The first meeting of a new platform for dialogue between the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Russian democratic forces has taken place in Strasbourg during the Parliamentary Assembly's winter plenary session.
The new platform, which was created last October, will enable two-way exchanges between Russian democratic forces in exile and leading members of the Parliamentary Assembly on issues of common concern. Participants in the platform were named earlier this week.
Europe has not forgotten Russian democrats
Opening the meeting, Parliamentary Assembly President Petra Bayr said: "Russia is not only its regime. There are people inside and outside the country who reject the war, who condemn the crimes committed in their name, who want their country not to be an aggressor, but a partner. They keep alive the hope of a different Russia. This platform sends them a clear message: Europe has not forgotten you."
She added: "We support those Russians who oppose the war of aggression, who respect Ukraine's territorial integrity, and - let me underline this - who accept responsibility for the harm inflicted by their state. We support you, practically, politically and morally. One day, a different Russia can return to Europe - not by rhetoric, but by transformation.
"Such a Russia will not fall from the sky," the President said. "It will be built - through institutional reform, political responsibility and profound change in public consciousness. This will take time, courage and preparation. It will be for the citizens of Russia to lead this transformation. But it is our responsibility to be ready to support it when the window of opportunity opens. And it will open."
The participants on the Russian democratic side included Natalia Arno, Dmitri Gudkov, Mark Feygin, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Garry Kasparov, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Ruslan Kutayev, Ekaterina Kuznetsova, Vasilii (Batlay) Matenov, Oleg Orlov, Lana Pylayeva, Liubov Sobol, Pavel Sulyandziga, Nadya Tolokonnikova, and Andrey Volna.
The next meeting of the platform is foreseen to take place during the April session of the Parliamentary Assembly.
Watch President Petra Bayr's opening statement
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe's support for Ukraine
