Newsletters / A ‘Free Russia’ passport could undermine Putin by Garry Kasparov and Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Helping Ukraine win militarily and isolating Russia politically and economically are key to ending the war and Putin’s terrorist regime. But there are other pressure points, including draining Russia of human resources. We wrote together with Garry Kasparov an article for the Politico and we would like to share it with you.
A ‘Free Russia’ passport could undermine Putin
Welcoming those who want to break with the Russian leader’s regime would mobilize a key community to help Ukraine to victory.
By Garry Kasparov and Mikhail Khodorkovsky
The war in Ukraine is now well into its third year, and Western support for the country has faltered dangerously.
While the U.S. Congress did pass an aid bill after months of fitful negotiations, the assistance came late — and at great cost. In the interim, Russia took advantage of Kyiv’s shortfall in munitions, dramatically intensifying the shelling of key cities. The EU, for its part, did pass a multibillion-euro defense package in March, but the bloc remains deeply divided over the scope and type of military assistance.
In light of all this, commentary has rightly focused on the need to provide adequate support that would allow Ukraine to defend itself on the battlefield. This must remain a key area of attention. However, the West has other avenues at its disposal to help Ukraine win — and these can and must be explored too.
We speak on behalf of all the Russians who believe in the potential for a free and democratic Russia. Neither of us have been able to return home for decades because of our opposition to the regime. Thankfully, with the resources available to us, we’ve been able to establish new homes and lives for ourselves and our families in the West. But the same opportunities aren’t available to the millions of Russians who, like us, don’t support Putin’s criminal system.
At this critical juncture in the struggle for Ukraine’s sovereignty, we have an opportunity to give these Russians the chance to make the same moral choice to break with the Putin regime — and, in doing so, mobilize a key community to help Ukraine to victory.
Follow me for insights into Russia’s future and its politics. As someone who’s spent a decade behind bars for challenging Putin, I know a thing or two about him and his regime.
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In the media:
Mikhail Khodorkovsky – exchange of remarks at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Parliament
Mikhail Khodorkovsky taking part at the Center for Liberal Modernity’s recent public discussion “Russia and the West – What is at Stake”
A fireside chat with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russian Anti-War Committee founder
Mikhail Khodorkovsky meets HE Gabrielius Landsbergis, while taking part in two days full of speeches and discussions of the 10th Vilnius Russia Forum organised by Lithuania’s MFA.
Kremlin critic examines Moscow’s attempts to blame others for Islamic State attack
Mikhail Khodorkovsky addresses the Russian audience after the annual Berlin conference organized by the Anti-War Committee, focusing on after election strategy for democratic forces
Michail Chodorkowski: Russland ist dem Westen vielfach überlegen
L’ex oligarca russo Mikhail Khodorkovsky: «L’Italia tra i Paesi più vulnerabili dell’Europa occidentale»
Khodorkovsky: le minacce nucleari di Putin servono per negoziare meglio la pace
“Putin vuole distruggere l’Occidente e durare altri 15 anni”. Parla il dissidente Khodorkovsky
Le minacce di Putin e l’Italia, l’allarme di Khodorkovsky: «Ecco perché siete l’anello debole dell’Occidente»
