The aim of the paper is to show the qualitative and quantitative evolution of Russian Civil Society Organizations in exile since the first term of Vladimir Putin until today. Special attention will be paid to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Think Tanks founded by Russian oligarchs, ex-political leaders and leaders of societal movements in these years in such countries as: the United States of America, the Great Britain, Germany, Poland, Lithuania.
In the paper, I put forward a following theses.
1) The number of CSO created by Russian opposition in exile has not only increasing in numbers but also has been changing in profile of their activities. In, the beginning of the XXIst century these organizations were established mostly by the oligarchs. Since, the second decade of XXIst century, in addition they were created by the ex-political leaders. After the outbreak of full-scale war in Ukraine, the Russian activists and faces of societal movements joined to these organizations or set up the new ones. The creation of the Russian CSO in exile was strictly related with the political violence, which was started in early 2000’s and reached its apogee in Russia in 2020.
2) The Russian opposition in exile, created various NGO’s and Think Tanks in different states. However, in the beginning of 2000’s most of them were located in the United States and the Great Britain. Since annexation of Crimea and outbreak of war in Donbas this tendency changed, and some new NGO’s and Think Tanks were established in Germany, Poland and Lithuania. Since, 2022 these countries have been a place where gatherings of the Russian opposition in exile take part.
3) Russian CSO can be considered as institutions which have been used by oppositionists in exile as a tool to educate and inform public opinion about the political situation in this country.
The paper is based on the desk research, as well as historical method. I have analyzed press releases, opinions of the experts, as well as interviews of various oppositionists. I have also examined texts of documents adopted by the Russian opposition in exile. Special attention has been paid to various meetings and conferences organized between March 2022 and December 2026.
