I began to engage in politics in 2000 when I was studying in my first year at the University in Moscow. The irony is that in this exact year, Putin was first elected as president. So, for as long as he has been leading the country, I have been in opposition to him. The main motivation for my involvement in politics at that time was the militarism of the new president, which effectively brought him to power. Even while serving as prime minister, Putin started a war in Chechnya, and it was clear to me that under the guise of restoring order and strengthening the state, he intended to create an authoritarian regime relying on the security services. In addition to the war, he immediately began exerting pressure on independent media, parliament, and the most autonomous governors, sharply increased the role of the security services, and reinstated the Stalinist anthem, and so on. In short, he started building a state that I strongly disliked and considered dangerous for the citizens. Therefore, even in my first year at the institute, I found like-minded individuals willing to resist Putin's course and defend a more civilized path of development for Russia. That's how I ended up in the democratic opposition.

I regret that neither my comrades nor I were able to present to our society compelling enough arguments to choose a different path for Russia. I regret that in the late 1990s, the circle surrounding President Yeltsin, when deciding on a successor, only thought about their own ambitions, rather than the interests of the country. I regret that the democratic opposition at the beginning of the 2000s did not show the required level of responsibility, did not unite, and lost representation in parliament, thus facilitating Putin's usurpation of power. I regret that at the start of Putin's rule, our society unquestioningly agreed to a deal with the Kremlin, exchanging civil liberties and political rights for economic growth fueled by the influx of petrodollars. Certainly, there is much to regret and reflect on, but on the other hand, what is the point? Probably, the current dramatic stage in Russia's history has objective reasons, linked to post-imperial syndrome, revanchist sentiments due to the defeat in the Cold War, and the collapse of the USSR. However, I still prefer to look forward and think more about how to get out of the current impasse, how to preserve Russia, and how to ensure its transformation into a peaceful and free state.

I'm a Russian politician and I believe in being with my people, as they say, in joy and in sorrow. Here, amidst the graves of my ancestors and friends, to live with the people who trust me and rely on me. Where could I run away from them? And what would I do abroad? Probably, I would participate in "good Russian" forums, nibble on French bread at protocol meetings, and conduct endless internet streams, telling my compatriots from a safe distance how they should fight the Putin regime. No, this isn't for me. I don't want to judge any of my opposition colleagues who chose emigration over imprisonment. Humanly, it's a completely understandable choice. But personally, I find it more psychologically comfortable to take the hit than to run away from the fight and surrender.

I think it is important for my like-minded people who are currently free to prioritize correctly. We need to focus on what unites us, not divides us, forget about conflicts, and concentrate on anti-war work. We need to create mechanisms of solidarity and collective action that can help supporters of change in Russia and involve them in volunteer projects. We need to help numerous political prisoners, especially the not well known, who found themselves one-on-one with the regressive system. We need to create an image of the future of Russia that is attractive to the majority of our citizens. As for the international community, I think its main task is simply to save Ukraine from Putin's aggression. Saving Ukrainian sovereignty and the Ukrainian people who alone are unlikely to cope with the aggression. If Putin is allowed to devour Ukraine, it will be a colossal blow to international security and the entire free world. But as for the idea that the world community will build democracy in Russia, I don't count on it. This work we will have to do it ourselves, it is our responsibility.

I would like to see Russia as a peaceful, free, and just state, where the priorities are the individuals and their development. The trouble is that our society is constantly being imposed with "great ideas" that require endless human sacrifices. To hell with such ideas - everything should be the other way around. People should not sacrifice themselves for the state and the ambitions of its leaders; otherwise, the state should work for the people, guaranteeing them a happy life, high prosperity, and a comfortable environment. Only in this way can true greatness be achieved, not through wars, imperial ambitions, and geopolitical super-tasks.