Europe, democratic Russian civil society in exile and a democratic future for post-Putin Russia

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16427 | 16 June 2026

Signatories:

Mr George PAPANDREOU, Greece, SOC ; Mr François BONNEAU, France, ALDE ; Mr Bertrand BOUYX, France, ALDE ; Mr Iulian BULAI, Romania, ALDE ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Mr Piero FASSINO, Italy, SOC ; Ms Sascha FAXE, Denmark, SOC ; Lord Michael GERMAN, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Ms Gabriela HEINRICH, Germany, SOC ; Mr Pablo HISPÁN, Spain, EPP/CD ; Ms Kristina IKIĆ BANIČEK, Croatia, SOC ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia, ALDE ; Ms Iris LUARASI, Albania, SOC ; Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania, ALDE ; Mr Dimitrios MANTZOS, Greece, SOC ; Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Mr Fabian MOLINA, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Louise MOREL, France, ALDE ; Ms Valérie PILLER CARRARD, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Ivan RAČAN, Croatia, SOC ; Ms Azadeh ROJHAN, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Daan ROOVERS, Netherlands, SOC ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Ms Kadri TALI, Estonia, ALDE ; Ms Victoria TIBLOM, Sweden, ECPA ; Ms Susanna VELA, Andorra, SOC ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

As underlined in the Parliamentary Assembly’s previous resolutions on the Russian Federation’s war of aggression, the absence of a credible democratic strategy for a future post-Putin Russia represents a growing political and security risk for Europe.

Democratic Europe must distinguish clearly between the current Russian regime and those Russian citizens who have actively rejected aggression, dictatorship, political repression, and imperial ideology, often at personal risk. Yet no coherent European framework currently exists for recognising, engaging with, protecting, or supporting genuinely anti-regime and anti-war Russian democratic actors. At the same time, regime-linked structures and individuals may continue to exploit access to European institutions and societies.

The Assembly should prepare a report and draft resolution on the political, legal, and institutional dimensions of engagement with democratic Russian opposition forces, anti-war Russian citizens, and independent Russian civil society actors.

The report should, inter alia:

• examine possible forms of legal, political, or residency status for Russian citizens who have demonstrably opposed the regime and its war of aggression;
• establish criteria and mechanisms for recognising and supporting genuinely anti-regime and anti-war individuals and organisations, while distinguishing them from regime-linked actors;
• assess how Council of Europe member States may co-ordinate support for democratic Russian civil society, independent media, human rights defenders, and political structures operating in exile;
• consider measures to prevent regime-linked actors from exploiting European democratic institutions, financial systems, or public platforms;
• outline principles and possible international approaches for a democratic and peaceful post-Putin transition in Russia, grounded in accountability, respect for international law, democratic governance, human dignity, and peaceful relations with neighbouring States.

Such work would contribute to long-term European security and to the development of a coherent democratic strategy toward a future European post-Putin Russia.