Statement by Vitsche on the So-Called “Anti-War Demonstration” on November 17 in Berlin  

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.