Open Russia: The Evolution and Struggle of a Civil Society Initiative
Open Russia represents a complex chapter in the history of Russian civil society. Founded by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the organization has transitioned through two distinct phases—evolving from a philanthropic charitable entity into a nationwide community platform dedicated to democratic reform and the rule of law.
The First Initiative: Philanthropy and Early Challenges
The first incarnation of Open Russia operated primarily as a charitable organization. Its board featured high-profile international figures, including Lord Jacob Rothschild and Henry Kissinger. During this period, the organization focused on philanthropic endeavors, providing funding for human rights NGOs and various educational projects for youth, such as the Club of Regional Journalism and the Federation of Internet Education.
Following the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky in 2003, leadership transitioned to his deputy, Leonid Nevzlin, and subsequently to Nikolay Bychkov. By 2005, the organization had expanded to include 23 regional affiliates. However, this growth was met with state scrutiny; the Federal Tax Service launched three separate probes within a single year. Open Russia viewed these inspections as attempts to discredit the last remaining structure under Khodorkovsky's influence. The first iteration of the organization officially closed in 2006 after Russian authorities froze its bank accounts.
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The Second Initiative: A Platform for Reform
On September 20, 2014, Open Russia was re-launched as a nationwide community platform. This new version aimed to unite Russians seeking a better quality of life for themselves and future generations. The relaunch occurred via a videoconference supporting marches against the policies of President Vladimir Putin, though the event was marred by technical disruptions and internet connection problems across various regional locations.
The relaunch was attended by prominent émigrés and activists, including Yevgeny Chichvarkin and Sergei Guriyev. This move sparked debate regarding Khodorkovsky's political commitments. While some reports suggested the relaunch broke a promise to avoid politics after his December pardon, others noted that his commitment to stay out of politics had only lasted until August, after which he felt emboldened to pursue national change.
Core Objectives and Vision
The second iteration of Open Russia focused on several strategic pillars:
- Independent Media: Promoting free press and information.
- Political Education: Increasing civic awareness among the population.
- Rule of Law: Addressing the absence of legal consistency, which Khodorkovsky identified as the root cause of Russia's systemic problems.
- Support for Political Prisoners: Providing aid to those detained for political reasons.
The organization also proposed an extensive Reforms Program to overhaul the Constitution and law enforcement. Khodorkovsky specifically advocated for a constitutional conference to shift power away from the presidency and toward the judiciary and legislature.
Activities and Public Engagement
Open Russia engaged the public through "Open Lectures," a series of live talks touring Russia, featuring speakers such as Dmitry Olshansky, Arina Borodina, and Lyudmila Ulytskaya. The organization also hosted seven online forums covering critical issues like corruption and healthcare reform. In the political sphere, Open Russia pledged support for 25 candidates in the September parliamentary elections, including potential candidates from the Parnas party, while maintaining a stance of supporting fair elections rather than direct political party involvement.
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State Crackdown and Legal Bans
Throughout the 2010s, Open Russia became a target of an intensifying government crackdown. In mid-2017, the Prosecutor General designated the group as undesirable under the 2015 Russian undesirable organizations law. This designation effectively banned all activities within the country. Amnesty International highlighted the significance of this move, noting it was the first time the Russian government banned a civil society group that was both founded by Russians and operated exclusively within Russia.
Further restrictions followed in December 2017, when Roskomnadzor—the Russian federal executive body responsible for monitoring and censoring media—added the Open Russia website to its registry of blocked sites.
Suspension of Operations and Legal Aftermath
As the September 2021 parliamentary elections approached, the Russian government introduced draft legislation to increase criminal liability for those participating in "undesirable" organizations. To protect its members from the risk of imprisonment and criminal prosecution, Open Russia announced the cessation of its operations within Russia on May 27, 2021.
The legal pressure continued beyond the organization's suspension. In July 2022, Andrey Pivovarov, a former head of the organization, was sentenced to four years in prison. The court alleged he continued working with the London-based organization, citing Facebook posts that criticized the Federal Security Service and supported opposition protesters.
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Key Facts
- Founder: Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
- First Phase: A charitable organization focused on philanthropy and education (closed 2006).
- Second Phase: A community platform for democratic reform and the rule of law (launched 2014).
- Legal Status: Designated as an "undesirable organization" by the Prosecutor General in 2017.
- Censorship: Website blocked by Roskomnadzor in December 2017.
- Current Status: Operations in Russia suspended as of May 2021 to protect members from criminal prosecution.
| Feature | First Initiative (Pre-2006) | Second Initiative (2014-2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Nature | Charitable/Philanthropic | Community Platform/Reformist |
| Key Focus Areas | Youth education, human rights NGOs | Rule of law, independent media, political education |
| Notable Figures | Henry Kissinger, Lord Jacob Rothschild | Sergei Guriyev, Yevgeny Chichvarkin |
| Reason for End | Frozen bank accounts | "Undesirable" designation and criminal liability laws |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the primary goal of the second iteration of Open Russia?
The second iteration aimed to create a nationwide community platform to promote the rule of law, independent media, political education, and support for political prisoners, while advocating for constitutional reforms to balance power between the presidency, legislature, and judiciary.
Why was Open Russia designated as an "undesirable organization"?
The Prosecutor General of Russia used the 2015 undesirable organizations law to designate Open Russia as such in 2017, which effectively banned its activities in the country as part of a broader crackdown on dissident groups.
How did the Russian government restrict access to Open Russia?
Beyond the legal ban, the government utilized internet censorship; specifically, Roskomnadzor added the organization's website to the registry of blocked sites in December 2017.
Why did Open Russia stop its operations in Russia in 2021?
The organization suspended operations on May 27, 2021, to protect its members from new draft laws that increased criminal liability and the risk of imprisonment for participating in organizations deemed "undesirable."
What happened to Andrey Pivovarov?
Andrey Pivovarov, a former head of Open Russia, was sentenced to four years in prison in July 2022 for allegedly continuing to work with the organization's London base and posting criticisms of the Federal Security Service on Facebook.