ALDE, 28.09.2015

In Russia anti-Western propaganda is thriving, and democratic free debate is under pressure while stereotypes and demonising is increasing in the European Union. With this in mind, ALDE member parties Radikale Venstre and Yabloko, with the support of ALDE Party, co-hosted a conference in the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen bent on finding the right tools to strengthen dialogue, tear down stereotypes and enhance co-operation.

Both parties have a strong liberal ethos. They believe in the individual, in fundamental democratic rights, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of thought and beliefs. These are values which are taken for granted in Denmark, but they are values which must be fought for in Russia.
Over the weekend, about 75 people, ranging from politicians and experts to representatives from civil society, discussed ways to promote good governance and transparency, free press, free trade, civil society and human rights.

Some of the central conclusions were:

The deterioration of the democratic development of Russia has been going on since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The West has failed to address this and still is. The focus has been on Russian foreign policy, which is exactly the goal of the regime.
Russia’s regime has adopted a deliberate anti-Western propaganda strategy directed at Russians, Russian speakers in neighboring countries and foreigners. The West should have a clear strategy on how to counterbalance the false image created.
The Western countries have to stand united in pronouncing vocal support for those fighting for human rights in Russia instead of letting own interest take precedence.
The economic sanctions of the West and the counter sanctions by Russia following the annexation of Crimea is hurting both Russian and Western companies and ordinary Russians. –
Russian and foreign NGO’s working in Russia have been seriously hit by the “Foreign Agents Law” which bans Russian NGO’s from receiving financial support from abroad, in such a situation many socially oriented NGOs found themselves without any financing, as the state neglected their activities. The only alternative is people-to-people cooperation.
Among the speakers were the Chairman of Radikale Venstre, Morten Østergaard, Founder of Yabloko, Dr. Grigory Yavlinsky, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Martin Lidegaard, ALDE Party Vice-President, Olle Schmidt, in addition to representatives from the LGBT-movement, Transparency International, The Helsinki Committee and members of the media from Denmark and Russia.
The Copenhagen conference will be followed by a conference in Moscow on 24 October which will focus on how liberal parties in EU and Russian can work together. More details on the Copenhagen conference programme can be found in the following link: http://www.aldeparty.eu/sites/eldr/files/news/12297/programme-final_dk-russia_conference.pdf.

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