The founding congress of the new political party ‘Peace Forces of Russia’ took place in Berlin; according to its founders, the party is intended to represent the interests of Russian opposition figures abroad. The delegates elected Ilya Yashin as party chairman.
“We are creating this party precisely to fight for power in Russia. And to be a player in international relations,” Yashin said.
According to the politician, despite the party being established outside Russia, its activities are to be transferred to the country in the future.
Yashin announced plans to create a new political organisation in March. The party congress took place in Berlin on 12–13 June, with the first day of the event held behind closed doors.
Yashin did not answer the question about the party’s sources of funding, stating only that several supporters of the project had helped to pay for the organisation of the congress.
In 2022, Ilya Yashin was sentenced to eight and a half years in a penal colony for anti-war speeches under the article on so-called ‘fake news’ about the Russian army. On 1 August 2024, he was released and immediately sent abroad as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western countries. The Russian authorities handed over 16 people and, in return, received eight Russians accused of espionage, working for the secret services and cybercrimes. Yashin noted at the time that he did not consider this an exchange, but described what had happened as an illegal expulsion from the country.