Mission

ROUNDTABLE OF
EU AND DEMOCRATIC RUSSIA
REPRESENTATIVES

– THE DAY AFTER –

5-6 JUNE 2023
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
BRUSSELS

CHAIRMEN’S CONCLUSIONS
“Democracy in Russia is the only way to sustainable peace on the European continent”

The representatives of various Russian opposition initiatives and groups and also various EU institutions, gathered at the first Brussels Dialogue Conference to discuss the Russian opposition strategy on how to transform Russia back to democracy and the EU strategy on how to support citizens of Russia in such a transformation.

The Conference welcomed the clear position of Russian opposition leaders and prominent representatives who in a clear and very strong language condemn the criminal war against Ukraine, who are continuing their political fight against authoritarian Putin’s regime, despite being persecuted, imprisoned or forced to leave the country and who are uniting forces for the transformation of their country back to democratic, European way of development.
The Conference welcomed the Russian civil society, both inside of Russia and forced into emigration, and NGO’s activities, which stand against the war, which support Ukrainian defenseefforts and help Ukrainian refugees, and which strongly stand for the different future of Russia and transformation of Russia.

That is why the Conference welcomed the Declaration of Russian Democratic Forces, approved in Berlin, on 30 April 2023, and supported by thousands of Russian citizens, as a fundamental Russian opposition strategy of values, goals, and means of such a transformation. The Conference welcomed the unambiguous language of the Declaration, which declared commitment to the following fundamental positions:

“1. The war against Ukraine is criminal. Russian troops must be withdrawn from all occupied territories. The internationally recognized borders of Russia must be restored; war criminals must be brought to justice and the victims of aggression must be compensated.

2. Putin’s regime is illegitimate and criminal. Therefore, it must be liquidated. We see Russia as a country in which individual freedoms and rights are guaranteed, in which the usurpation of state power is eliminated.

3. The implementation of imperial policy within Russia and abroad is unacceptable.

4. Political prisoners in Russia and prisoners of war must be released, forcibly displaced persons must be allowed to return home, and abducted Ukrainian children must be returned to Ukraine.

5. We express our solidarity with those Russians who, despite the brutal repressions, have the courage to speak up from anti-Putin and anti-war positions, and with those tens of millions who refuse to participate in the crimes of the Putin’s regime.”

The Conference noted that sustainable peace on the European continent is possible only if such a strategy of Russia’s transformation, as it is defined in Berlin Declaration of Russian Democratic Forces, is supported by broad and united opposition front and successfully implemented by the citizens of Russia and democracy values are respected in Russia again. There will be the success of such a transformation after the collapse of the Kremlin’s autocratic regime. The historically proven fact demonstrates that democracies do not fight each other. Hence, the transformation of Russia is the only viable way for sustainable peace to be established on the European continent. That is why the transformation of Russia back to democracy, to the normal, European type of development is in the interest not only of the Russian people but also of the entire European continent. This is the main reason, why the European Union needs to have a long-term strategy on how to support Russian citizens in their pursuit to transform Russia. Such a strategy needs to be developed by EU
institutions in a dialogue with representatives of Russian pro-democratic forces.Sustainability of peace on the European continent demands geopolitical reconstruction of the Eastern part of the European continent, including Russia. Such a reconstruction starts with the victorious defense of democracy and sovereignty of Ukraine; with Ukraine’s, Moldova’s and Georgia’s integration into the European Union, as the way to create their success; and with
inspiration for Russian and Belarusian citizens to follow this example and to bring Russia and Belarus back to a normal, democratic way of development. EU must take geopolitical leadership for such a geopolitical reconstruction of its neighborhood to be achieved. If we succeed, we will achieve sustainability of peace on the continent; if we fail – we will face a permanent security threat from Russian autocracy.

III

Sustainable peace on the European continent is the most important common desire and the common denominator of our main goals. This is what unites us, citizens of the European Union, citizens of the countries aspiring to join the European Union, and citizens of Russia, who are opposing the autocratic Kremlin regime and who also oppose the war of aggression, waged by this regime. There is a need to continue our dialogue, which is a prerequisite for all of us to have a common strategy for sustainable peace. The first conference of Brussels Dialogue (5-6 June 2023 in the European Parliament) is just a beginning of such a regular and permanent dialogue.

To facilitate the dialogue and to organize future regular conferences of the Brussels Dialogue, the initiators of the first Conference of the Brussels Dialogue, are establishing a Joint Steering Group of the Brussels Dialogue.

European Parliament standing and shadow rapporteurs on Russia:
Andrius KUBILIUS
Włodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ
Bernard GUETTA
Sergey LAGODINSKY