One of the key figures in the Russian opposition, Lyubov Sobol has encountered many of the well-known experiences of Russia’s political life: from electoral campaigns and street protests to hunger strikes and criminal trials. For many people, she represents the new generation of Russian leaders, which has a vision for the country’s future, but faces insurmountable obstacles on the path to public office. In her talk, Lyubov Sobol shared her experience as an independent politician and discussed what developments one can expect in Russian domestic politics in the run-up to the September 2021 elections and beyond.

To view a recap of this event in Russian, click HERE.

Selected Quotes

Lyubov Sobol

“We should not just be waiting for the changes to come. If we just sit tight and wait, nothing is going to happen. We see that the young people can also be susceptible to the state’s propaganda—even on the internet there is a lot of disinformation we have to fight against. It is a huge amount of work and of course we should do it.”

“We are going to fight against corruption. We will not be taking bribes. We will not appoint people to the government who are loyal to us but who are not expert enough.”

“I have always said—and I will repeat it—the changes in our country should be initiated by us from within the country.”