Fake Solidarity? Actions Taken by the Russian Opposition Since the Outbreak of Full-Scale War in Ukraine

  • Author: Paulina Szeląg
  • Institution: University of the National Education Commission (Poland)
  • ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0662-4987
  • Author: Olga Wasiuta
  • Institution: University of the National Education Commission (Poland)
  • ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0481-1567
  • Year of publication: 2025
  • Source: Show
  • Pages: 181-198
  • DOI Address: https://doi.org/10.15804/ppsy202509
  • PDF: ppsy/54-1/ppsy2025110.pdf

The article aims to show the actions the Russian nonsystemic opposition took after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. We prove that the Russian opposition has been deeply divided since that time. It includes various leaders and factions who want to play an essential role in post-Putin Russia. It also presents multiple opinions on Russia’s internal and external policies. On the other hand, since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Russian opposition has been more visible both in Eastern and Western Europe. The article is divided into two parts. In the first part, we establish the genesis of the current nonsystemic opposition in Russia and its exile. We also present the most well-known oppositionists in the Russian political scene. In the second part, we analyze the meetings and conferences of the Russian opposition in exile from March 2022 to February 2024. It enables us to find the plans of the Russian opposition for rebuilding a political system in post-Putin Russia. The article is based on desk research, historical methods, and thematic analysis.

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