Privileged to meet former Russian political prisoner @vkaramurza who was honored by the @RWallenbergInst for his work on pro-democracy efforts in Russia.
Kara-Murza spoke about the status of democracy:
• Today, Russia 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 than during the Soviet Union.
• The leading cause of political imprisonment is citizen protest against the Russian regime’s war in Ukraine.
• Even in repressive dictatorships, there are always people willing to do the right thing, 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴.
• Kara-Murza reminded us of the difference one person can make when they make the right choice.
His 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 for citizens living under authoritarianism: prepare for the day after. Build the necessary roadmap. Be ready when the time comes for a #democratic transition.
A Russian cargo ship sanctioned by the United States landed in Managua today after traveling between Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.
In 2022, I discussed in the National Interest how Russia militarizes authoritarianism in Latin America, and I argue that through selective threats, military and commercial activities, and information warfare operations, Moscow is reinforcing the regimes in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua as a geopolitical leverage point. The Russian threat in the Western Hemisphere should not be diminished.
https://t.co/Zo19yfnvGj