Civil Society
Civil society and its resilience under authoritarian pressure, in Russia and beyond: how people defend human rights and free expression, how the state works to silence them, and why independent voices and grassroots initiative still matter for a democratic future
At the service of the sovereign
Throughout history, the church in Russia has been subordinated to the state, serving as an effective tool to advance the state’s agenda domestically and globally. This phenomenon held…
Soldatov and Borogan: Internet a beacon of hope for Russian civil society
Free Russia Foundation recently hosted Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, two investigative journalists from Russia who specialize in security services and internet surveillance, and sat down to talk…
Chirikova: Russian civil society needs support
Valeria Jegisman of Free Russia Foundation recently sat down with Yevgeniya Chirikova, a Russian environmental activist who currently lives in Estonia, to talk about civil society and activism…
The case for civil resistance to Russia’s Populace-centric warfare
Putin’s Russia is waging populace-centric hybrid warfare against democratic societies. As such, effective counter-measures to this type of warfare must prominently involve civilian population highly versed in civil resistance strategies and tactics.
Why We Must Speak Out about Oleg Sentsov Now
Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian filmmaker imprisoned by Russian forces in 2014, is on the verge of death. More than one hundred days ago, he began a hunger strike to demand that Russian President…
Priority Number One: Save Oleg Sentsov
To governments and legislators of democratic countries, to democracy promotion and human rights organizations, to all democracy-minded people, journalists, and public opinion leaders. Is the world listening? Does…
Russian pension reform: a “black swan” for Vladimir Putin?
Russian pension reform aimed at sharply raising the retirement age has all the chances to become a long-anticipated political “black swan” for Vladimir Putin's government—a mistake…
Badanin: to combat disinformation, we must support high-quality journalism
Valeria Jegisman of Free Russia Foundation sat down with Roman Badanin, editor in chief of Dozhd (TV Rain), one of the few independent news outlets in Russia to talk…
Justice Ginsburg, don’t accept a prize backed by Putin’s oligarchs
Whatever Natalie Portman’s own reasons were for turning down the so-called “Jewish Nobel” awarded by the Genesis Prize Foundation, she did the right thing. The Genesis Foundation now…
Karen Dawisha and the truth she spoke loudly
Many people and under various circumstances have developed serious hunches about Vladimir Putin’s shady financial ties to the St. Petersburg mafia and the symbiotic relationship with law enforcement…