IV Expert Forum

The discussions within the environmental working group were substantive and constructive, despite significant disagreements on a number of issues. What was particularly valuable was that both participants and moderators were focused on identifying common ground and finding solutions rather than determining who was right.

I believe that is especially important today — to keep the bigger picture in mind and focus on solving the problems that have emerged as a result of the current authorities’ actions, rather than dwelling on internal disagreements.

The Forum was also an excellent opportunity to meet and speak with experts from neighboring fields. Overall, it is encouraging to see so many talented and thoughtful people with very different backgrounds, experiences, and views come together and dedicate their time to developing a shared vision for Russia’s future. This, as well as the presence of young, ambitious students at the Forum, gives me cautious hope that Russia does, in fact, have a future.

I deeply value the opportunity to spend several days with people from completely different professional backgrounds and with very different perspectives. What united us was the desire to see Russia become a place where people, nature, human dignity, a sense of being part of humanity as a whole, and working together to address global challenges are given priority. The future will arrive whether we are ready for it or not.

The Yulia Navalnaya Forum provides a rare opportunity to pause and ask ourselves: what will we do when that moment comes? What kind of Russia do we want to build, and what must be done to bring our values closer to reality? How can democratization be achieved in practice? How do we ensure respect for fundamental rights, implement transitional justice, build a fairer society and a greener economy, protect the environment, and improve people's well-being?

Russian history teaches us that major political changes usually happen quickly and unexpectedly. March 1917 and August 1991 are only the most famous examples. The end of Putin’s regime will likely come just as suddenly. None of us knows when that moment will arrive — it could be in three years or in two weeks.

What we do know is that the window of opportunity to steer those changes in a democratic direction will be very short, and we will have to act quickly. That is why it is so important to have a roadmap for a post-Putin transition ready in advance — both for domestic and foreign policy. And the time to develop that roadmap is now.

The forum left me with a strong and genuinely warm impression. Gatherings like this are especially important today: they help us stay politically engaged, remain connected to the broader context, and remind us that we are not alone. When like-minded people are scattered across different countries, the opportunity to meet in person, talk, and, most importantly, listen to one another becomes truly valuable.

For me, the forum was not only a meaningful conversation about the present and the future, but also a wonderful opportunity to connect with others — a rare chance to meet people who think, feel, and act in the same direction. At a time like this, it is especially important to know that, despite the distances and circumstances, our community is alive, connected, and still looking for ways to make a difference and influence what is happening.