Today, during an online conference, Open Russia was relaunched by Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Originally, the Open Russia Foundation was established by Khodorkovsky and the Yukos Oil Company shareholders in 2001, with the aim of building and strengthening civil society in Russia. The Open Russia Foundation is remembered for its successful programmes such as the School of Public Politics, the Federation of Internet Education, New Civilisation, and the Club of Regional Journalism. But by 2006, a systematic campaign of harassment and intimidation by the Russian authorities had made it impossible for the organisation to continue its work.
Open Russia today is about bringing together citizens living both inside and outside of Russia, who share the European values of a strong, dynamic, and forward-looking state founded upon effective democratic institutions and the rule of law. Open Russia will enable these citizens to communicate and work together, to make their voices heard, and to mobilise effectively in the cause of common interests and goals.
Open Russia is not a political organisation as such; rather, it is a “horizontal alliance” of individuals and groups that, when working together, can make change happen.
More about Open Russia and its current activities you can find on the organisation's website.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Natalia Gevorkyan
leading the Open Russia forum in Paris today.
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