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COMMENT

“We Demonstrate That Russian Civil Society Can Be a Reliable Partner”

Natalia Arno on the 10th Anniversary of Free Russia Foundation

We celebrated Free Russia Foundation’s 10th anniversary with a series of events and meetings, reconnecting with longtime partners and sharing our story and achievements with new audiences. Anniversaries like this are a great opportunity to reflect, see ourselves from an outside perspective, understand where we have grown stronger and identify areas that still need to be worked on.

We celebrated Free Russia Foundation’s 10th anniversary with a series of events and meetings, reconnecting with longtime partners and sharing our story and achievements with new audiences. Anniversaries like this are a great opportunity to reflect, see ourselves from an outside perspective, understand where we have grown stronger and identify areas that still need to be worked on.


How has Free Russia Foundation changed over these 10 years?

At the beginning, we focused on helping Ukrainian hostages of the Kremlin and informing Western policymakers about the situation inside Russia, especially in its regions. Free Russia Foundation served as a think tank, compiling reports, holding briefings, and covering ongoing developments in Russia.

Over time, we started supporting Eurasian activists, assisting with relocation, and providing legal and psychological help. Our focus expanded beyond the United States-with the opening of offices in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Tbilisi, Georgia, Europe became one of the key areas of FRF’s operations.

How has Free Russia Foundation changed over these 10 years?

At the beginning, we focused on helping Ukrainian hostages of the Kremlin and informing Western policymakers about the situation inside Russia, especially in its regions. Free Russia Foundation served as a think tank, compiling reports, holding briefings, and covering ongoing developments in Russia.

Over time, we started supporting Eurasian activists, assisting with relocation, and providing legal and psychological help. Our focus expanded beyond the United States-with the opening of offices in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Tbilisi, Georgia, Europe became one of the key areas of FRF’s operations.


Each crisis required us to reassess our approaches. At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we shifted our strategy to focus on evacuations and providing urgent support to those in danger.

We have tried to turn even the most challenging situations into opportunities. The pandemic forced us to move online-and we leveraged this format to connect people both inside and outside of Russia.

After all these years, our primary goal of promoting democracy in Russia has remained unchanged.

Free Russia Foundation serves as a bridge between Russian and Ukrainian societies and between Russian civil society and the West. We expose the crimes of the Kremlin and bring up critical issues that later resonate in Western media. In the most difficult times, we have saved lives, supported activists, and contributed to the implementation of sanctions.

Each crisis required us to reassess our approaches. At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we shifted our strategy to focus on evacuations and providing urgent support to those in danger.

We have tried to turn even the most challenging situations into opportunities. The pandemic forced us to move online-and we leveraged this format to connect people both inside and outside of Russia.

After all these years, our primary goal of promoting democracy in Russia has remained unchanged.

Free Russia Foundation serves as a bridge between Russian and Ukrainian societies and between Russian civil society and the West. We expose the crimes of the Kremlin and bring up critical issues that later resonate in Western media. In the most difficult times, we have saved lives, supported activists, and contributed to the implementation of sanctions.

Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters

Cooperation with our valued partners helps us achieve our goals and shapes a shared vision for the future. We demonstrate that Russian civil society can be a reliable partner, one that shares democratic values and stands against the Putin propaganda.

What do you consider Free Russia Foundation’s greatest achievement over the past 10 years?

Over the past decade, we have supported thousands of people, including political prisoners, activists, and forcibly displaced persons. Each case represents a small yet significant step toward our larger goal. We know changes take time, and we believe every such action brings Russia closer to freedom.

Cooperation with our valued partners helps us achieve our goals and shapes a shared vision for the future. We demonstrate that Russian civil society can be a reliable partner, one that shares democratic values and stands against the Putin propaganda.

What do you consider Free Russia Foundation’s greatest achievement over the past 10 years?

Over the past decade, we have supported thousands of people, including political prisoners, activists, and forcibly displaced persons. Each case represents a small yet significant step toward our larger goal. We know changes take time, and we believe every such action brings Russia closer to freedom.

Photo: Associated Press
Photo: Associated Press

We draw motivation from the impact of our work. Every success story reminds us why our work matters. We sometimes feel tired, but our belief in the importance of our mission and our understanding of the problems we solve keep us going.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself and the team at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine?

Remember that there is always a solution.

Prioritize long-term plans: at the time, it seemed the war would end quickly. It did not.

Save your energy: in the early months of the war, we barely slept and worked non-stop. Today, we know this was unsustainable. We should have planned rotations and shifts right away to prevent burnout.

However, these lessons have shaped positive practices that are now integral to our workflow.

We draw motivation from the impact of our work. Every success story reminds us why our work matters. We sometimes feel tired, but our belief in the importance of our mission and our understanding of the problems we solve keep us going.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself and the team at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine?

Remember that there is always a solution.

Prioritize long-term plans: at the time, it seemed the war would end quickly. It did not.

Save your energy: in the early months of the war, we barely slept and worked non-stop. Today, we know this was unsustainable. We should have planned rotations and shifts right away to prevent burnout.

However, these lessons have shaped positive practices that are now integral to our workflow.

What would you like to say to anti-war Russians?

Do not lose hope.

Believe, fight, and do not give up. The situation may seem hopeless, but it will not last forever.

Remember, you are not alone-many people share your thoughts, beliefs, and feelings.

What would you like to say to anti-war Russians?

Do not lose hope.

Believe, fight, and do not give up. The situation may seem hopeless, but it will not last forever.

Remember, you are not alone-many people share your thoughts, beliefs, and feelings.


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