Appeal to the International Community for the Release of Political Prisoners in Russia

Today, the organization “European Choice for Russia” published an open appeal to the international community calling for the release of political prisoners in Russia.

“In November 2025, discussions intensified about a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the United States. Unfortunately, neither the Trump plan nor the proposals by European politicians mention the fate of Russian political prisoners — citizens of Russia, Ukraine and other countries — or Russia’s repressive laws. This issue is also absent from proposals concerning the easing or lifting of sanctions.

On behalf of Russian politicians, human rights defenders, and anti-war activists, we call on the participants of the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to include in the peace agreement the release of thousands of people imprisoned in Russia for political reasons. We propose that the peace plan should mandate the repeal of all repressive laws adopted in Russia since 2012 and grant amnesty to all those convicted under these laws.

We are under no illusions that peace negotiations will cause the Russian regime to cease being a dictatorship, or that Europe will immediately achieve lasting peace with its eastern neighbor. But it is important to remember that people in Russia are receiving enormous prison sentences and facing the harshest detention conditions — for anti-war actions and even for truthful statements about the war on social media. Ukrainian civilians are being held without trial, and nothing is known about the fate of many of them.

We are convinced that those who bravely oppose dictatorship must be given a chance at freedom now. Otherwise, all Russians who seek democratic change for their country will receive a clear and unambiguous message: the world does not actually want a democratic Russia.

Only Russia’s return to the path of democracy will make the world safer — and the release of political prisoners is the first step on that path.

With this, we appeal to the leaders of the United States and the countries of Europe.”

On behalf of Initiative FoReDi, we have also signed this appeal.

In addition, it has already been signed by:

• Alexander Polivanov, OVD-Info

• Ilya Shablinsky, Moscow Helsinki Group

• Lev Ponomarev, President of the Andrei Sakharov Institute

• Anastasia Burakova, founder of “Ark” Project

• Elena Filina, founder of “Faces of Russian Resistance”

and many others.

We invite you to join as well: please add your signature by completing the form (https://forms.gle/RvWVUGzQ11G2PU9S8) by December 1.