On 3 December 2024, Platforma's Cooperation Conference: France, Poland, Germany took place in Berlin, bringing together 130 participants from Germany, France, Poland, Ukraine and Russia.
On 3 December 2024, Platforma's Cooperation Conference: France, Poland, Germany took place in Berlin, bringing together 130 participants from Germany, France, Poland, Ukraine and Russia. Participants included representatives of civic initiatives, international organisations, donors and politicians who discussed key challenges and opportunities in supporting democratic processes, humanitarian and anti-war initiatives.
Photo: Michael Nowak (MfA Germany), Benjamin Roehrig (MfA France), Anna Kostrzewa-Misztal (MfA Poland), Dirk Schuebel (EEAS)
The conference was organised by the Platform for Civic Anti-War and Humanitarian Initiatives to strengthen cooperation between Russian pro-democracy movements and international partners. The event opened with speeches by representatives of the Foreign Ministries of Germany, France and Poland, as well as the European External Action Service (EEAS).
The conference discussed key topics: the release of Ukrainian civilians illegally detained in Russia; the impact of ‘Ukraine fatigue’ on media in the EU and Russia; and countering the anti-gender agenda affecting women's rights and LGBTIQ+ people. Tools for activist co-operation, support for Ukraine through advocacy of Russian initiatives, and the humanitarian needs of Ukrainians in the occupied territories and Russia have also been discussed. The conference was rounded off with a panel discussion on the state of civil society in Russia.
Below you will find brief conclusions on each thematic session held during the conference.
The conference discussions emphasised the importance of joint efforts in protecting human rights, supporting civil society and building sustainable international networks. The presentation of the Platform's outcomes and the final discussion were a symbolic end to the day, demonstrating the unity of democratic anti-war groups of Russians and their international partners in the face of the challenges of the time.
The organisers would like to thank all participants and partners, including the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other international organisations, for their financial support of the conference.
The next meeting of the Platform and international partners will occur in March 2025 in Brussels in the framework of the Congress of Anti-War, Civic and Humanitarian Initiatives.
Active participants: Center for Civil Liberties; Poshuk.Polon; Russia Behind Bars; Russland hinter Gittern e.V.; Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin; Centre of Law Enforcement Activities Research “CLEAR”
The roundtable discussed the problems of illegal detentions, torture and long periods of imprisonment to which Ukrainian citizens are subjected in the occupied territories and in Russia. According to the Centre for Civil Liberties, almost 7 thousand civilians are in detention, many of them without legal and medical assistance, subjected to torture and inhumane detention. International protection mechanisms do not work effectively enough, and international organisations such as the Red Cross are not yet ready to take on the function of protecting the rights of prisoners. Human rights projects – Russland hinter Gittern, Poshuk. Polon, the Centre for Civil Liberties, the Kremlin's Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners, and the CLEAR Law Enforcement Research Centre, anonymous lawyers and advocates in Russia – record data, and provide legal and humanitarian assistance, but lack resources.
Participants noted the need for international pressure on Russia, including sanctions against officials and large structures involved in repression, such as Rosatom. Emphasis was placed on the importance of making the problem visible in the international community to attract the attention of politicians and voters. There were calls for greater coordination between human rights organisations as well as the development of rehabilitation programmes for those released. Punishment of those responsible for war and humanitarian crimes remains a key long-term goal. The release of thousands of Ukrainians illegally detained in Russia is a prerequisite for peace.
Active participants: Jinn (Germany), Istories (Russia), Kholod Media (Russia), LCI (France), Ouest-France, BFM TV (France), Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland)
The discussion revealed several key aspects related to how war fatigue is affecting journalism and coverage of Ukraine. Journalists from different countries noted that audiences are gradually losing interest in direct reporting on the war, preferring stories about indirect consequences of the conflict, such as economic and social changes, or personal stories that evoke an emotional response. At the same time, war themes remain important, and newsrooms are looking for ways to keep their audiences interested by reporting on the daily lives of casualties, military personnel and deserters, as well as on changes within Russian society. Participants emphasised that journalists' work is made more difficult by the fatigue of negative news and the need to compete for audience attention with other relevant topics, such as domestic political crises and conflicts in other parts of the world.
The importance of co-operation between exiled journalists and Western media was also discussed, as well as the need to continue raising complex and controversial issues. This is especially relevant in a context where propaganda and misinformation create a distorted picture of reality. Participants noted that people are more likely to respond to personal stories that can shed light on the inner experiences and changing views of those involved. Despite audience fatigue, journalists continue to seek new approaches to covering the war, including environmental, human rights and societal transformation topics, which can contribute to a deeper understanding of the conflict and its aftermath.
