Press Release, 4.03.2025

Today, Yabloko bid farewell to Galina Mikhailovna Mikhaleva, founder and Chairwoman of the Gender Faction of the Yabloko party, Doctor of Political Science, professor at the Russian State University for the Humanities. The farewell ceremony was attended by Galina Mikhaleva’s relatives, friends and colleagues in politics, defence of human rights, academic work, students and like-minded people. Condolences were sent to the party from leaders of European democratic parties, Russian and international human rights organisations, representatives of the global academic community.

Yabloko Сhairman Nikolai Rybakov spoke about the strength, courage, and sturdy character and at the same time elegance and refined taste of Galina Mikhaleva. The party leader assured that Yabloko will maintain Galina’s work on raising awareness on human rights and gender equality. In the near future, Yabloko will open a library in its central office in Moscow named after Galina Mikhaleva. In addition, Yabloko will establish a prize named after Galina Mikhaleva.

Nikolai Rybakov

“We are very grateful to you for being such a star of our party. You will remain in people’s memory forever. I would like to tell you that this year we will establish the Galina Mikhaleva Prize and will award it annually to a person for significant achievements in gender equality in Russia. I promise, Galina Mikhailovna, that regardless of whether they will be men or women, the main thing is that they advocate for equality. Thank you, professor, for giving us the opportunity to work with you,” Nikolai Rybakov said.

First Deputy Chair of the Yabloko Gender Faction Olga Radayeva spoke about the colossal work of Galina Mikhaleva in creating a new direction of work in the party:

Olga Radayeva

“The Gender Faction, our Women’s Faction, which Galina Mikhailovna created, is a titanic work that was not visible from the outside. I am proud that we have a Gender Faction in our party. This is true equality. And I would like it to be like this everywhere, both in our country and in other countries. We all know that cooperation between men and women in work gives the best results. Everyone understands this, but it is difficult to implement in practice. I believe that in our party this happened thanks to Galina Mikhailovna.”

Russian human rights defender and public figure Yan Rachinsky noted that it was natural for Galina Mikhaleva to combine work in the Memorial [human rights society] and Yabloko: both organisations are united by the values ​​that Galina Mikhaleva defended:

Yan Rachinsky

“She was not distracted by some gewgaw, she did nothing for the sake of her own political fame. The essence was important to her. And this is a very valuable and rare quality. We will certainly remember her in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, and not only in Yekaterinburg. Galya did a lot, she could have done a lot more. It didn’t happen. But I hope that we will continue her course. Remembering her.”

According to the second Chairman of Yabloko, Sergei Mitrokhin, a colleague and friend of Galina Mikhaleva, Russia lacks people like Galina – pioneers who don’t give up and consistently move towards their goal, as well as good and loyal friends:

Sergei Mitrokhin

“She was a wonderful person. She was a friend, my personal friend, but also, I think, a friend to a very large number of people who are here now, and those who could not be here due to various circumstances. It must be emphasised that she was a loyal friend. This was not just a circle of her acquaintances, no, she was a loyal friend, consistent. And she never gave up or betrayed her friends. I think that we will not be the only ones who will remember her – a huge circle of people will keep the memory of Galya in their hearts.”

Head of the Department of Culture and Peace at the Russian State University for the Humanities Maria Gordeyeva noted that there was no work that Galina Mikhaleva could not handle:

“There was not a single project that we started that she would say that she could not, would not, was not interested in. Moreover, when we wrote collective monographs, she was the first to send all her material and in many ways inspired her colleagues to move forward. And in many ways, everything that has been done by the department throughout these over twenty years was her impetus, her energy, her belief that any task was within our reach, and we could do literally everything we conceived. And so it was.”

Olga Zdravomyslova, Vice-President of the Raisa Gorbacheva Club, head of the Gorbachev Foundation socio-political centre, noted the courage of Galina Mikhaleva, which allowed her to engage in academic work that was innovative for our country:

Olga Zdravomyslova

“Galina Mikhaleva was a very important figure among those who developed gender studies in Russia, who were and are engaged in the social issue related to the status of women, women’s rights, and family. This topic is extremely important. It requires courage to do it like Galina Mikhaleva did it – so consistently, decisively, and persistently. This requires intellectual courage first of all. And she had it.”

