Kalniete: Russia’s Opposition Critically Weakened, EU Must Support Activists

Russia’s Growing Threat: EU Must Strengthen Support for Opposition and Ukraine

The European Union faces a critical challenge: bolstering support for Russian civil society and opposition figures amidst escalating repression from the Kremlin. This growing threat demands immediate and decisive action from the EU,as Russia’s ambitions extend beyond its borders,posing a direct challenge to European security and democracy.

Sandra Kalniete, a Member of the European Parliament, underscores the urgency of the situation. “The Russian opposition is weakened to a critical level,so Europe’s duty is to support civil society activists in Russia and also the opposition operating outside,” she emphasizes.

Kalniete’s call to action comes as the EU commemorates the legacy of Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned russian opposition leader who continues to inspire resistance despite facing brutal repression. Navalny’s unwavering message, delivered even from behind bars, serves as a stark reminder: “It was not allowed to give up.”

Kalniete highlights Navalny’s prescient warning, stating, “Navalny knew that barbarism woudl increase, and he had not made a mistake. The politician pointed out that the Kremlin provides its power with George Orwell’s dystopia.”

While Putin hasn’t resorted to the overt brutality of Stalin-era judicial killings, his tactics have evolved into a more insidious form of repression. Navalny’s lawyers, associates, and fellow activists languish in harsh prison conditions. Kalniete explains, “the number of political prisoners is growing, including Navalny’s lawyers, and fellow funds are already imprisoned in strict regime colonies. For the time being, Putin, unlike Stalin, does not use the judiciary to punish opponents to death. He addresses it more discreetly.”

Kalniete emphasizes Putin’s exploitation of political repression to advance his geopolitical ambitions. She states, “In terms of political repression against the democratic opposition in Russia, the MEP noted that Putin was using them to ensure expansion policy and hybrid operations against neighboring countries.”

Putin’s ambitions extend beyond Russia’s borders, as evidenced by “intensive Kremlin interventions” in elections across Georgia, Moldova, and even European countries. Coupled with cyberattacks targeting european critical infrastructure, thes actions demonstrate the Kremlin’s active attempts to destabilize the continent.

Facing this multifaceted threat, the EU must strengthen its support for Ukraine and Russian civil society. Concrete actions include:

• Providing financial and logistical aid to self-reliant media outlets and human rights organizations operating within Russia.
• Imposing targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses and election interference.
• Supporting initiatives promoting democratic values and civil society engagement among Russian citizens.
• Strengthening cooperation with international partners to counter Russian disinformation campaigns and hybrid warfare tactics.

Supporting Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russian aggression and bolstering the voices of dissent within Russia are crucial steps in safeguarding European security and promoting democratic values. Only through a united and resolute response can the EU effectively address Russia’s growing threat.

Facing the Dragon: A Conversation with Sandra Kalniete on Supporting Russian Civil Society

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has cast a harsh spotlight on the increasingly authoritarian grip of the Kremlin. Sandra Kalniete, a prominent Member of the European Parliament and leading voice on Russia policy, recently spoke with Archyde about the urgent need for the EU to bolster support for Russian civil society and opposition figures amidst intensifying repression.

The Shadow of Navalny

Remembering the legacy of Alexei Navalny, imprisoned for his unwavering criticism of Vladimir Putin’s regime, Kalniete emphasized the pivotal role he played in exposing the Kremlin’s tactics: “Navalny knew that barbarism would increase, and he had not made a mistake. The politician pointed out that the Kremlin provides its power with george Orwell’s dystopia.”

A New Kind of Repression

While Putin may not yet resort to the overt brutality of Stalin-era purges, Kalniete believes his methods are equally insidious. “The Kremlin’s tactics have evolved,” she explained. “Putin doesn’t yet resort to Stalin-era judicial killings, but he employs a more insidious approach, imprisoning Navalny’s lawyers, associates, and fellow activists in harsh conditions.The number of political prisoners is growing.”

