Mikhail Khodorkovsky Initiatives

“When I was released from prison in 2013, Russia seemed to be moving towards common European values and ideas. However, this all changed after the annexation of Crimea. Since then the country has been moving a different and worrying direction that runs contrary to those same European values. However, it is now clear that the Russian people have become sick and tired of the direction their country is heading. That’s why they are demanding that the government change Russia’s current direction. The goal of the projects I started in Russia is to support the people and social movements that are trying return Russia to its original, European trajectory. This can only be achieved through forming a new political class in Russia. My projects in the west have a different goal. We want to help our western colleagues understand that the number of Russians who oppose the direction the Kremlin is taking Russia is growing year on year.” – Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Founder of Open Russia Movement