Yulia Ostrovkaya, Deputy Director of the Centre for Social and Labour Rights and research associate at the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke about Galina Mikhaleva’s cheerfulness as an inspiring quality for those around her:

Yulia Ostrovkaya

“‎‎She always seemed to be full of optimism. I will certainly remember her as a very cheerful person. This is also an important, inspiring quality for all of us. One of our colleagues wrote the following in her message about Galina Mikhaleva: her courageous actions throughout her life were evidence of her belief that we are all obliged to act in accordance with our values, regardless of the difficulties we will encounter.”

Human rights defender Grigory Melkonyants, who is currently in prison, also conveyed his condolences to the family and friends of Galina Mikhaleva:

“‎‎I know her as a strong academic person, bright politician, courageous activist, true citizen, and a person who has done a lot for our country. I was lucky to experience the joy of communicating with Galina Mikhailovna, lucky to participate together with her in various events over many years, and I have always admired this outstanding woman. Galina Mikhailovna lived a meaningful life and left behind a legacy that we still have to comprehend.”

Denis Volkov, Director of the Levada Centre and social scientist, noted that the memory of Galina Mikhaleva should always remain in the Yabloko party.

Denis Volkov

“For me, the Yabloko party has always been associated with her in many ways. Therefore, it will be difficult for me to imagine the party without her. I hope that the programmes in which she participated will be continued. And this will be such a memory of her.”

Minister Plenipotentiary of the German Embassy in Russia Mr. Hubert Knirsch noted the significant role of Galina Mikhaleva in the interaction of Russian and German societies:

Minister Plenipotentiary of the German Embassy in Russia Mr. Hubert Knirsch

“Galina Mikhailovna was always a wise, warm, cordial and very friendly person. Love for people was her motivation, her guiding principle in politics. What is very important for us, she was a kind of mediator between Russia and Germany. I am very grateful that she did so much, so much for understanding between our societies. And for many Germans, including me, she was such an important and valuable person.”

Galina Mikhaleva’s student at the Russian State University for the Humanities, Arseniy Lytar, on behalf of the entire student community, expressed condolences in connection with the professor’s passing:

Arseniy Lytar

“I probably entered this university because I knew that Galina Mikhailovna would be giving lectures at the faculty. And classes with her were always held in such a comfortable, friendly atmosphere… It was always interesting for everyone. Probably, she was the only, well, at least one of the few teachers at the university, whose classes were really interesting to come to, interesting to listen to and interesting to discuss with her if someone disagreed with something.”

Member of the Moscow Helsinki Group Ilya Shablinsky shared his memories of Galina Mikhaleva:

“In my opinion, Galina Mikhailovna perfectly embodied a special type of character – in fact, we are accustomed to associating it with the concept of the Russian intelligentsia. Invariably friendly, tolerant, and good-natured – that’s how I remember her.”

Galina Mikhaleva’s daughter Maria Marx-Luchterhand said farewell words about her mother and the most precious thing that united them:

Maria Marx-Luchterhand

“I miss you as a companion, as a friend with whom I spent summer vacations and New Year’s holidays. I miss you as a grandmother who patiently and endlessly read books to your grandson Timofey, taught him Russian, taught him to count and write, and good manners.

Mom, I will miss you, the person I could always call, and cry on your shoulder.

I will miss you as the closest person who supported me, unconditionally believed in me, and loved me. Despite everything.

I am very sad, Mom, but I am saying farewell to you. I am letting you go to where you went, when our world became too small for you.”

Grigory Yavlinsky, the founder of Yabloko, spoke about the exceptional role of Galina Mikhaleva played in the development of Russia:

Grigory Yavlinsky

“Galina dedicated her life entirely to the new Russia. This was the meaning of her whole life. At the same time, she made things and worked with a subject that at that time, and even now, but at that time especially, no one could work with, no one at all. It was uninteresting, unpopular, and strange to work with such misunderstanding, with such a perception of her work as strangeness, with such topics as gender policies, people of different sexual orientations. This was the exceptional activity of a brave person to protect the weak. She gave her life to those who were weak.”