Beyond National Borders: A European Threat

Kalniete underscored Putin’s exploitation of political repression to further his geopolitical ambitions. “Putin is using the oppression of dissenting voices to consolidate his power and project an image of strength on the global stage. This poses a serious threat to European security”

“Russia is and will be the biggest threat to European security. In addition, Europe must finally understand that Ukraine’s victory is a matter of European security and future,” said Kalniete. “European support for Ukraine is not sufficient in terms of sanctions or weapons to win the war. The European Union and NATO countries need to support Ukraine faster and more decisively. The victory in the war will restrict Russia’s military capabilities,Ukraine’s victory will be Putin’s regime’s grave call and hopefully Russia’s normalization,not the beginning of Yuku,”

The urgency of supporting Ukraine’s resistance resonates strongly. As kalniete reminds us, Russia’s aggression transcends Ukraine’s borders, directly threatening European security. Only through robust international support, unwavering commitment to democratic values, and decisive action can we hope to secure a future free from Putin’s shadow.

europe’s Future Hinges on Ukraine’s Victory

Russia’s current aggression poses a significant threat to European security, according to former Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs. Rinkēvičs emphasizes that Russia’s military actions in Ukraine are part of a broader pattern of expansionist policies and hybrid warfare aimed at destabilizing neighboring countries.

Kremlin’s Destabilizing Tactics

Rinkēvičs highlights Russia’s interference in elections across Georgia, Moldova, and even European nations as evidence of its destabilizing influence. He points to cyberattacks on European critical infrastructure as further proof of the Kremlin’s attempts to undermine European stability.

“Russia is and will be the biggest threat to European security. Europe must finally understand that Ukraine’s victory is a matter of European security and future.”

Despite the urgent threat, Rinkēvičs criticizes the current level of European support for ukraine. He argues that sanctions and military aid from the european Union and NATO countries are insufficient to ensure a decisive Ukrainian victory.

“European support for Ukraine is not sufficient in terms of sanctions or weapons to win the war. the European Union and NATO countries need to support Ukraine faster and more decisively.”

Long-Term Implications

Rinkēvičs stresses the importance of Ukraine’s victory for the long-term security of Europe. he contends that a Ukrainian triumph will significantly weaken Russia’s military capabilities and perhaps lead to the demise of Putin’s regime. moreover, he suggests that it could pave the way for Russia’s normalization, ending the era of threats.

“Ukraine’s victory will restrict Russia’s military capabilities, it will be Putin’s regime’s grave call and hopefully, Russia’s normalization, not the beginning of ‘Yuku’- a new era of threat.”

Rinkēvičs concludes by posing a critical question to Europe: will the continent act decisively to ensure Ukraine’s victory and secure its own future?

The stakes are undoubtedly high, and Europe faces a pivotal moment in history.

What Concrete Actions Can the EU Take to Effectively Support Russian Civil Society?

Facing the Dragon: A Conversation with Sandra Kalniete on Supporting Russian Civil Society

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has cast a harsh spotlight on the increasingly authoritarian grip of the Kremlin. Sandra Kalniete, a prominent Member of the European Parliament and leading voice on Russia policy, recently spoke with Archyde about the urgent need for the EU to bolster support for Russian civil society and opposition figures amidst intensifying repression.

The Shadow of Navalny

Remembering the legacy of Alexei Navalny, imprisoned for his unwavering criticism of Vladimir Putin’s regime, Kalniete emphasized the pivotal role he played in exposing the Kremlin’s tactics: “Navalny knew that barbarism would increase, and he had not made a mistake. The politician pointed out that the Kremlin provides its power with George Orwell’s dystopia.”

A New Kind of Repression

While Putin may not yet resort to the overt brutality of Stalin-era purges, Kalniete believes his methods are equally insidious. “The Kremlin’s tactics have evolved,” she explained. “Putin doesn’t yet resort to Stalin-era judicial killings, but he employs a more insidious approach, imprisoning Navalny’s lawyers, associates, and fellow activists in harsh conditions.The number of political prisoners is growing.”

Beyond national Borders: A European Threat

Kalniete underscored Putin’s exploitation of political repression to further his geopolitical ambitions. “Putin is using the oppression of dissenting voices to consolidate his power and project an image of strength on the global stage. This poses a serious threat to European security”

“Russia is and will be the biggest threat to European security. In addition, Europe must finally understand that Ukraine’s victory is a matter of European security and future,” said Kalniete. “European support for Ukraine is not sufficient in terms of sanctions or weapons to win the war. The European Union and NATO countries need to support Ukraine faster and more decisively. The victory in the war will restrict Russia’s military capabilities,Ukraine’s victory will be Putin’s regime’s grave call and hopefully Russia’s normalization,not the beginning of Yuku,”

The urgency of supporting Ukraine’s resistance resonates strongly. As kalniete reminds us,Russia’s aggression transcends Ukraine’s borders,directly threatening European security. Onyl through robust international support, unwavering commitment to democratic values, and decisive action can we hope to secure a future free from Putin’s shadow.

What Concrete Actions Can the EU Take to Effectively Support Russian Civil Society?