Russian Exiles Unite in Berlin: Protesting for Peace and Political Freedom Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

BERLIN — On Saturday, Russian exiles and opposition activists convened in Berlin to protest against Russia’s war in Ukraine, commemorating the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion with yet another demonstration.

The rally — spearheaded by Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny, alongside prominent activists Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza — attracted approximately 500 participants who assembled at Potsdamer Platz before marching through the city center.

Protesters shouted slogans such as “No to War!”, “Freedom for Political Prisoners!”, and “Navalny” — in remembrance of him, as he was laid to rest on March 1 of last year. They also displayed placards featuring the images and names of Russian political prisoners.

This demonstration occurred a day after a confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the initiation of peace negotiations with the Kremlin.

During this exchange, which was covered extensively by U.S. and international media, Trump remarked to Zelensky that he had no leverage without American support, accusing him of «playing with the prospect of World War Three.»

At the Berlin rally, opposition politician Yashin condemned the exchange in the Oval Office as “shameful.”

“The war cannot conclude with a backdoor agreement or a Munich-style deal; it must end with a fair peace, solid security guarantees, and Putin in prison,” Yashin stated.

In contrast to the previous anti-war demonstration in Berlin held in November 2024, this protest featured many attendees brandishing the tricolor — the flag of the Russian Federation, which some link to the ongoing conflict and the Kremlin’s actions.

However, others contended that the tricolor represents all Russians, including those opposed to the war.

«I don’t see why we should relinquish the tricolor to murderers, aggressors, and scoundrels,” said Oleg Orlov, a veteran human rights activist and one of the 16 prisoners released by Russia on August 1 as part of a prisoner swap with the West.

Another noteworthy element of the protest was the presence of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a far-right military group fighting alongside Ukraine against Russian forces.

Approximately two dozen members of this corps chanted “Peace for Ukraine, Slavs united!” and “No retreat from the Kremlin walls!”

The demonstrators later passed by the Russian Embassy in Berlin.

Yulia Navalnaya addressed the crowd, expressing her gratitude to those present, who responded with enthusiastic cheers and applause.

«I will continuously advocate for all of you, for those Russians who stand against Putin and the war,” she declared to the protesters.

“We must resist not only here but globally.”