A conversation with:
Vladimir Milov
Russian Opposition Politician and Chairman
Democratic Choice Party

Moderated Discussion with:
Leon Aron 
Resident Scholar and Director of Russian Studies
American Enterprise Institute

Anders Åslund 
Senior Fellow, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center
Atlantic Council

Since the 2011 protests in Moscow, Russia’s political opposition has faced increasing repression from the Kremlin. Despite detentions, arrests, threats, intimidations, and restrictions on political participation, Russia’s opposition parties have continuously taken part in local and national elections and continued to publically challenge the regime. The brutal assassination of Boris Nemtsov in February 2015, one of Russia’s most prominent leaders and Putin critic, was a shocking blow to the opposition movement. In the face of increasing repression, many have left Russia, but those who remain continue the struggle for human rights, democratic values, and economic reform. 

Vladimir Milov, former deputy minister of energy and Chairman of the opposition party “Democratic Choice”, has been a vocal public critic of Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian course. He argues that in order to build the credibility of the opposition throughout Russia, the opposition needs to be active at the regional and local levels to ensure electoral participation. Russia’s best hope for a path away from Putinism is a coordinated grassroots political effort. The opposition movement Milov represents is a new generation of politicians who seek to fight against the centralization of power in a kleptocratic regime. 

We hope you can join us for this important and timely discussion.