Solidarnost

Solidarnost
source
Name	Solidarnost
Native name	Солидарность
Formation	2008
Type	Political movement
Headquarters	Moscow
Region served	Russia
Key people	Vladimir Bukovsky; Boris Nemtsov; Garry Kasparov; Lev Ponomaryov; Mikhail Kasyanov

Solidarnost

Solidarnost is a Russian political movement formed in 2008 that united activists, politicians, dissidents, and intellectuals opposed to the administration of Vladimir Putin and allied regional leaders. It emerged after a series of protests, court cases, and political realignments that involved figures from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Yabloko, and liberal-conservative circles connected with former officials from United Russia and émigré communities. The movement sought to coordinate electoral strategies, civic campaigns, and human rights advocacy in collaboration with domestic and international organizations.

History

Solidarnost was established in the context of post-2000 Russian politics marked by disputes involving Boris Nemtsov, Mikhail Kasyanov, and prominent dissidents like Vladimir Bukovsky and Garry Kasparov. Its foundation followed activism around the Dissenters' March and protests connected to contested parliamentary elections and presidential campaigns involving 2007 Russian legislative election controversies and the 2011–2013 Russian protests. Early meetings drew participants from former members of Yabloko, activists associated with Memorial (society), and liberal intellectuals who had opposed policies of Dmitry Medvedev and Viktor Yanukovych allies. The movement periodically coordinated with international NGOs and engaged with entities like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and groups linked to the Council of Europe on issues concerning civil liberties.

Organization and Structure

Solidarnost operated as a loose coalition rather than a formal political party, adopting a federal structure with regional councils in cities such as Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Novosibirsk. Leadership bodies included a coordinating council featuring veterans of the Soviet dissident movement and former officials from cabinets including the Kasyanov cabinet. Its internal governance resembled networks used by movements like Solidarity (Poland) and activist coalitions formed after the Orange Revolution. Funding and resource channels involved donations, activist crowdfunding, and occasional support from expatriate associations in Vilnius, Warsaw, and Prague. The movement emphasized horizontal decision-making similar to models used by Occupy Wall Street and Euromaidan organizers, while also maintaining prominent spokespeople for media engagement with outlets such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and BBC Russian Service.

Political Positions and Activities

Solidarnost advocated electoral reform, release of political prisoners, independent media protections, and decentralization of power through constitutional mechanisms. Its policy statements referenced legal instruments like provisions in the Russian Constitution and international covenants including the European Convention on Human Rights. The movement supported candidates opposing United Russia incumbents in municipal and regional contests and promoted cooperation among liberals, national democrats, and social democrats ranging from figures associated with Yabloko to those linked with Party of Russia's Rebirth. Solidarnost publicly condemned actions by security services tied to incidents like the Moscow theater hostage crisis aftermath and voiced solidarity with activists targeted in cases reminiscent of the Bolotnaya Square case and prosecutions under laws introduced after the 2012 Russian protests.

Key Figures

Prominent individuals associated with the movement included former deputies and ministers such as Boris Nemtsov, ex-Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, dissident writer Vladimir Bukovsky, chess champion turned activist Garry Kasparov, and human rights campaigner Lev Ponomaryov. Other notable participants came from a range of backgrounds: parliamentarians from Yabloko and the People's Freedom Party (PARNAS), journalists linked to Novaya Gazeta and The Moscow Times, and international sympathizers like émigré intellectuals in London and Berlin. Academics and public intellectuals who had engaged with debates around the Yeltsin era and post-Soviet reforms also featured in conferences and roundtables convened by Solidarnost.

Notable Campaigns and Protests

Solidarnost organized and supported demonstrations including iterations of the Dissenters' March, rallies tied to disputed elections such as protests after the 2007 Russian legislative election, and solidarity actions for victims of politically motivated prosecutions like the Pussy Riot case. The movement coordinated election observation efforts drawing volunteers with experience from OSCE missions and domestic civic monitoring groups such as Golos. It took part in campaigns advocating for the release of high-profile prisoners whose cases involved courts in Moscow City Court and regional judicial bodies, and mounted international awareness drives in capitals such as Brussels and Washington, D.C..

Public Reception and Criticism

Reception varied across Russian society and international observers: media outlets like RT and pro-government commentators often dismissed the movement as fragmented or foreign-influenced, citing connections to Western NGOs and contacts in NATO member capitals. Independent outlets including Novaya Gazeta and international commentators in The Economist and Financial Times offered mixed appraisals, praising civic courage while questioning strategic coherence. Critics from nationalist and conservative circles linked to entities like Rodina (political party) accused Solidarnost of aligning with oligarchic interests and émigré opposition, while some liberal rivals argued that tactical disagreements hindered electoral success.

Legacy and Influence

Solidarnost influenced later oppositional coordination efforts and contributed personnel and organizational experience to movements and parties such as People's Freedom Party (PARNAS), networks around Alexei Navalny, and regional civic initiatives in Kazan and Samara. Its model of coalition-building echoed historical precedents like Solidarity (Poland) and provided a reference point for activists engaging with digital campaigning on platforms used during the 2011–2013 Russian protests. Elements of its agenda persisted in human rights litigation before the European Court of Human Rights and in the work of NGOs documenting political repression.

Category:Political movements in Russia