26/01/2026 Bureau
The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting this morning ahead of the opening of the Assembly’s winter plenary session in Strasbourg, has approved the list of Participants in the Assembly’s Platform for Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces, which was created last October.
The Platform will enable two-way exchanges between Russian democratic forces in exile and leading members of the Assembly on issues of common concern.
In its unanimously adopted resolution creating the Platform, the Assembly said it would help to “bring about sustainable democratic change in Russia and help achieve a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, alongside ensuring the responsibility of Russian actors for the international crimes committed”.
Outgoing PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos, who has led the process leading to the creation of the Platform, speaking on his last day in office, said: “We will not turn our backs on Russians who defend democracy, human rights and freedom — and who reject this war. This Platform will be a place for this other Russia to speak — clearly, openly and without fear.”
The Bureau’s decision requires ratification by the Assembly as part of a debate due to take place this afternoon.
Participants in the Platform from among Russian Democratic Forces:
Natalia Arno
Dmitri Gudkov
Mark Feygin
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Garry Kasparov
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Oleg Orlov
Liubov Sobol
Nadya Tolokonnikova
Andrey Volna
Representatives of indigenous peoples and national minorities:
Ruslan Kutayev
Ekaterina Kuznetsova
Vasilii (Batlay) Matenov
Lana Pylayeva
Pavel Sulyandziga
Participants in the Platform from the Parliamentary Assembly:
The President of the Assembly, Chair of the Platform
The Chairpersons of the political groups:
Frank Schwabe (Germany, SOC)
Pablo Hispán (Spain, EPP/CD)
Zsolt Németh (ECPA)
Iulian Bulai (Romania, ALDE)
Laura Castel (Spain, UEL) / George Loucaides (Cyprus, UEL)
Elisabetta Gardini, Chair of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
General rapporteurs:
Eerik-Niiles Kross, General Rapporteur on Russian Democratic Forces
George Papandreou, General Rapporteur on Democracy
Francesco Verducci, the General Rapporteur on combating racism and intolerance
Valentina Grippo, General Rapporteur on Media Freedom and Safety of Journalists
Azadeh Rojhan, General Rapporteur for Political Prisoners
Emanuelis Zingeris, General Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders and Whistleblowers
Note to editors
If the Bureau’s decision is approved by the Assembly, the Platform will hold its first meeting on Thursday 29 January at 1 p.m. Media may be present for a few minutes at the opening of the meeting. Interviews with Participants may be possible outside the room before or after the meeting.
Please note that only media with full Council of Europe press accreditation may attend, provided they have requested additional accreditation for the meeting by e-mail to [email protected] by midday on Wednesday 28 January. Entry to the room will be strictly controlled, and will be subject to available space.