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The opposition politician, who is now exiled in Germany, told crowds he would focus on re-educating Russians against Putin.
Just one week after his release as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Western countries, Russian opposition figure Ilya Yashin appeared in front of crowds in Berlin. Yashin told the over 2,000 people who came to watch him in western Berlin’s Mauerpark that the Russian opposition should focus on anti-war education. The former Russian opposition politician who led the People’s Freedom Party was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in 2022 for speaking out against the war in Ukraine. Now that he is free, he wants to continue his work.”I can only say one thing: the Russian opposition should engage in anti-war education,” Yashin said. “When Western politicians ask me how they can support the Russian opposition, I say: save Ukraine from Putin and continue to support Ukraine. Because if you save Ukraine, you will help a free Russia”.The 41-year-old highlighted that ending the war in Ukraine is as important to him as promoting democracy in Russia, saying that he wished the Russian flag to be “freed from blood and dirt”.Yashin was a close friend and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s biggest opponent, Alexei Navalny who died in a Siberian prison in February. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has publicly blamed Putin for Navalny’s death however Moscow has publicly insisted that Navalny died of natural causes.Could Yashin be the next face of the Russian opposition?Supporters at the event suggested that Yashin could become Russia’s next prominent opposition figure after the death of Navalny.”Alexei’s personality, his manner and all his charisma are unique, I think,” said one of Yashin’s supporters at the event.”I think Ilya definitely has potential, energy and a political stance that will allow him to become a cool, prominent and very important Russian politician in the future. I am very excited about Ilya’s plans,” she said. Despite promoting anti-war education, Yashin said he did not yet know exactly how he would organise his political activity outside Russia.In a press conference organised by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, Yashin said he would be “prepared to work with all organisations that are involved in anti-war work”.Yashin regularly communicates with his followers via his YouTube channel. With over 1.6 million followers, he has a wide reach both inside and outside Russia. In prison, he used this channel to try and educate Russian citizens about the Kremlin’s war crimes, among other things. As he was unable to film himself in his prison cell he used a cartoon-like figure against the backdrop of a prison wall to communicate his messages. Yashin drums up supportersOne of Yashin’s followers said that he regularly watched his YouTube channel and could identify with many of his ideas.”Yashin is one of the politicians I like. I mean, I’ve watched his videos, I’ve listened to his interviews and I agree with the ideas he puts forward. Of course, there are also moments when I think differently”.Yashin received over 30,000 letters during his imprisonment. The 41-year-old said that they had given him courage and helped him through the difficult times in prison, allowing him to mentally escape from being behind bars. The released opposition activist rallied those listening to communicate with friends and relatives still in Russia, “even if it is difficult” as this was one of the few ways to change mindsets on Putin and the war in Ukraine. Yashin: War in Ukraine difference between ‘good and evil’According to Yashin, the war in Ukraine is no longer just a battle between two states. It is a battle between good and evil, a battle of freedom against tyranny. “Our strength lies in our convictions and our morals,” said Yashin. Yashin was one of a total of 26 prisoners who were exchanged between Western countries and Russia in a landmark prison exchange case. Among those who returned to Russia was Vadim Krassikov, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany in December 2021 for the murder of the Georgian of Chechen origin Selimchan Khangoshvili, “Tornike”. Within Germany the release of Krassikov sparked controversy from those who questioned whether a convicted murderer should be released.”I understand the difficult ethical dilemma in which Chancellor Scholz’s government found itself. I sincerely appreciate the decision they made,” said Yashin.
