WASHINGTON — Free Russia Foundation (FRF), the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the U. S. Russia Foundation (USRF) will convene the second Washington Dialogue: Building a Strategy for Russia’s Democratic Future on Sept. 16–17 in Washington.
The two‑day gathering will bring together Russian civil society leaders, human rights defenders, independent journalists and policy experts with U.S. and international counterparts to discuss developments inside Russia and the longer‑term work required to build a peaceful and democratic future.
The meeting comes as Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine continues and the Kremlin intensifies repression of independent voices at home and beyond Russia’s borders. Participants will examine both the immediate challenges facing Russian civil society and the institutions, networks and strategies that will be needed for a future democratic transition.
“Russia’s civil society has survived years of escalating repression, imprisonment and forced exile, and it continues to do extraordinary work,“ said Natalia Arno, president of Free Russia Foundation. «The Washington Dialogue gives people doing that work an opportunity to think beyond the immediate crisis. We have to confront Putin’s Russia as it exists today while also preparing for the Russia that can come after it. A democratic future will not build itself.”
The Washington Dialogue follows the inaugural gathering held in 2024. This year’s discussions will focus on three broad areas: political and economic developments inside Russia and their implications for anti‑war and democratic movements; domestic and transnational repression and the defense of human rights and civic space; and efforts by independent media and digital rights advocates to overcome censorship and preserve access to reliable information inside Russia.
“Putin wants the world to believe that Russia is his — that Russians support dictatorship, aggression and war,” said Vladimir Kara‑Murza, vice president of Free Russia Foundation. «But there is another Russia: the Russia of political prisoners, independent journalists, human rights defenders, civic activists, and millions of people who want their country to be peaceful, democratic, and free. The Washington Dialogue gives that Russia a voice and, more importantly, a place to work together. It is not enough to oppose the Russia of today. We must begin building the Russia of tomorrow.”
“Faces of the Russian Resistance” Exhibition: The Washington Dialogue will also feature «Faces of the Russian Resistance,“ an international exhibition documenting Russians imprisoned for opposing the Kremlin’s policies and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Developed by anti‑war activists and former municipal deputies, the exhibition tells the stories of political prisoners through the work of journalists, artists and photographers. Alongside well‑known opposition figures, it features students, academics, artists, parents and other Russians who have faced imprisonment for acts of political dissent and anti‑war resistance. The exhibition is intended to put individual faces and stories behind the broader campaign of political repression in Russia and to highlight the continued existence of civic resistance despite the risks of speaking out.
The Washington Dialogue is an invitation‑only event designed to allow candid discussion among participants. Selected proceedings, public statements and conference materials will be released following the event.
About Free Russia Foundation
Free Russia Foundation (FRF) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, dedicated to advancing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Russia and the broader region. Through research, advocacy, civil society support, and assistance to individuals and communities affected by political repression, FRF works to strengthen democratic resilience, counter authoritarian threats, and support those working toward a freer and more accountable future.
WASHINGTON — Free Russia Foundation (FRF), the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the U. S. Russia Foundation (USRF) will convene the second Washington Dialogue: Building a Strategy for Russia’s Democratic Future on Sept. 16–17 in Washington.
The two‑day gathering will bring together Russian civil society leaders, human rights defenders, independent journalists and policy experts with U.S. and international counterparts to discuss developments inside Russia and the longer‑term work required to build a peaceful and democratic future.
The meeting comes as Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine continues and the Kremlin intensifies repression of independent voices at home and beyond Russia’s borders. Participants will examine both the immediate challenges facing Russian civil society and the institutions, networks and strategies that will be needed for a future democratic transition.
“Russia’s civil society has survived years of escalating repression, imprisonment and forced exile, and it continues to do extraordinary work,” said Natalia Arno, president of Free Russia Foundation. «The Washington Dialogue gives people doing that work an opportunity to think beyond the immediate crisis. We have to confront Putin’s Russia as it exists today while also preparing for the Russia that can come after it. A democratic future will not build itself.”
The Washington Dialogue follows the inaugural gathering held in 2024. This year’s discussions will focus on three broad areas: political and economic developments inside Russia and their implications for anti‑war and democratic movements; domestic and transnational repression and the defense of human rights and civic space; and efforts by independent media and digital rights advocates to overcome censorship and preserve access to reliable information inside Russia.
“Putin wants the world to believe that Russia is his — that Russians support dictatorship, aggression and war,“ said Vladimir Kara‑Murza, vice president of Free Russia Foundation. «But there is another Russia: the Russia of political prisoners, independent journalists, human rights defenders, civic activists, and millions of people who want their country to be peaceful, democratic, and free. The Washington Dialogue gives that Russia a voice and, more importantly, a place to work together. It is not enough to oppose the Russia of today. We must begin building the Russia of tomorrow.”
“Faces of the Russian Resistance” Exhibition: The Washington Dialogue will also feature «Faces of the Russian Resistance,” an international exhibition documenting Russians imprisoned for opposing the Kremlin’s policies and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Developed by anti‑war activists and former municipal deputies, the exhibition tells the stories of political prisoners through the work of journalists, artists and photographers. Alongside well‑known opposition figures, it features students, academics, artists, parents and other Russians who have faced imprisonment for acts of political dissent and anti‑war resistance. The exhibition is intended to put individual faces and stories behind the broader campaign of political repression in Russia and to highlight the continued existence of civic resistance despite the risks of speaking out.
The Washington Dialogue is an invitation‑only event designed to allow candid discussion among participants. Selected proceedings, public statements and conference materials will be released following the event.
About Free Russia Foundation
Free Russia Foundation (FRF) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, dedicated to advancing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Russia and the broader region. Through research, advocacy, civil society support, and assistance to individuals and communities affected by political repression, FRF works to strengthen democratic resilience, counter authoritarian threats, and support those working toward a freer and more accountable future.