Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin’s new political party is holding its founding congress in Berlin on June 12 and 13, bringing together opposition-minded Russians from exile.
Photos from the congress — published by media outlets and delegates — showed banners bearing the name “Peaceful Forces of Russia” alongside the party’s logo, a stylized image of a cat.
The party has not yet settled on an official name. Yashin wrote that the organizing committee had proposed “Peaceful Forces of Russia” but that the name, in his words, “predictably sparked debate on social media.” Reports also emerged that the party might be called “Peaceful Russia.”
Yashin said the name carries an important historical reference. “In December 2011, speaking at a protest rally of a hundred thousand people in Moscow, Alexey Navalny said: ‘I see enough people on this square to storm the Kremlin. But we are a peaceful force,’” he recalled.
The congress is expected to elect the party’s leadership on its first day. Yashin had previously declined to name the members of the organizing committee, describing them only as “people with extensive political experience, as well as young enthusiasts.” The party also plans to present its declaration, manifesto, and charter at that time.
According to the organizers’ plan, the first day of the congress will be held behind closed doors, while the media will be admitted on the second day.
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