"You are not alone", stressed European Parliament president Roberta Metsola addressing Brussels Dialogue participants.

Members of Russia's democratic forces, anti-war activists, civil society representatives and academics got together in Brussels on Tuesday with representatives of EU institutions, EU members states and international partners and experts.

The high-level conference, hosted by the European Parliament, with the support of the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS), was the second edition of the "Brussels Dialogue" with Russian democratic actors.

The first took place in June 2023.

Addressing participants, European Parliament president Roberta Metsola emphasised the Parliament's role in fostering democratic values across Europe.

She highlighted past action, such as awarding the Sakharov Prize to human rights defenders Oleg Orlov, Sergei Kovalev and Lyudmila Alexeyeva, and opposition politician Alexei Navalny, and called for the release of political prisoners.

She underscored the importance of dialogue in strengthening ties and promoting practical initiatives.

"This Parliament is a home for democracy and all those who seek to strengthen and protect it across Europe and beyond.

I know how much so many of you have been through and how hard you have worked to bring about a better, brighter future.

You are not alone.

This dialogue is part of a long series of actions in this house to strengthen your efforts and support your cause", said Metsola.

At the opening session, European Parliament vice-president Pina Picierno, defence and enlargement commissioners Andrius Kubilus and Marta Kos, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation Mariana Katzarova, and human rights activist and founder and chair of the Civic Assistance Committee Svetlana Gannushkina also spoke.

The speakers called for continued support for Russian civil society, independent media and human rights defenders.

They also highlighted the impact of Russia's war against Ukraine, the erosion of fundamental freedoms, and growing transnational repression, stressing that a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and the protection of those defending democracy remain essential for Europe's future security.

Participants included Yulia Navalnaya, chair of the Advisory Board of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and of the Human Rights Foundation, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, co-founder of the Russian Anti-war Committee (online), Vladimir Kara-Murza, vice-president of the Free Russia Foundation (online), Ilya Yashin, chair of the "Peaceful Russia" Party, and Evi Chayka, founder and executive director of EQUAL PostOst, human rights defender, anti-war and LGBTQ activist, alongside representatives of Russian civil society, independent media, academia and EU institutions.

Across several panels, closed to the public, they discussed the challenges that Russian society is facing in the field of human rights, the long-term implications of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and disinformation.

The panellists also explored how to work towards a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine.

Putin è solo un pazzo paranoico con pulsioni atomiche di grandezza che dovrà pagare caro e dovrà pagare tutto...

Gli puoi solo far perdere tempo..

( Redazione - Gi.Com.)