Silencing Voices of Russian Opposition

On Tuesday, March 15, The McCain Institute for International Leadership, the Atlantic Council and the Free Russia Foundation hosted a discussion on the threats faced by Russian opposition members in Russia and abroad.

Nearly a decade ago, Alexander Litvinenko, former officer in the Russian Federal Security Bureau, was murdered in London. The cause of death, as uncovered by investigators, was poisoning by polonium, a rare radioactive substance. The investigative report on the case published in January 2016 concluded that Litvinenko's murder was "probably" approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In May 2015, political opposition leader and journalist, Vladimir Kara-Murza, mysteriously fell ill in Moscow. Once again, poisoning was suspected. Kara-Murza survived the attack on his life, but his case, as well as Litvinenko’s and many others, has become emblematic of the increasingly repressive and dangerous situation facing Russian opposition activists.

Marina Litvinenko, Alexander Litvinenko’s widow who has fought for justice in her husband’s case, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, will discuss the current situation for the opposition in Russian and how the West should respond.

Featured speakers included Alex Goldfarb, Activist and Co-Founder, Litvinenko Justice Foundation; Vladimir Kara-Murza, Coordinator and Activist, Open Russia; and, Marina Litvinenko, Widow of Alexander Litvinenko, Co- Founder, Litvinenko Justice Foundation. Moderated by David Kramer, Senior Director for Human Rights and Democracy, The McCain Institute. Welcome remarks provided by Damon Wilson, Executive Vice President, Atlantic Council.