"We play for the European Way of Russia and against the war." Municipal deputies in exile will create a political association

On June 24–25, a meeting of Russian municipal deputies who left the country for political reasons was held in German Bonn. As stated in a press release issued following the results of the meeting, a decision was made to create an organization that will represent the interests of Russian citizens abroad and build a dialogue with the international community, as well as contribute to the development of civil society in Russia.

“Thanks to the election in the second half of the 2010s, a large number of independent deputies in the municipalities of Russia we have repeatedly found ourselves in the center of“ big policy ”, collectively speaking on the most acute issues. Moreover, municipal deputies are practically the only legitimate representatives of citizens, organized and consistently opposing the war with Ukraine.

After the beginning of the full -scale invasion of Russia in Ukraine, more than a hundred former and current municipal deputies from all over the country were forced to abroad. Our political experience, understanding of our regions and persistent legitimacy are a unique combination, on the basis of which you can create a working structure for an effective solution to issues relating to Russia and Russians. ”

As Olga Galkina, a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, told The Insider, who was twice elected to municipal deputies in St. Petersburg, was attended by about 50 people at the meeting. They represented Moscow and Moscow Region, St. Petersburg, Leningrad, Lipetsk, Tula, Kaluga regions, the Republic of Mari El, Krasnodar Territory, as well as Tomsk and Novosibirsk. Most of the congress participants now live in Germany and other European countries.

“We are united by the fact that all the years we worked against Putin and Putin's vertical. We play for the European path of Russia and we are against war. And most importantly: we all want to return home and continue to work in our regions.

The representation of the interests of Russians will be one of our priority areas. Many of those who entered the organizing committee and [carried out] the preparation of the Constituent Congress were at the Brussels meeting <in early June in the building of the European Parliament, a meeting of the Russian opposition in exile - The Insider> was held . We have developed contacts in different countries of Europe both at the level of these countries and at the level of the European Parliament.

The interaction also continues with such organizations [in Russia] as the Zemstvo Congress and the Association of Independent Deputies. There are many current deputies in our ranks, and they continue to work with their voters in remote mode. ”

As Elena Filina, municipal deputy of Vernadsky Avenue in Moscow in 2017–2022, told The Insider, the deputies appointed the organizing committee that will prepare the necessary documents and organize the congress at which the organization will be officially established.

“We have the opportunity to communicate with European and American politicians. There is a goal - to stop the war and make sure that after the war in Russia a democratic regime is established. The biggest danger is the conservation of Putin’s regime and the signing of some agreement with him. This mode should be dismantled, for this the whole world should include in the process. ”

Filina refused to call the names of specific Western politicians with whom Russian deputies interact in exile, noting only that these are a democratic policy. According to her, it is difficult to imagine cooperation, for example, with the right German parties, which "urge to stop supporting Ukraine and spread fakes about Russia and what well done Putin there."

“We would like to communicate about the installation of local self -government in European countries. This is very interesting in terms of practice. If we talk abstractly about democracy in Russia, then this is some kind of unicorn. We are mundane and very practical people. We understand that democracy will begin with the fact that people will be able to solve their problems, from local self -government. We will be included in projects where this experience can be adopted.

Now a large immigrant community scattered around the world has a unique chance to gain a different experience. We lived either in the Soviet Union or in Putin's Russia. This is a difficult experience that does not give the skill of democracy and instrumental understanding of what to do. We are now absorbing a completely new experience of social life and interactions. This is very valuable if we, gaining this experience, can then transfer it to Russia.

Most of our activities are volunteer. We will look for financing for projects and for the implementation of specific plans with financial justifications with profile funds. ”

In 2016–2021, the municipal deputy of the Moscow district Schukino, Anastasia Bryukhanova, informed The Insider that the working name of the future restoration - “deputies of peaceful Russia”, it has not yet been approved.

“We will not position ourselves as a government in exile. It is necessary that there is another political force that can go to European politicians, make some proposals. Strength that can evaluate the events and vision of the future, as well as be a platform to discuss such issues.

Many people have exits to politicians, officials and funds. Someone went to Brussels and got contacts there, and someone is engaged in the evacuation of people from Russia, and they have contacts of European officials. We are in Germany, and here people deal with humanitarian visas and support of emigrants. Almost everyone has at least one or two-three contact among officials. We will combine forces, and you get a large contact base. ”

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