Active participants: Quarteera e.V.; Russian LGBT Network; Centre LGBTQI+ de Paris et d'Île-de-France; Ça va association; T-Action; Delo LGBT+; Sphere Foundation; Far Eastern social movement “Lighthouse” and others.
The discussion highlighted the intensification of repressive measures against LGBTQ+ and women's rights in Russia starting in 2022. Laws banning ‘LGBT propaganda’ and transgender transition, as well as increased control over civil society organisations, have created an environment in which activism is forced underground. Despite this, initiatives that provide vital community support, including legal aid, psychological support and medical counselling, remain on the ground. Working in such contexts requires new security strategies and a greater emphasis on localised assistance. Particular attention was paid to issues of visibility in the West: Russian activists emphasised the need to provide platforms for voices from within the country, sharing experiences and support through international mechanisms.
An important finding was the realisation of the role of emigration and international support in keeping the movement alive. Initiatives in European countries such as France, Poland and Germany are helping to evacuate LGBTQ+ people and integrate them into new societies. However, there is an urgent need to improve migration conditions, overcoming isolation and discrimination in host countries. Working with MFAs, including securing visas and documents for vulnerable groups, was identified as a key area. The discussion emphasised the importance of continuing grassroots activism, creating safe spaces and integrating LGBTQ+ rights protections into the broader human rights agenda in order to maintain the basis for future change even in times of crisis.
Active participants: anonymous activists and initiatives operating in different regions inside Russia
The discussion centered on practical tools to strengthen interaction between international and local activists in Russia. One of the main challenges remains to maintain horizontal communities within the country through small hubs and micro-grants, which allows activism to persist in the face of repression. Important aspects such as psychological support, development of educational programmes and creation of safe spaces, both offline and online, were highlighted. Participants emphasised the importance of hospitality infrastructure, examples of which are flat residences, which create a respite from pressure and strengthen activists' networks. The need for transparent but flexible approaches to engaging with international partners was also discussed in order to take into account the needs and context of Russian activists.
In addition, the importance of building a dialogue between activists inside and outside Russia was voiced. International organisations can support initiatives through simplified bureaucratic procedures. Security protocols, a focus on vulnerable groups, and access to resources such as scholarships and leadership programmes will help strengthen the sustainability of activism. The ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ thesis was repeatedly voiced - activists inside Russia should be involved in developing strategies and solutions. Attention to less media-savvy groups affected by the regime and the development of initiatives targeting regional and indigenous activists remain important.
Active participants: Civil Society Forum; Children of the New Generation; Eastern Human Rights Group; The Way of Ukraine; CLEAR Centre for Law Enforcement Studies; Libmod; German Council on Foreign Relations; Austausch e.V.; NdKrB e.V.; Free Russia Foundation; Russian Democratic Society; Action4.life; Thesol. eu; resilienceinitiative.eu; Democratic Community of Russian Speakers in Finland; Russie-Libertés; Russia behind bars; Russland hinter Gittern e.V.; Bundestag; Crisis Action; Centre for Eastern Studies; Let's Help; French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The discussion highlighted the complexity and need for co-ordination between Russian and Ukrainian initiatives as well as international organisations. Ukrainian participants highlighted critical humanitarian and environmental challenges in the occupied territories, such as lack of drinking water, deteriorating health care and militarisation of children. They identified the creation of shelters, support for immobile groups and funding for charitable organisations as key challenges for advocacy.
Russian civil society representatives emphasised the difficulties of interaction between Russians and Ukrainians and the need to build trust and transparency in cooperation. Foreign colleagues noted the lack of Russian voices supporting Ukraine in the Western discussion.
Active participants: German Council on Foreign Relations; Ministry of Foreign Affairs Poland; European External Action Service; Laboratory of Public Sociology; Russie-Libertés association
The final discussion of the conference focused on the prospects for Russian civil society both inside and outside the country. Participants noted the importance of a long-term strategy to support civil society and the need for a visionary approach to institutional and financial support. A study conducted by the Laboratory of public sociology revealed the activity of localised initiatives in Russia, such as environmental, urban projects and small protest movements. According to the study, there is a need to develop new informal channels of funding for civic initiatives within Russia in order to maximise the safety of activists within the country. Support for such groups is particularly important, as they have the potential to become a significant political force in the future.
The speakers also emphasised the importance of a diversified approach to support, based on the diversity of Russian society and the specifics of the regions. Ways of granting humanitarian visas, creating spaces for activists to safely interact within the EU and increasing international co-operation were discussed. Speakers emphasised the need to move from short-term support to structural, long-term support, as well as strengthening activism to counter Russian propaganda. The conference concluded with a call for innovative forms of engagement and support for Russian activists as partners capable of becoming a bridge for shaping new European strategies towards Russia.