Russian opposition protesters gather at embassy in Berlin

Dozens of Russian opposition supporters gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin to protest against the war in Ukraine and the suppression of political opposition in Russia. The demonstration coincided with the final day of parliamentary elections in Russia, where Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party is expected to secure a decisive victory.

Russian opposition groups called on supporters living abroad to gather at diplomatic missions worldwide to express solidarity with those in Russia and to voice opposition to the Kremlin. Dissident Andrei Pivovarov, who was released in August 2024 as part of a prisoner exchange, stated that the goal was to show Russians that many people reject the war.

While Berlin hosts one of the largest communities of Russians who left the country following the 2022 invasion, the turnout for this protest was notably smaller than during the March 2024 presidential elections, which drew thousands. Pivovarov attributed this decline to a sense of saturation and apathy among the diaspora.