constructive solutions, or genuine solidarity with Ukraine. The absence of willingness to take or even articulate concrete actions, such as fundraising appeals or mobilization against Russian aggression, shows that the focus of this event is not on ending the war. Instead, it reflects politically irresponsible self-promotion. Criticizing the war is not the same as actively contributing to Russia’s defeat.” 

Our Appeal

Vitsche emphasizes that without accepting collective responsibility for russia’s wars, confronting the imperial mindset, and taking concrete action, no meaningful change is possible. The current self-promotion abroad by those claiming to represent the russian opposition, continues to evoke our disbelief in their ability to effect change. The only true force capable of altering the situation in russia – and so the only true russian opposition as of now – is the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Until we fully support them with all available resources, peace will remain out of reach.

Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Filmrauschpalast, Lehrter Str. 35, Berlin

“Zusammen sein” by Ukrainian filmmaker and soldier Pavlo Didula tells the moving story of Dmytro Pashtshuk, who took a stand to protect his loved ones from russian aggression. His courage brought people together, turning them into heroes. This film reflects on joy and sorrow, family and friendship, and the power of creative ideas to unite people.

The film will be shown in Ukrainian with German subtitles, and a Q&A session will follow. Entry is by donation (suggested €10), with all funds supporting our campaign to equip a shelter for a school in the Kharkiv region.

The film screening was made possible through cooperation with Orest Lubinets.

Register via the link.
Join us on October 28, 2024, 18:00 at the Pilecki Institute for a special event featuring the Networks of Support project. This international initiative, led by institutions from Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, explores the transformation of critical infrastructure and social networks in the wake of the russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

As part of the event, Vitsche will present the soundscape for Berlin’s bus number 100 which will be launched in the city on the same day. This performative soundscape is created for Berlin’s iconic Bus Line 100. The mixtape of original music, soundscapes, and narration unfolds along the bus route, weaving together personal stories of migration, memories of Berlin, and imaginary timelines. The project bridges East and West Berlin, reflecting the ongoing migration of refugees and the evolving infrastructure of support networks across the city.

In addition to this, the guests engaged in the “Networks of Support” international project will showcase their research and insights into how public spaces and infrastructural networks adapt during times of crisis. Their presentations will explore the transformative power of community support and the evolving nature of urban spaces amid ongoing challenges, reflecting on the experiences of refugees and the necessity of resilience in the face of adversity. The project has been organized by the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning (NIAiU), in collaboration with Vitsche, the Lviv Center of Urban History, Galerie VI PER, and Autoportret quarterly.

The project is financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland under the Inspiring Culture Programme.
Project is co-ogranized by: 

Project partners: 

Project strategic local partners
Register via the link.
On October 28th, Vitsche invites you to the launch of a new soundscape, the result of the interdisciplinary laboratory “The Journey from Dangerous to (Un)Safe”. This immersive audio experience blends original music, personal stories, and historical reflections along Berlin’s Bus 100 route. From Alexanderplatz to Zoologischer Garten, passengers will encounter a thoughtful mix of past and present, exploring migration, memory, and cultural exchange through a series of evocative audio tracks. Whether traveling by day or night, this journey invites locals and guests of the city to experience the Berlin famous “Hunderter” bus route in new ways.
The project was organized by Vitsche with the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning (NIAiU). It is part of the international project “Networks of Support,” organized by the NIAiU in collaboration with the Lviv Center of Urban History (Ukraine), Galerie VI PER (Czechia), Autoportret quarterly (Poland) and Vitsche. It is supported by the Pilecki Institute Berlin. The project is financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland under the Inspiring Culture Programme

We’re thrilled to share the results of our “The Nexus of Decision 2024” residency-academy selection! This unique interdisciplinary program, taking place in Poland, this year from November 15-21. We will bring together 15 participants from Germany, Poland, and Ukraine. 

Together with tutors from Ukraine, Poland, and Germany, they’ll participate in thought-provoking workshops, seminars, and lectures, delving into themes of freedom, peace, and security, deeply focusing on analyzing historical and modern decision-making processes in Europe and beyond. 

List of selected participants:

Olena Poburko, Oleksandra Yakovlyeva, Vitalina Voitenko,  Anna Onufriienko, Olena Solodovnikova, Aleksandra Leks, Fabricio Borges Carrijo, Grażyna Siedlecka, Shaheen Gaszewski, Piotr Żakowiecki, Marius Heil, Julius Berger, Sebastian Jablonski, Sophie Schrötter, Jonas Heins

 

Organizers: Vitsche e.V., 

Co-organizers: Pilecki-Institut Berlin

Partner:  Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

Sponsors: Stiftung für Deutsch-Polnische Zusammenarbeit

Curator: Kataryna Tarabukina

Design: Anna Zvyahintseva